Microsoft Innovation Days for the First Time in Bulgaria

Microsoft Bulgaria and the State Agency of ICT are co-organizers of two days conference

 

Today was the official opening of the Innovation Days, to be held in Bulgaria for the first time. Microsoft Bulgaria and the State Agency of ICT are co-organizers of the event.  

 

The conference was officially opened by Mr. Jan Muehlfeit, Vice President Corporate & Government Strategy, Microsoft Europe & Middle East, Africa, who was special guest of the event. Innovation Days started with a round table dedicated to "Innovation and IT - policies and practices". Microsoft representatives discussed with influentials from the business, public administration and academia the role of the IT industry in developing innovations and encouraging the growth of the local economy. Afterwards the SAICT presented its National Program for Accelerated Development of the Information Society.

 

"There are a lot of innovative organizations in Bulgaria with which we would like to share our experience. Innovations are key factor for growth in today's global world and knowledge economy. It is of crucial importance business and government to work together, as it happens in Bulgaria, for creating a favorable climate fostering innovation in the country and the region", said Teodor Milev, Microsoft Bulgaria's Managing Director.

 

During the second day of the conference Bulgarian and foreign companies will share their knowhow in developing Microsoft infrastructure solutions, ERPs and local developers' innovative solutions based on Microsoft technologies. Special accent will be put on the general availability of Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office system.

 

The First National Innovation Center under SAICT was opened earlier as part of the Innovation Days initiative. The main purpose of the center is to improve the interoperability of the information systems within the government infrastructure while protecting the privacy and security of the data. Bulgaria joining EUGA (European Union Grant Adviser) - a program supporting SMEs to apply for EU funding was also among the news of the day.