VARNA, Bulgaria — During the period 02-04.10.2024, all partners attended the first project events, organized in Bulgaria by UBBSLA with the support of TUV – Varna. EfxINNOs three-days event started with the project meeting held in Varna at the Technical University Rectorate, where the role of each partner and the current tasks were clarified. The kick-off meeting was accompanied by one day Joint Open Workshop, also conducted in Varna targeting to reach out to local experts, practitioners, decisions makers, media and relevant key stakeholders.
This public event provided a platform for presenting the project’s objectives and
fostering networking among stakeholders. Presentations by partners and
stakeholders emphasized how EfxINNOs’ goals align with local priorities, enhancing
cooperation and collaboration. A press conference was featured during the
workshop, attracting significant interest from journalists and increasing the project’s
visibility. This media engagement helped to raise public awareness about the
project’s aims and activities.
The international event brought together partners and over 60 participants from
government, local authorities, institutions responsible for water and biodiversity
protection, lecturers and student, civil society and industry contributed to the event.
Among them we had representatives of six Black Sea municipalities (Varna, Pomorie,
Shabla, Dolni chiflik, Dalgopol, Kavarna) Regional Information Center – Varna, Local
Initiative Group Dulgopol-Smiadovo, etc. We had representatives of the Institute of
Oceanology and the Basin Directorate “Black Sea Region” – the most important
institutions responsible for the marine protection in Bulgaria, also representatives of
the NGO sector (Public Center for Environment and Sustainable Development, Black
Sea Regional Agency for Entrepreneurship and Energy Management (BSRAEM),
Institute for Youth Initiatives and Innovations (IYII), Black Sea Coastal Association,
Institute for Ecological Modernisation), SME’s (International Black Sea Club, Chamber
of Commerce and Industry Dobrich, Black Sea Energy Cluster (BSEC), Marine Cluster
Bulgaria), and general public (students and teachers from Varna Technical
University).
On the next day, the pilot sites visit was an opportunity to check “on ground” the
various options available for the deployment of the info kiosks and to provide the
involved local authorities a better understanding of the project’s scope and impact
and particularly make a tangible connection of the research and monitoring
activities planned for the Bulgarian Black Sea coast with the place-based local
development operations.
