In recent years, Bulgaria has made significant progress in the

In recent years, Bulgaria has made significant progress in the field of communication technologies. It is also recognized by our partners. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth Prof. Georgi Angelov at the opening of the National Conference " TELECOM2024 ". The forum aims to exchange knowledge and experience of specialists from various fields of electronic communications, as well as discuss the problems, achievements and implementation of modern telecommunication systems and networks, information technologies and e-government in practice. The organizers of the forum are the Federation of Scientific and Technical Unions in Bulgaria, the Union of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Communications, the Technical University - Sofia, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Commission for Regulation of Communications, the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria and the IEEE Bulgarian Section. It was attended by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Dimitar Nedyalkov, the Deputy Chairman of the Commission for Regulation of Communications Kristina Khitrova and representatives of the scientific community. " The Ministry of Innovation and Growth (MIG) is responsible for the policies related to the Smart Specialization Strategy, which includes five thematic priority areas - " Information and Communication Technologies, " Mechatronics and Microelectronics ", Healthy Living Industry, Bioeconomy and Biotechnologies ”, “New Technologies in the Creative and Recreational Industries ” and “Clean Technologies, Circular and Low-Carbon Economy ”, said Prof. Angelov. He pointed out that the Ministry of Defence has various tools to promote these policies. Among them are the two European programs managed by the ministry – for the Competitiveness of Enterprises (PCIEP) and for scientific research (PNIIIDIT). The Ministry of Defence is also responsible for promoting innovation in the Defense sector through the NATO Innovation Fund and the Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), aimed at start-ups. Deputy Minister Angelov added that the country’s participation in the initiatives under the European Chips Act (EU Chips Act) will strengthen its competitiveness and sustainability in the field of semiconductor technologies and applications in Europe. He reminded that a few days ago a Bulgarian project was approved to establish a Center of Competence for Chips, which is included in the act for all member states of the European Union.