On June 12, 2025, the Business Park “Scientia” in Gabrovo hosted a business forum under the theme “Sustainable Development, Innovation, and International Cooperation”, bringing together representatives from local authorities, businesses, academia, and the non-profit sector. The event aimed to foster dialogue among key stakeholders and present funding and partnership opportunities for the 2025–2027 period.
Panel 1: Sustainable Development
The event opened with welcoming remarks from Desislava Koleva, Chief Expert and Director of the Sustainable Development Directorate of the Municipality of Gabrovo who emphasized the importance of sustainability as a core direction for both governance and business. The first presentation, delivered by Irena Rashkova from RIC “Ambitious Gabrovo,” introduced a new monitoring tool designed to turn sustainability measurement into practical action.
Assoc. Prof. Plamen Tsankov from the Technical University of Gabrovo focused on practical energy efficiency measures for SMEs, highlighting their role in reducing carbon emissions.
A key highlight of the panel was the “ESG 3.0” presentation by Violeta Hristova and Vesela Vassileva from EMICERT V Ltd. They showcased how innovation and a holistic ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) approach can turn regulatory compliance into a true competitive advantage for businesses.
The panel concluded with an interactive eco-competition called QUIZshop, where participants earned “green” points by answering sustainability-themed questions and exchanged them for eco-friendly prizes.
Panel 2: Innovation and International Cooperation
After lunch and networking, the second panel focused on business growth through innovation and global collaboration. Maria Ilcheva, an expert in European and national funding, outlined upcoming support programs available from 2025 to 2027.
Experts from RIC “Ambitious Gabrovo” — Danitsa Yanakieva, Hari Bogdanov, Iva Hinkova, and Svetoslav Mateev — presented the benefits of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), interregional cooperation through the Allon_I3 project, and the role of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) in boosting the digital maturity of enterprises.
Learning Through Play
The forum concluded with hands-on eco games, including waste-sorting races and eco-quizzes that engaged participants in fun, educational competitions. A special tasting area allowed guests to sample organic and local products, showcasing sustainable practices in the food and beverage sector.
The Gabrovo Forum affirmed itself as a dynamic platform for sharing ideas, best practices, and building partnerships driven by the vision of a more sustainable, innovative, and competitive future.
