The Minister of Innovation and Growth held workshops with representatives of local authorities, American companies and universities
The Minister of Innovation and Growth, Milena Stoycheva, discussed investment opportunities in Bulgaria and the development of technology and innovation with the senior advisor to the Governor of the State of California, Gavin Newsom, Dee Dee Myers. Dee Myers is also the Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO_Biz).
The purpose of the working visit of Minister Stoycheva is to expand the presence of Bulgarian companies in the state of California, as well as to attract investors in our country in priority sectors such as information and communication technologies, mechatronics and microelectronics, artificial intelligence, bioeconomy and biotechnology, space technologies, circular economy.
“The development of cooperation between Bulgaria and the state of California in the field of high technologies and deep innovations is a continuation of our efforts to activate the Strategic Dialogue between the country and the USA. Technologies can be a bridge between Bulgaria and California and support our economic growth,” said Minister Stoycheva at the meeting with Dee Myers. The Minister of Innovation and Growth and the Governor’s Advisor agreed to work towards signing a memorandum of cooperation that would boost economic relations and expand opportunities for Bulgarian companies to enter new markets.
Minister Stoycheva also held a work meeting with Meta representatives at the company’s headquarters in California. Together with Vice President of Product Policy and Strategy Andy O’Connell they discussed the development of artificial intelligence, the possibilities of developing new personalized learning methods that involve solving specific problems, telemedicine and the company’s vision for the future of artificial intelligence. With Hod Filkenstein, who is responsible for the development of virtual reality technologies, Minister Stoycheva discussed the possibilities for partnerships between universities and the company for training and realization of talents that would contribute to the development of the ecosystem in Bulgaria.
“In Bulgaria, we have a globally recognized institute for artificial intelligence – INSAIT, which a few days ago presented BgGPT – the first open language model adapted to the Bulgarian language. There are already two deep tech startups from the institute. This is an area in which Bulgaria has chosen to invest and in which I believe we can develop cooperation. Bulgaria has some of the best talents and our goal is to develop the country’s ecosystem and innovation capacity,” said the Minister of Innovation and Growth.
Within the framework of the working visit to California, Minister Stoycheva held meetings with the mayor of El Paso de Robles John Harmon, of Santa Paula – Leslie Cornejo, with representatives of the local government in Fresno, with the president of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Jeffrey Armstrong.
At the meetings with the mayors, the Minister of Innovation and Growth discussed specific opportunities for developing partnerships with Bulgarian municipalities and presented Bulgaria as a good destination for investments. Part of the discussions was the model of innovation valleys for cooperation between local authorities, businesses and scientific institutions. The mayors introduced the minister to the projects for an innovation park for space technologies (Space Port) in El Paso de Robles and the incubator for medical device technologies in Santa Paula. Minister Stoycheva stated that she will work purposefully to create opportunities for cooperation of mutual interest between Bulgarian and Californian cities.
“2024 will be the year of development and growth through partnerships – between countries, regions, entrepreneurs, partnerships that serve for the peaceful exploration of space,” said Minister Stoycheva.
