High-Technology Business Incubator-Varna

 
High-Technology Business Incubator-Varna is a non-profit association, providing support and stimulating the regional hi-tech economy development.

HTBIV-BG is the biggest association for scientific investigation, high technology and innovation in the North-East region.

The Association HTBI-Varna includes 24 organizations as follows:

• 5 universities;
• 4 scientific and research institutes;
• 2 representatives of the local authorities;
• 3 scientific and research institutes;
• 1 bank;
• 5 non-governmental organizations;
• 4 business companies.

The priority areas of specialization are:

• Information and telecommunication technologies;
• Technologies for environmental protection and sustainable resources (incl. alternative energy);
• Advanced maritime technologies;
• Medical and pharmaceutical technologies.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

The North-East Planning Region has six universities, five scientific and research institutes, mainly in maritime technology as well as centres for training and professional qualification. However due to financial shortages in the last decade, the opportunities for the development of many science and technology centres have been very limited.

The knowledge base of the North-East Planning Region industry has to be raised on two accounts: to improve the innovation performance of the firms and to enable the firms to absorb knowledge originating from public sector research. This calls for improvement of the research and development base in industry as well as for effective knowledge transfer mechanisms.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Five of the six universities in the NEPR are concentrated in Varna:

• Technical University of Varna;
• University of Economics - Varna;
• Varna Free University;
• Naval Academy - Varna;
• Medical University - Varna.

One university /Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shoumen/ and one college are situated in Shoumen, two colleges in Dobritch, one college in Razgrad.

There are also a lot of trainig and professional centers on the territory of the NEPR, most of which are concentrated in Varna and in the other district centers.

SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS START-UPS 

 
The business and market infrastructure of the region is not developed enough, according to the Regional plan for Development  2007-2013, it does not correspond to the contemporary needs of the business in the region.

The sector of business serveces is still not well developed to satisfy the needs of the regional business. For the promotion of entrepreneurship and employment in the region there are a number of business centers, incubators, regional development agencies and one Euro-Info center.

HTBI-Varna is the coordinator of RIS project for the NEPR, which aims at diagnosing the present situation of the business support in the region and the supply of business services and innovations for the regional SMEs and start-ups. On the base of this research, the relevant measures will be undertaken, under the Regional Innovation Strategy for the NEPR.

IMPORTANT EVENTS, FAIRS, CONGRESSES

 
There are a lot of important business events, concentrated mainly in the district centers of the NEPR.

MOST IMPORTANT SERVICES

•  Euro Office Basic Service
• Consulting services for innovative and high-technology firms
• Preferable renting prices for innovative and high-technology firms
• Technical assistance for innovative and high-technology firms

HTBI - Varna provides to companies suitable services and facilities which include:

Renting to companies:

• Offices;
• Manufacturing  areas (workshops);
• Storage-accommodation;
• Conference rooms;
• Rooms intended for meetings;
• Technical equipment.

 
Information and resources;

Communication services:

• High-speed Internet;
• Suitable telephone ifrastructure;

Technical assistance:

• Printing and copying;
• Technical services - workshops and laboratories;
• Consultancy for high-tech businesses, including equipment supply;
• Solving specific technological and technical problems.

HTBI - Varna focuses on supporting local firms in a wide range of areas. The following services are rendered to companies renting premises and equipment as well as to other technology-oriented companies not involved in the incubator:

• Lawyers' office;
• Accounting and financial services;
• Marketing consultancy;
• Patent law;
• Business partnership;
• Training.

LINKS TO MOST IMPORTANT SERVICES

Official website of the region

www.htbi-varna.org

Economic Development Organisation of the region
www.nebg-ris.net