The forum will be held under the patronage of H.E. Iliana Iotova, President of the Republic of Bulgaria, and will bring together globally recognised experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders from more than 10 countries.
On 5–7 October 2026, the city of Varna, Bulgaria, will host the CONNEXUS Black Sea Technology Forum—a three-day international technology event bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, researchers, and representatives of academia from more than ten countries.
The forum is organised by ICT Cluster – Varna in partnership with the Municipality of Varna, the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, BRAIN++ – the Bulgarian AI Factory, and the Applied Research and Communications Fund (ARCFund). The event is held under the patronage of H.E. Iliana Iotova, President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The forum aims to strengthen the Black Sea region's position as an emerging hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.
The Forum
The forum will take place at the Cherno More Hotel over three days, featuring two parallel conference tracks and a large exhibition area for technology companies and partners.
More than 500 participants and 35+ exhibitors from Bulgaria and abroad are expected to showcase innovative products, technologies, and services in artificial intelligence, automation, industrial solutions, cybersecurity, maritime technologies, smart cities, and digital transformation.
The exhibition will create opportunities for live demonstrations, direct meetings with technology developers and investors, and new business partnerships.
The programme includes keynote sessions, thematic panel discussions, B2B meetings, technology demonstrations, startup pitches, and networking events focused on practical solutions and market-ready innovations. A dedicated part of the programme will also explore collaboration between business, academia, and public institutions, an important approach to building competitive innovation ecosystems across the Black Sea region.