Innovations in School Education in Sofia

Sofia aims to be a city of innovations. In recent years, the Bulgarian capital has become a regional center of information and communication technologies with over 40,000 people employed in the IT sector. Information technologies are among the fastest growing industries - they make up 5.7% of the city's economy, and innovative young people are the future of the city.

Sofia is the first city in Bulgaria to follow its "Intelligent Specialization Strategy" (has been doing it since 2016), which allows people, scientific infrastructure, innovative products and resources to be used more efficiently. Sofia Tech Park - the first science and technology park in the country, is also located in Sofia. The Intelligent City model is being developed through policies and instruments aimed mainly at the younger generation. Two big centers of innovative thinking await the children in Sofia - the largest children's science center in Eastern Europe – Muzeyko, and TechnoMagic Land - Children's Interactive Center for Science and Technology. For several years now, Sofia Development Association has been organizing hackathons at which young people seek solutions for urban problems. More than 10 startup companies have started from hackathons. On December 4, 2018 the first training for students in entrepreneurship and digital skills will begin in Sofia. Partners of the initiative are the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University and FEBA Alumni Centre.

In order to further support start-ups on its territory, Sofia has joined the international start-up platform SCALE - an international online portal designed to help develop a unified, transparent European startup ecosystem.