Stimulating and accelerating cooperation
Trakia Economic Zone (TEZ) and Eindhoven International Project Office (EIPO) signed today in Plovdiv a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at stimulating and accelerating the cooperation and increasing the attractiveness of the business and innovation climate in Bulgaria and the region. The memorandum envisages cooperation in the areas of development of high-tech parks, smart cities and various future proof technologies such as robotics, mechatronics, renewable energy, machine building, etc.
The document was signed by the CEO of Trakia Economic Zone Mr. Plamen Panchev and by Mr. Joost Helms and Mr. Peter Portheine, Directors of EIPO Eindhoven. The memorandum and the cooperation between TEZ and EIPO follow up to the visit of Bulgarian delegation of the Ministry of Innovation and Growth to the Netherlands last summer. Stimulating the bilateral cooperation in the field of innovation is among the priorities of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bulgaria and our team is happy to facilitate the process.
Eindhoven International Project Office is a well-known international connector to the Brainport Eindhoven ecosystem, with a focus on Europe and Asia. EIPO is an independent developer and advisor to cities, economic regions and industrial conglomerates, with a core expertise in creating strategies for innovation, smart city planning and economic and industrial development, ecosystem development, integrated industrial park and campus concepts and multi stakeholder collaboration.
Launched in 1995, Trakia Economic Zone is one of the biggest economic projects in Bulgaria and East Europe. It is a public-private partnership including 5 major industrial zones in the region of Plovdiv. Some 200 investors have located their sites in the region in TEZ, of which are 80 multinational companies, creating over 45.000 jobs.
Following to the signing the delegation from EIPO had a meeting with Mr. Stefan Stoyanov, Deputy Mayor of Plovdiv on Education, Business Development and European Policies and visited Maritsa carbon neutral park, part of TEZ, Plovdiv branch of the Technical University and the company Milara International.
Enriching and inspiring meetings
The delegation, led by ambassador Simon van der Burg, visited Sofia Tech Park (STP) where they learned a lot about the performance and development of the tech park from the STP CEO, Mr. Todor Mladenov. They also visited the MicroNanoLab at the Park, which specializes in research, testing, analysis, design and prototyping in the field of printed circuit boards, micro- and nanoelectronics.
At Sofia Invest Agency, the delegation received extensive information on the economic profile and competitive advantages of the capital as an investment destination.
The Dutch startup Sourcelab organized an event at CampusX where young Dutch and Bulgarian entrepreneurs shared their success stories and insights on the development and challenges of the country’s innovation ecosystem.
The delegation also had the great pleasure of meeting and discussing the future of Bulgarian-Dutch innovation cooperation with the Minister of Innovation and Growth, Mrs. Milena Stoycheva, who took office just two weeks ago. Building on the extensive experience and knowledge of the Minister of the Innovation Ecosystem in Bulgaria, both sides were happy to speak the same language and come up with concrete ideas for future activities with a possible focus on better regional diversification of investments, development of culture and creative industries.