The B2B and matchmaking event took place from April 5 to 7, 2022, in Sofia, Bulgaria. During the event, six Kosovar ICT companies had the opportunity to meet with Bulgarian ICT companies. The goal was to explore potential business opportunities and establish direct cooperation. This event was organized in collaboration with Sofia Tech Park, the Bulgarian ICT Cluster, the Bulgarian SME Promotion Agency, Prishtina REA, and STIKK.
The event kicked off with a welcome speech by Ms. Karina Angelieva, the Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth of Bulgaria. She was followed by Mrs. Artane Rizvanolli, the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Kosovo, who emphasized the significance of the event. She encouraged participants to explore opportunities for direct cooperation between Kosovar and Bulgarian ICT companies.
Mr. Boyko Takov, the Executive Director of the Bulgarian SME Promotion Agency, also delivered a speech, providing key figures about the Bulgarian SME sector.
Mr. Ahmet Jetullahu, Director of Prishtina REA, then presented the key economic figures of Kosovo’s economy.
The introductory session featured speeches from Mr. Todor Mladenov, Executive Director of Sofia Tech Park, and Mr. Grigoris Kontzoglou, Team Leader of the EU-funded EU Support for the Competitiveness of Kosovo’s ICT Sector project.
Three presentations focused on the ICT sector:
The event continued with a panel discussion on good practices in bilateral partnership development. The panelists were Mr. Krum Hadjigeorgiev, CEO of Melon LTD, and Mr. Ermal Sadiku, CEO of LINK PLUS LLC. The discussion focused on internationalization and the distinct linkages between the Bulgarian and Kosovar ICT sectors.
The second session was dedicated to B2B meetings between Bulgarian and Kosovar companies. A total of 23 participants attended the event: 6 representatives from Kosovo’s ICT companies and 17 representatives from Bulgarian companies. In total, 85 B2B meetings were conducted.
Sofia Tech Park is a state-owned company that aims to boost innovation, research, and technological development in Bulgaria. It achieves this by creating partnerships with both private and public institutions through various projects.
At the forefront of these projects is the creation of Bulgaria’s first science and technology park. The park will host national, regional, and global researchers and innovative companies, thereby strengthening the knowledge economy of Bulgaria and the Balkans.
Sofia Tech Park focuses on three key areas:
The park fosters knowledge exchange between academia and business, supports startups and innovative ideas, and serves as a catalyst for the commercialization of research. By doing so, it aims to make Bulgarian science and entrepreneurship more competitive.
The park spans 40,000 m² and includes both new and renovated buildings. It will house fully functional scientific infrastructure, applied research laboratories, an incubator, lecture and training facilities, and a space for the demonstration of new technologies. Additionally, the park features an interactive science center, parking spaces, and green areas for pedestrians.
During the visit, Kosovar ICT managers presented their research projects to various stakeholders. They also provided insights into the ICT sector in Sofia, sharing their knowledge and exploring potential collaboration opportunities.
The Kosovar participants visited several key areas within Sofia Tech Park, including:
