The Council for Innovation, Digitalization and New Technologies (CIDNT) at the BCCI presented its annual awards in the "Innovative Enterprise" competition

The Council for Innovation, Digitization and New Technologies (CIDNT) of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, together with the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria, were co-organizers of the annual awards ceremony of CIDNT in the "Innovative Enterprise" competition, which took place in the Patent Office building.

Three companies were awarded. In the "Innovative enterprise of 2023" category, "Optiks" AD was awarded. In the category "Start-up innovative company of 2023" - "Antarta" AD, and in the category "Innovative project of 2023" - "Endurosat" EAD.

The President of the Patent Office Olya Dimitrova opened the ceremony and noted that intellectual property is an investment with a long-term perspective and of utmost importance for any innovation-based economy, as it allows companies and individual inventors to protect their technological solutions and receive dividends for them.

The President of the BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov thanked for the good partnership between CIDNT and the Patent Office and expressed hope that it will continue in the future. He expressed his satisfaction with the selection of the three Bulgarian companies for awarding and emphasized that the chosen ones deserve these awards because they work in the field of intellectual property, which has always been a challenging field.

"I wish everyone working in the field of intellectual property much success. And to the institutions that help in its development in Bulgaria and to the companies contributing to our economy creating added value and becoming more competitive, energy and perseverance," concluded Simeonov.

In his welcome, the chairman of CIDNT to the BCCI, Radoslav Petkov, pointed out that the main goal of the Council is to contribute to the development of inclusive and open innovation systems in which enterprises can communicate with other European and global economies and ecosystems. To be able to effectively protect their ideas and inventions, to have access to financing, to attract highly qualified personnel, to develop their business.

Petkov noted that in recent years, we have witnessed how innovations not only facilitate the daily life of citizens, but also offer solutions to a number of complex problems - from sustainable technologies for environmental protection to breakthroughs in medicine and artificial intelligence.

"Your effort is the key to a better future for all of us. We must give well-deserved recognition to those who stand out for their innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, tireless work and determination to show that Space is closer than it seems. That the foods of the future will provide the necessary energy for the development of humanity, that leading innovations can be the focus of companies' development for decades. I look forward to seeing how your innovations will continue to shape the world tomorrow," Petkov concluded.

Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Dr. David Sukalinski pointed out that the development of many industries and businesses is based on the protection of their intellectual property, and turned attention to its economic benefits.

"Intellectual property protection guarantees job creation, employment promotion, technology exchange, and protects future investments. Whether we're talking about virtual applications or physical inventions, intellectual property provides a way to protect all of them," Sukalinski added.

Radoslav Rizov, Chief Director of the General Directorate "European Funds for Competitiveness" in the Ministry of Innovation and Growth stated that the department has set itself an ambitious goal - to turn Bulgaria into an innovation hub in Southeast Europe and that the achievement of this goal goes through active cooperation between all countries in the region, and through the promotion of innovation at national and regional level.