From 28 to 30 October 2026, the Regional Innovation Centre “Ambitious Gabrovo” actively participated as a partner in Gabrovo Innovation Camp 2026, bringing together representatives of business, academia, local government and civil society to develop innovative ideas for the future of Gabrovo.
RIC representatives took part in both main challenges of the event: “Gabrovo 2030: From Knowledge to Industrial Innovation” and “Gabrovo 2032: The Space Between Us”, contributing expertise and ideas to the development of practical solutions for the region.
During the first day, RIC’s AI technology expert, Alexander Angelov, participated in the discussion panel “Technological Change and Support for Industrial Innovation”, sharing insights into recent AI developments and their practical applications in business and public administration.
Throughout the three-day event, participants worked together to identify opportunities for stronger cooperation, explore the region’s technological and creative potential, and develop innovative concepts with long-term impact.
Gabrovo Industry Lab 2030 – Connecting Science and Industry
On the final day, the working group addressing “Gabrovo 2030: From Knowledge to Industrial Innovation” presented the Gabrovo Industry Lab 2030 concept, developed with the active involvement of RIC Gabrovo.
The proposal envisions an open innovation platform connecting businesses, researchers, students and technology experts to address real industrial challenges through four key stages:
- Industry Challenges – identifying technological needs of local companies.
- Innovation Teams – bringing together multidisciplinary teams to develop solutions.
- Prototype & Test – developing and testing technologies in real industrial environments.
- Scale & Invest – implementing and scaling successful innovations.
The concept focuses on Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, automation, intelligent manufacturing, circular economy and skills development. It also explores the establishment of a mechatronics consortium to connect regional expertise and technological resources.
Gabrovo 2032 – The Space Between Us
RIC Gabrovo was also represented in the second working group, “Gabrovo 2032: The Space Between Us”, which explored how culture can turn technological change into opportunities for creative entrepreneurship and more connected communities.
The group brought together representatives of cultural institutions, independent artists, creative entrepreneurs, educational organisations, businesses and civil society to develop a model for cultural collaboration and pilot initiatives supporting Gabrovo’s bid for European Capital of Culture 2032.
RIC’s representative actively contributed to the discussions and the development of the group’s final proposal, helping achieve a successful presentation of ideas aimed at strengthening cultural cooperation, encouraging creativity and creating lasting benefits for the local community.
Building a More Innovative and Connected Gabrovo
Gabrovo Innovation Camp 2026 demonstrated the importance of collaboration across different sectors in shaping the region’s future. Through its participation in both challenges, RIC “Ambitious Gabrovo” reaffirmed its commitment to connecting knowledge, technology, industry and creative communities.
The ideas developed during the camp represent valuable steps towards a more innovative, competitive and connected Gabrovo, where cooperation leads to practical solutions and sustainable regional development.
More information: https://gabrovoinnovationcamp.eu/
