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Roundtable "Dialogue Innovations.bg 2040: Regional Hubs and Innovation Financing"
9 October | 10:00 – 12:00
The Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry invites you to a round table from the series "Dialogue Innovations.bg 2040", which will be held on October 9, 2025 (Thursday) from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Hall 1 of the Regional Administration – Ruse (registration from 9:30 a.m.). The forum is part of the initiative of the Applied Research and Communications Foundation (Innovations.bg) and is implemented with the assistance of RCCI and the Business Innovation Center "Innobridge".
The event directly connects institutions, academia and business to accelerate technology transfer and help strengthen the market positions of enterprises through the opportunities of European digital and green transition programs. You are invited to share your current challenges, present ideas and proposals for a more effective innovation policy and find concrete solutions for growth and optimization of activities.
We will discuss:
- how to structure and maintain a functioning regional innovation and technology hub;
- how to make knowledge reach businesses faster through effective technology transfer, intellectual property protection and pilot projects;
- what sources of financing can accelerate the development of innovative companies (grants, financial instruments and banking products).
Participants will receive specific examples and clearly outlined next steps for inclusion in the initiatives of Innovations.bg and local partners. We are waiting for you on October 9 in Hall 1 of the Regional Administration - Ruse.
Program
|
Hour |
Session |
Highlights / speakers |
|---|---|---|
|
09:30 |
Registration |
Welcoming the participants. |
|
10:00 |
Discovery |
Milen Dobrev, Chairman, BIC "Innobridge"; Ruslan Stefanov, coordinator, Innovations.bg, Applied Research and Communications Foundation. |
|
10:15 |
Panel I: Building Regional Innovation and Technology Hubs |
Natanail Stefanov, Deputy Chairman of the Board, Sofia Tech Park; Prof. Dr. Daniel Bratanov, Vice-Rector for Research and Development, Angel Kanchev University of Ruse; Svetlana Stefanova, Executive Director, FAAK Bulgaria EAD. |
|
11:00 |
Coffee break |
Time for conversations and making business contacts. |
|
11:15 |
Panel II: Financing Innovation – How Can Europe Win the Global Race for Technological Leadership? |
Milen Dobrev, Chairman, BIC "Innobridge"; Lydia Rasheva, Senior Expert in the European Projects and Financial Institutions Directorate, UBB; Stoyanka Koleva, project manager, "NRG Soft" EOOD. |
|
12:00 |
Closing and cocktail |
Summary and informal conversations. |
Participants
Ruslan Stefanov
Manager of ARC Consulting Ltd.
Ruslan Stefanov is the manager of ARC Consulting, the consulting unit of the Applied Research and Communications Foundation, and co-chair of Innovations.bg, the leading national platform for analysis and support of policies in the field of science, technology and innovation. He works on projects for smart specialization, innovation strategies and support for SMEs in Southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region.
Natanail Stefanov
Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sofia Tech Park
Natanail Stefanov's professional experience is related to innovation and entrepreneurship, creation and development of startups, commercialization of science and technology, building ecosystems and communities. He has also worked in the field of education and research, the public sector (consulting, policies, advocacy), as well as with non-governmental organizations.
He describes himself as a “professional volunteer” – dedicated to the economic and social empowerment of developing countries and vulnerable communities. Over the years, he has supported dozens of technology companies to launch, grow, scale, and enter international markets.
Lydia Rasheva
Senior Expert at the Directorate "European Projects and Financial Instruments", UBB
Lidiya Rasheva is a senior expert in the European Projects and Financial Instruments Directorate of UBB. She works with a focus on entrepreneurship development projects within the framework of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy of KBC Group, as well as on European financial instruments, including for innovation and green investments. Lidiya graduated in European Studies from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and speaks English, German and Spanish.
Plamen Ivanov
Project Manager in the Innovation and Business Support Program, Applied Research and Communications Foundation
Plamen Ivanov is an innovation and business development expert with extensive experience in consulting small and medium-sized enterprises. He works to increase their innovative capacity, access to financing, digital transformation and internationalization.
As the national contact person for the EIC Accelerator, he supports innovative companies throughout the application process. He was the national coordinator of the Enterprise Europe Network and is currently part of the AgroHub team, an agricultural digital hub (EDIH).
Registration
Registration for the roundtable has closed.
Applied Research and Communications Foundation (Innovations.bg)
02 973 3000
arc@online.bg