Bulgaria is dynamic, innovative and entrepreneurial, has a higher percentage of women working in the ICT sector than any other EU member state and is at the forefront of Europe’s digital transformation.
This is the message that emerged from the recent reception organized by Parliament Magazine on the occasion of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU. The event at the European Parliament was organized by Bulgarian EPP Group MP Vladimir Urutchev. Opening the reception, organized with the help of Microsoft’s European office, Urutchev said it was an opportunity to show how his country was helping to “open up the possibilities of digitalization.”
He added: “We hope this will help raise awareness of our vibrant economy and the innovation and entrepreneurship taking place in the country. This is the true face of Bulgaria. For Bulgarian entrepreneurs, there are no insurmountable boundaries or obstacles.
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“Despite this, most people here in Brussels and in the Member States are not really aware that Bulgaria is an innovative country, with highly motivated entrepreneurs running successful, often international, businesses.”
Urutchev also highlighted the Sofia Presidency’s focus on the Western Balkans: “Bulgaria is of course part of the Balkans and we feel a sense of responsibility towards the countries of this region. We have therefore decided to take advantage of the Bulgarian presidency to place the European perspective of the Western Balkans at the top of the European agenda.
“After three months, I think we have achieved it, because we are currently on the agenda of all European institutions. We hope that this will give new impetus to discussions on the European perspective on the Western Balkans.”
John Frank, vice president of European government affairs at Microsoft, spoke about the “digital transformation” taking place globally and added: “It’s something that affects all of our lives.”
Frank, who leads the company’s government affairs team in Brussels, welcomed the more than 300 people by saying: “Tonight we celebrate the first half of the Bulgarian presidency and of course
Bulgaria plays an important role in major issues related to the digitalization of our society. We all work on the same issues and share the same major objectives: creating a digital society and a digital single market for the benefit of Europe.”
Keynote speaker Lilyana Pavlova, Minister of the Bulgarian Presidency, spoke of the “dynamic face” of Bulgaria, adding: “Bulgaria is the unknown treasure of Europe, but I hope others will share it, both as tourists and investors.
The aim and priority of the Presidency – and the subsequent Austrian Presidency – she said, was to complete the digital single market by the end of the year.
“It’s something that can change our lives and, in many ways, it’s already a reality.” Digitalization is both a great opportunity and a challenge, as we have seen recently with the Facebook data scandal and the fact that surveys show that 80 percent of citizens are concerned about possible misuse of their data personal.”
She said that around 80 percent of people employed in the ICT sector in Bulgaria are under 35 years old and added: “I hope that with the support of other Balkan states we can become the center of ICT of Europe and the Western Balkans. This is a good way for us to put an end to the brain drain of our young people. This is a great opportunity and we have already seen results in this area, with young Bulgarians who went abroad to find work and study, returning to work in our ICT sector.”
Regarding the enlargement of the Western Balkans, Pavlova said that Bulgaria’s position as a Balkan country and an EU member puts it in a unique position to help neighboring states in the region with their European perspective.
“Enlargement is obviously important for the Western Balkans. But at the same time, we must be frank with these countries: for most of them, there is still a lot of work to be done. However, MEPs and European policy makers must understand that without the Western Balkans, the European project is incomplete.”
Lora Borrisova, chief of staff to Bulgarian European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, said member states’ investments in R&D lagged behind those of the United States, Japan and South Korea. Greater investment is needed in areas such as cybersecurity, connectivity and innovation, she argued.
Borrisova said the EU had “kept its promises” in several related areas, such as roaming, but that the European Commission could not do it alone to meet future digital needs. “This will require a collective effort.”
Underinvestment in R&D should be taken into account in the ongoing negotiations on the EU’s post-2020 multiannual financial framework, she argued.
Kalin Tomov, head of competition at the Permanent Representation of Bulgaria to the EU, also highlighted the “entrepreneurial spirit” in Bulgaria. “We pay great attention to the development of entrepreneurship and prioritize the growth of the Bulgarian economy as well as reaping the benefits of the single market.”
Tomov said the second half of Bulgaria’s EU presidency would continue to focus on industry and innovation policy, with the aim being “to help European businesses address digital challenges today and in the years to come “. We are still in the middle of our presidency, so it is important to continue this work.”
The reception also aimed to highlight Bulgaria’s achievements in innovation and digitalization through presentations from some of the country’s leading entrepreneurship experts.
The Bulgarian European Circle, an initiative carried out within the Brussels European Bubble, allowed several Bulgarian organizations to have the opportunity to address EU policymakers and stakeholders at the event.
Sasha Bezuhanova, founder of MOVE.BG, an organization that works with more than 400 companies in Bulgaria, said: “We live in a new reality, a digital world that has implications in many ways. These companies are a real asset because they develop ideas and innovate on a daily basis. It’s a great way to expand geographic boundaries,” she added.
“In Bulgaria, people are developing cybersecurity solutions, big data analytics, cloud computing and blockchain-based solutions. This happens in Bulgaria but serves the whole world.
“Today, Bulgaria has the highest percentage of women working in the ICT sector – 31 percent – twice the EU average. We work to support, stimulate and motivate young women and girls to choose engineering careers and follow an entrepreneurial path.
Bulgarian EPP MEP Eva Maydell said her country was helping to provide “ICT leadership” and was at the forefront of a “technological revolution”. Today’s event is important because it highlights our vision for a digital future. When it comes to technological innovation, Bulgaria is a leader. Indeed, innovation in this area is, I believe, evolving. The center of gravity is moving east and Bulgaria can become a regional center of the ICT sector.”
Maydell also commented on the link between connectivity and Balkan enlargement, saying: “One of the most important priorities of the Presidency is to provide a clearer European perspective and connectivity around the Western Balkans.
“The idea is to put this issue back on the table here, within the European institutions, and to provide a practical guide on the areas where this perspective could focus. This is why the themes of digital connectivity, infrastructure connectivity, rail connectivity and educational connectivity are extremely important for the Presidency by providing concrete and practical aspects.
Irina Staneva, Head of Investments at Bulgarian manufacturer of artificial climbing walls Walltopia, highlighted that the company, established by two entrepreneurial climbers, is the largest manufacturer of artificial climbing walls in the world with projects in more than 50 countries. I am happy to be here in the European Parliament to be able to share our success with EU policy makers.
Evgeni Angelov, president of the Bulgarian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, said the event was an opportunity “to share some of the successes we have experienced in Bulgaria over the past six years. We have created several seed and growth venture capital funds with money from the structural funds. We believe this is a better way to finance innovation, using investments rather than grants.
Angelov added: “We have one of the largest structural fund programs that uses money in this way and so we are here today to share our positive experiences. »
Entrepreneur Peter Statev, from the Bulgarian Association of Software Companies and President of the ICT Cluster Foundation, said that the high-tech sector in Bulgaria is developing rapidly and the country has become a leader in Southeast Europe .
“Today, Bulgarian high-tech and innovative SMEs operate around the world and address the global market. There are many innovative and creative people in Bulgaria and South-Eastern Europe.
Closing the evening, Jeremy Rollison, Director of European Government Affairs at Microsoft, said the reception was an opportunity to hear about Bulgaria’s innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
He said: “We are really happy to be part of an event that conveys such a positive message about entrepreneurship and start-ups happening in Bulgaria, especially around digital transformation. We are happy to be part of it, with some of the software solutions we offer as part of our involvement in the Sofia ICT cluster and at the policy level here in Brussels. As we saw tonight, there are a lot of positive and exciting things happening in and out of Bulgaria.
