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Empowering Growth: Creating 100 Native Spinoffs by 2030

Spinoff Bulgaria is the leading initiative for technology  transfer, science-based innovation and university  spinoffs in Bulgaria.

Our goal is to create and support a sustainable spinoff  ecosystem in Bulgaria and Europe by connecting national stakeholders with international partners. By presenting best practices, insights and collaborations opportunities, we aim to stimulate interest in the creation of spinoffs, promote the culture of technology transfer and bring together European organisations, companies, academia and investors.

Our goal for 2030 is to create 100 native spinoffs in  Bulgaria and become a powerhouse for science-based  innovation in Europe.

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40+

International Speakers

300+

Visitors

30+

Spinoffs

10+

Universities

Don’t Miss This Event

Great Event Schedule

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Day 01 full schedule

28.09.2023

Registration

Opening Keynote

Organizers of the initiative: Kristina Eskenazi, Paulina Chortova, Kaloyan Ratchev, Dimitar Dimitrov, Boyan Jekov, Monika Manolova

Keynote

"Navigating EU Acts and Regulations for Spinoff Success" (AI Act, Chips Act, Data Health Act, NIS2)

Speakers:
Jeannette Gorzala - Vice President European AI Forum (EAIF)
Sabine Demey - Director of Flanders Artificial Intelligence Research Program at IMEC
Tuan Trinh, PhD - Horizon Europe | "EIT Digital in Eastern Europe"

Federico Menna - CEO EIT Digital

Keynote

Kristina Sermuksnyte-Alesiuniene, European Cluster Manager of the Year 2022. AGRIFOOD LITHUANIA Cluster/DIH/EIT FOOD hub Manager Digital Innovations and R&D&I in AgriFood sector

Keynote

Cristian Dascalu - co-Founder & Managing Partner at Techcelerator.co, EuropeanStartupNetwork.eu

Keynote

AI for research and spinoff organisations (from 0 to 1)

Workshop

Lunch break

"Leading the Charge: Spinoff Success Stories and the EU Champions Driving Innovation"

Moderator: Emil Shekerdzijski, Founder of Premium Coworking Spaces, Pitch2Pitch Events
Speakers:
Hemmel Amrania, PhD - CEO of Digistain
Dr Nikolay Vasev - Epix.AI
Georgi Kadrev, Co-founder & CEO, Imagga Technologies & Kelvin Health
Dimitar Dimitrov - CEO of Hemokin
Georgi Trankov, CFO of Barin Sports
Hans Houf - Chief Executive Officer - BullCharge
Murad Redzheb, PhD - Founder and CEO - MatriChem
Petko Iliev - COO - Feasyfy

"The Promise and Perils of Deep Tech: Ethical Considerations for Technological Progress"

Moderator: Monika Manolova, PhD - Digital National Alliance
Speakers:
Richard Foster-Fletcher, Chair and Founder of Morality and Knowledge in Artificial Intelligence (MKAI)
Marisa Zalabak, Founder of Open Channel Culture, Co-Chair of the Planet Positive 2030 Global Methodologies, Co-Chair of the IEEE AI Ethics Education Committee
Prof. Melodena Stephens, Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government, United Arab Emirates

European National Funds for Technology Transfer


Pavel Lisev - CEO and Member of the Management Board at Fund of Funds in Bulgaria (FMFIB)
Jan Klesla - Senior Policy Advisor to the Director General for Digitization and Innovations at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic

Prof. Dr. Nick Guldemond PhD DSc, Professor of Healthcare & Public Health

Dr. Emmanuel Alexandrakis – Adjunct Professor in Health Sector Strategy, MBA International, Athens University of Economics & Business, Health Economy Global Strategist, WifOR Institute

Keynote

Milen Genchev, Google Cloud and Aleksandar Aleksiev, Europe Cloud: Generative AI : Unlocking the power of Machine learning

Keynote

Prof. Dr. Vladia Borisova, President, Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria: "Protecting Innovation: The Role of Patents and IP in Spinoff Success"

Corporations for innovation

Moderator: Kristina Eskenazi - AI Cluster Bulgaria, Health & Life Sciences Cluster
Speakers:
Hesham Sabry - General Manager of Roche Bulgaria
Nikolay Jordanov - Managing Director at Kontrax
Lubomir Stanislavov - CEO at Automotive Cluster Bulgaria
Assoc. Prof. Ivan Angelov - Director of the MP “Strategic Management” at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski

"Breaking Barriers: Women Driving Innovation and Spinoff Success in Deep Tech"

