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From 24 to 26 March, 2026, at the “Peroto” Literary Club, National Palace of Culture in Sofia, APACCCEEC held its Annual Forum and Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Agriculture. The initiative was organized in partnership with the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and aims to promote youth entrepreneurship and build upon the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bulgaria and the CEE countries.

The Annual Forum and Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Agriculture was officially inaugurated on March 24, 2026, with welcoming remarks by Dr. Momchil Stanishhev, Director of APACCCEEC, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Todor Yalamov, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Economics at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.”

The program for the Annual Forum and Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Agriculture featured a wide range of lectures and workshops. The speakers at the event included:

  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov, Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE), who introduced the participants to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, explored its connection to innovation, and presented the characteristics of the popular Business Model Canvas and its practical application;
  • Ch. Assist. Prof. Dr. Krum Hristov, a lecturer at Agricultural University – Plovdiv, explained the main challenges facing modern agriculture and outlined the key features of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy;
  • Dr. Silvia Todorova, an intellectual property representative specializing in trademarks, geographical indications, and designs at the Bulgarian Patent Office, served as a lecturer on “Intellectual Property”
  • Dr. Momchil Stanishev, Director of APACCCEEC, held practical workshops with simulation games on the topics “Leadership and Team Management” and “Quo Vadis, Entrepreneurship,” which highlighted the main leadership styles and emphasized the important role of emotional intelligence in modern business.
  • Assoc. Prof. Marina Stefanova, a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and director of the Master’s program in “Responsible and Sustainable Governance,” participated as a lecturer on “ESG Policies and Practices in Agriculture.”;
  • Ms. Svetla Markova, an experienced business administration professional with over 20 years of experience in project management, served as a lecturer on “Smart Farming – Challenges and Opportunities”;
  • Mr. Kalin Yonov, who has vast experience in industrial management, joined the Academy as a lecturer on “Presentation Skills,” focusing on the most important elements of presenting a business idea;
  • Dr. Rosen Ivanov from Agricultural University – Plovdiv answered an important question for all entrepreneurs – Why Startups Fail?
  • Ms. Zoya Damyanova, Executive Director of the Applied Research and Communications Fund (ARC Fund) and her colleagues, Ms. Mihaela Dineva and Assoc. Prof. Daniela Georgieva, participated in the Academy with specialized sessions on “Funding Opportunities” and “Project Management in Agriculture.” During the presentation, ARC Fund’s team shared practical guidelines and opportunities for companies, focusing on the green and digital transition of SMEs, as well as funding opportunities under the Horizon Europe program;
  • Dr. Stanimir Andonov, lecturer at the Technical University – Sofia, introduced the participants to the development of marketing and branding strategies. The expert explained how every entrepreneur can use customer preferences and market trends to build and promote a successful brand, giving popular examples from Bulgaria and around the world.
  • Ms. Natasha Marinova, an expert in environmental studies and natural resource management, as well as a lecturer and researcher at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, participated as a lecturer on “Urban Agriculture”;
  • Stanislav Atanasov from Digital Innovation Hub Trakia introduced the participants to a topic of importance beyond the boundaries of entrepreneurship and business – cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI). Mr. Atanasov demonstrated AI-based programs and platforms.
  • Dr. Maria Trifonova, Chief Assistant in the Department of Sectoral Economics and Management at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University and Director of the Master’s program in “Energy Markets and Services,” participated in the final lecture of the Academy’s extensive program – Renewable Energy Sources (RES). She presented the main characteristics of RES and their significance for the agricultural sector.
  • A representative from Poland — Dr. Michał Wojtaszek from Warsaw University of Business and Psychology “Moderna” —also participated as a guest lecturer at the Academy. Dr. Wojtaszek spoke to the participants about the current state of the agricultural sector in Poland and the challenges facing startups in Central and Eastern Europe’s largest agricultural producer.

On the final day of the Annual Forum and Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Agriculture on March 27, a total of 17 participants presented their project concepts in 10-minute presentations to a judging committee, which, following a secret vote, decided to name 27-year-old Yoan Danailov as the winner with his project idea “Smart Roots Pazardzhik” for the implementation of semi-automated organic seedling production in the Pazardzhik region. Yoan Danailov won the €2,500 prize, which he will use to implement his project proposal.

In addition, a number of other project ideas were presented on the final day, including: proposals for converting waste biomass into charcoal; the development of a food safety platform; the establishment and operation of a saffron plantation; an innovation for the production of bee venom (apitoxin); among many others.

APACCCEEC team expresses its gratitude to its entire partner network, especially to the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and the team of National Palace of Culture, who assisted in organizing and conducting the Annual Forum and Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Agriculture in Sofia.

We congratulate the winner, Yoan Danailov, as well as all the participants, and wish them every success in the future!

The next edition of the Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture will be held in the old capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo, from 13 to 16 October 2026. Detailed information is available here: https://china2ceec.org/veliko-tarnovo