MOVE.BG and the Hanns Seidel Foundation, in partnership with the Bulgarian Centre for Women in Technology (BCWT), the open network EDIT and the Economic Policy Institute are organising on 12 March 2018 in Sofia the first of its kind unconference ...
Hack the Balkans
The event is part of the Pan-Balkan Initiative for Digital Cooperation, launched at the international conference EDIT4Tomorrow on the 23rd of November 2017 in Sofia.
Hack the Balkans will bring together experts in the three key areas of cooperation – startup collaboration, women in ICT and cybersecurity.
Participants will include representatives from EU institutions, Western Balkan and Bulgarian governments, digital leaders, as well as businesses and companies from the Balkan region.
The goal of the unconference is to discuss concrete solutions and initiatives for cooperation among all stakeholders and to highlight priority areas in the ongoing process of European integration of the Western Balkans.
Experts in the three key topics will work together to develop joint solutions and recommendations for further partnerships.
Creating a sustainable network for startup collaboration in the region is essential for supporting the growth of the digital economy.
The first working group will focus on the digital development through entrepreneurship, innovation and digital skills.
In order to make sure the innovative economy is inclusive and effective, we will also highlight the women’s participation in ICT sector through best practices. The second working group will examine the role of the female entrepreneurs across all Balkan countries, as well as the economic and social benefits of their inclusion.
Joint research and capacity building efforts for enhanced cybersecurity will be the focus of the third working group. The experts will address the importance of cybersecurity and data privacy that affect all EU citizens, businesses and government structures.
Signing of the Pan-Balkan Agreement during EDIT4Tomorrow on the 23rd November 2017 in Sofia
All three topics are chosen based on the premise that in each one of them, there is a lot of potential, but also space for development.
The idea of the Pan-Balkan Initiative for Digital Cooperation is to nurture a sustainable network, which is open to everyone who supports its goals and wants to contribute in achieving them.
Digital connectivity is among the priorities of the Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the EU and it is also one of the main areas in which MOVE.BG and the Bulgarian Centre of Women in Technology focus their work.
The conclusions and policy recommendations outlined during Hack the Balkans will be published in a special report, which will seek to further strengthen regional cooperation between Bulgaria and the Balkan region. The report will later be disseminated to relevant local, national and European institutions and will be shared with all interested stakeholders.