Moderator: Paulina Chortova, Women in DeepTech
Speakers:
Maria Hristova - CEO of Sofia Investment Agency
Teodora Lapshova - Author and screenwriter of "INOVATIVNO" at Bulgarian National Television
Victoria Hristova - Executive Director and Board member of the Fund of Funds in Bulgaria (FMFIB)
Associate Professor Agata Manolova - Technical University of Sofia

Marcos António Nogueira - President of Europe Initiative Think-tank (ACDIPE), Project Coordinator at H2020-AURORAL

Keynote

Ceremony The best Spinoff for 2022

CyberCLUB special edition

Speakers:
Anton Puliyski, CyberCLUB, Founder & Community manager
Rossina Choleeva - Kirkova - President of ISACA Sofia Chapter

Networking cocktail / Live music

Day 02 full schedule

29.09.2023

Registration

Opening Keynote

Academician Nikolai Denkov - Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria (TBC)
Galin Tzokov - Minister of Education and Science (TBC)
Milena Stoycheva - Minister of Innovation and Growth (TBC)
Alexander Yolovski - Minister of e-Government (TBC)

Keynote

Boyan Jekov, HE Bulgarian National Coordinator

Keynote

Marina ZANCHI, HaDEA Director: Introduction to HaDEA

Keynote

Angelo MARINO, Head of HaDEA Department A: Health and Food Presentation of HaDEA/A, Health and Food programs and Tips & Tricks for applying for EC funding

Keynote

Q&A

Coffee break

Katleen ENGELBOSCH, Head of HaDEA Department B: Digital, Industry and Space Presentation of HaDEA/B, Programs on Digital, Industry and Space and Synergies

Keynote

Q&A

Lunch break

EIT Manufacturing

"Building successful EU-funded projects (Panel discussion)"

Moderator: Montserrat Daban, the President of the European Bioregions Council (CEBR)
Prof. Victoria Sarafian, MD, PhD, DSc - Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv
Yana Georgieva, Medical University-Sofia, member of the management board of the Strategic research and innovation programme
Maria Nakova - EDIH in construction, Cleantech Bulgaria
Maria Pournari - COO EDIH Health Hub, Larisa

Daniel Abbou - General manager of KI Bundesverband

Testimonials – Showing European experiences in the Health and Digital sectors

Moderator: Kristina Eskenazi - AI Cluster Bulgaria, Health & Life Sciences Cluster
Speakers:
Irena Pavlova - EU Programmes Manager at GATE, Project Veles
Prof. Iliya Iliev - Perimed
Felip Miralles - Executive Director, Health Technologies at Eurecat - Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya
Apostolos Dimitriadis - BD & In Manager, FORTH, Institute of Computer Science

Keynote

"Innovative Agrotech Solutions: Cultivating Sustainable Growth and Generating Spinoff Opportunities"

Svetlana Boyanova, Chairperson of Institute for Agrostrategies and Innovations and Chairperson of AgroHub.BG
Mariyana Hamanova – Executive Director of Cleantech Bulgaria and NCP for Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

"Building a Strong Foundation: Exploring the Intersection of Spinoff and Infrastructure"

Moderator: Assoc. Professor Dimitar Nikolov - Chair of the Managing Board of The Cluster of Microelectronics and Industrial Electronics Systems (CMIES), TU Sofia
Speakers:
Todor Mladenov - Chief Executive Officer&Board Member · Sofia Tech Park JSC
Svetoslav Mollov, Head of Technology Transfer and Commercialization at Quasar Competence Center
Prof. Dr Eng. Georgi Todorov - Technical University Sofia
Prof. Todor Ganchev - Head of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the Technical University of Varna
Kiril Kirilov - Оperational manager at Discoverer

Closing remarks

Workshops & Side Events

Practical Masterclass for application in Horizon Europe

Albena Kuyumdzhieva, Petya Najdenova-Andreeva, Kiril Borisov, Viktoria Petrova

AI Master Class (25 seats)

Trainer: Svetlin Penkov and Evgeny Marinov

DevFest Plovdiv'23 - Web, Mobile, AI/ML, Cloud Workshops

Organised by GDG Plovdiv with the support of Google Cloud and Europe Cloud

Brands Behind Us

Our Great Organizers

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Registration

Pass for 1 person

Access to recordings and materials from the event

Coffee breaks and lunch provided

Networking with speakers, participants and event partners

Evening catering and cocktails for all guests

2 Days of access to both conference tracks full of insights and learning opportunities

Access to Exclusive Workshops

Register

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