Presentation RCI

							          The Bulgarian ICT Cluster



New Paths for Regional ICT Success
  May 16 - 17, 2006, Zagreb, Croatia
                   The ICT Cluster’s Mission:
                 To make ICT the leading industry and economic and social
                                 driving force in Bulgaria
Main Strategic Directions:

• State ICT Policies and Practices - ensuring the participatory and
  timely national ICT policy formation and implementation and lobbying
  for better understanding on the political level for the economic
  importance of ICT

• Market Environment for ICT – initiatives with SMEs and ICT–enabled
  local initiatives

• Education and Professional Development - better training, education,
  certification and workforce experience

• Branding, Positioning and Promotion - formulating and positioning
  the Bulgarian ICT industry message.
                       The ICT Cluster Society
                Bulgarian ICT Organizations in Synergy
                                            Organizations in the ICT Cluster Society
ICT policy has to be communicated on        BASSCOM (Bulgarian Association of Software
                                            Companies) www.basscom.org
many levels                                 BIBA (Bulgarian International Business Association)
                                            www.biba.bg
• All ICT institutions, programs,           BBKEPI (Bulgarian Branch Chamber for electronic
initiatives could benefit from              industry and Informatics)
information sharing, networking and         BWA (Bulgarian Web Association) www.bwa.bg/en
collaboration                               CLICT (Center for ICT Law) www.clict.net
                                            Club for Innovative Scenarios
• SMEs will thrive with more ICT -          E-Health Bulgaria Foundation www.ehealth-bg.org
machine building, retail, engineering,      Internet Society Bulgaria www.isoc.bg
construction sector                         Interspace Association www.i-space.org
                                            NBDN (National Business Development Network)
• ICT is a global industry, international   www.nbdn-bg.org
cooperation is key                          National Research Network Association
                                            High-Technology Business Incubator-Gabrovo
                                            www.hitech-incubator.com
The ICT Cluster is happy to engage in       High-Technology Business Incubator-Varna
                                            www.htbi-varna.org
such projects and provide networking,       ASTEL (Association for Telecommunications)
support of high level specialists and       www.astel-bg.com
spread information.                         Association iCenters www.icentres.net
                                            SEC (Society for Electronic Communications)
                                            www.bgsec.org
                            Overview of ICT Cluster System                                                          USA GER FRA
                                      Global Outsourcing Marketplaces
         National                          (e.g. elance.com, rentacoder.com)
         IT Policy                                                                                  Virtual            UK        UAE
          (IT Body)                                                                               Incubator /
                                      Online Opportunities Exchange
                        NGOs           national portal for credential-building projects             Business
Government                                                                                                           PPP IT Promotion
                                                                                                  Accelerator        Networks Abroad

                                           University-affiliated Talent
          Business                           (includes startup IT entrepreneurs)                  Regional
         Associations                                                                                                         Users
                                                                                                “Quick start”
                                                                                                  eCenter                 Bulgarian-
                                                                                                  Facilities                Owned
                                                                                                  •Tele-centers            IT Firms
                                                                                                   •Incubators
                                                                                               •Business Centers         International
                                               ICT                                             •Learning Centers        IT Companies
        Technology                                                                               •E-Gov Portal
        Scholarship
                                             CLUSTER                                                                      in Bulgaria

           Fund                            COORDINATION
                                                                                                                          Innovators /
                                                                                                                            Inventors
                                                                                                  Business
                                                                                                     and
                                                                                                 Technology             Bulgarian SMEs
     Virtual                                                                                        Parks              from all economic
                      European                                                                                              sectors
    Centers of
    Excellence        Software
                      Institute
    Global “guru”        Basic IT
       network          Education,
                                       International                Bulgarian-             Municipalities             Private
                         Training,    IT Companies                    Owned               (offer lands, buildings    Developers
                        Re-Training     in Bulgaria                IT Companies                   to PPPs)          (invest in PPPs)
IT Masters Programs in Bulgaria

           Master of Information
           Technology Management
           (MITM)
           Master of Project Management
           (MPM)
           (www.bimtbg.com)



            Master of Science in
            Information Systems
            (http://www-it.fmi.uni-
            sofia.bg/msis)
                              HTBI Varna
                           www.htbi-varna.org

HTBI Varna was
inaugurated after           built-up area: 770 m2
                            all-out area: 3168 m2
extensive reconstruction    usable area: 2078 m2
on June 21, 2005. It has
premises intended for
incubated technology
companies
HTBI-Varna launched its
first campaign for
admission of companies
HTBI Varna is leading
partner for design and
implementation of North-
East Regional Innovation
Startegy
                                                           Gabrovo
                          www.hitech-incubator.org
HTBI Gabrovo was                        Municipality of
                                                                          Technical
                                                                          University-

inaugurated after extensive
                                          Gabrovo
                                                                           Gabrovo



reconstruction on August 03,
2005. It has premises                                     The Rector is the representative of the University in the Managing board



intended for incubated
technology companies.
                                  The Mayor is the representative of the Municipality in the Managing board

                                                                                                                                         Hi-Tech Business Incubator-Gabrovo NGO
                                                                            Experts
                                                                                                                                         owns 34% of the capital of the company.
                                                                                                               Managing Board            Technical University-Gabrovo owns 33%
                                                                                                                                         33% of the capital are ownership of

HTBI will offer on-line
                                                 Managers
                                                                                                                                          leading Bulgarian hi-tech companies:
                                                                                                                                         Black Sea Consulting Group (BSC) Ltd.


consultations for innovative IT
                                                                                                         Expert – Consultative Counsel   David Ltd.
                                              Experts (in the
                                              fields of IT and
                                                                                                                                         Fixsoft Ltd.


projects for creation of new
                                                  business




products and services so that
their market value would
                                                                                                         Hi- Tech Business Incubator
                                                                                                             Association- Gabrovo


increase.                                                                                                                                  Hi- Tech Business Incubator Ltd.-
                                                                                                                                                       Gabrovo


HTBI will provide services for
business – making analyses,
spreading current information
about innovations, markets,
opportunities for financing.
                         2006 Calendar
1.    Launch of Intel Entrepreneurship Program within three
      leading universities – SU, TU, NBU
2.    Collaboration and Expert Assistance to MoJ, MoH,
      MoE, SAITC, …
3.    Supporting Bulgarian IT booth at CEBIT
4.    Foundation of National Laboratory for Parallel
      Computing
5.    Launch of Bulgarian National Broad Band Initiative
6.   Stevens Institute of Technology, NJ - Growing
      Bulgaria’s Software Industry: Innovative Technology
      Cluster Strategy
7.    Round Table ‘From Knowledge to Growth - SME
      Competitiveness during accession period ’
Thank You!