For the tenth consecutive year Applied Research and Communications Fund, as coordinator of Enterprise Europe Network – Bulgaria, with the support of the Ministry of Economy, the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria and KIC InnoEnergy at the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, organized the “Innovative Enterprise of the Year” national contest. The contest is the most distinguished one in the area of innovation in Bulgaria.
The contest aims to encourage Bulgarian enterprises to innovate and also to bring successful and innovative Bulgarian companies into the public eye.
Bulgarian President Mr. Rosen Plevneliev presented honorary statuettes to Ontotext JSC for “Innovation Visionary” and Aglika Trade Ltd for “Innovative technologies in traditional sectors”. Seven other innovative Bulgarian companies received honorary certificates in a special ceremony during the Tenth National Innovation Forum held on December 16, 2014.
This year participants were awarded in nine areas according to the impact of their innovations:
Area “Innovation Visionary”
Ontotext JSC
Ontotext is a leading software provider of semantic technologies for advanced data analysis. The company competes successfully with IBM Watson, Oracle and Temis. Ontotext has developed the world’s leading RDF triplestore. This purpose-built database analyzes, retrieves and uncovers information buried inside of structured and unstructured data, thus finding new interrelations, meanings and hypothesis. Among company’s clients are BBC (during the coverage of the London Olympic Games in 2012), AstraZeneka and the British Museum. Ontotext is national champion in awarded R&D projects under the Framework Programmes of the European Commission.
Area “Innovative technologies in traditional sectors”
Aglika Trade Ltd
With nearly 50 years of history Aglika Trade is a textile enterprise with operations in Veliko Tarnovo and Tvarditsa. The company has developed and patented an innovative terry cloth structure, which allows high definition digital printing with photographic quality unmatched by the competition. Among the company’s clients are worldwide design brands, advertising agencies and corporations. In 2014 Aglika Trade has set up a production base in Florida, USA.
At the tenth anniversary edition of the contest we have the pleasure to present Prof. Marin Petrov with a special lifetime achievement award for his overall contribution to the innovation development in Bulgaria.
Marin Petrov is a professor of international economics and holds Ph. D. in economics in the area of international science and technical cooperation. He is a long-time lecturer in the University of National and World Economy, the New Bulgarian University and the International Higher Business School – Botevgrad. Professor Marin Petrov is science editor of the Innovation.bg reports and is author of numerous editions including over 80 scientific publications, 8 treatises and 2 textbooks on innovation development and management and integration processes in Europe. He is Chairman of the Expert Council on Innovation in Applied Research and Communications Fund. During his long professional path Prof. Marin Petrov has taught international economics and business to thousands of students.
Area “Sustainable innovative behavior”
Musala Soft JSC
Musala Soft is a leading Bulgarian software engineering company, specialized in information systems integration, mobile applications development and IT consulting. In 2008 the company has created its own research and development unit, which collaborates with global innovation leaders such as IBM. Over 40% of the company’s profit is reinvested in R&D projects. Musala Soft assists the participation of young Bulgarian talents in international informatics and mathematics olympiads and also supports and develops an academy for IT leaders.
Area “Social Innovation”
Jumpido Ltd
Jumpido develops and distributes software that teaches mathematics to children in elementary schools through interactive games. To solve the mathematical tasks pupils have to combine intelligent thinking with physical gestures. The games are suitable also for children with learning disabilities. The interactive games of Jumpido promote the use of information technologies in education and allow teachers to create mathematical games on their own. The product doesn’t have competitors in the global market. A mobile application is also launched. Jumpido is used in over 300 schools all over the world.
Area “Quality of Life”
Kurabiinitsa Ltd
The company creates and produces Roo’bar – a 100% organic raw fruit bar with nuts, dry fruits and superfoods. In just two years the bar has become popular among fans of healthy eating in over 36 countries. The brand has a market leader status in Europe and is selling globally, including Russia and Australia. The company creates the recipes with the help of worldwide nutritionists. Kurabiinitsa organizes and sponsors sporting events and healthy eating educational initiatives for children and adults.
Area “Innovative digital game”
Crytek Black Sea Ltd
Arena of Fate, Crytek’s latest online multiplayer game, introduces time limit and scoring per gaming session thus reforming the traditions in this genre of computer games. The game gives players the opportunity to choose among famous historical figures and characters of world literature instead of playing with fantasy heroes. .
Area “Green Innovation”
BalBok Engineering JSC
BalBok Engineering operates in the field of environmental security and provides collection and transportation, physico-chemical treatment, repackaging, pre-treatment sorting and dismantling solutions to municipalities without significant investments in infrastructure as the service is funded through waste taxes. The company has certified mobile collection stations that serve the entire country and collect waste free of charge from the households by request via free phone number or as part of a campaign. BalBok works in partnership with Sofia, Plovdiv, Shumen and Sliven municipalities.
Area “ Innovative solutions in sustainable energy”
Toplik Ltd
Toplik is an engineering company for design and construction of energy efficient and smart solutions in the field of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning of public and residential buildings. The company has developed a project for an interactive showroom that includes a “hot” and a “cold” room with integrated innovative heating and cooling installations that allow consumers to find the best cost-effective solutions. The showroom aims to shorten the distance between the consumer and the producer, to serve as education center and to change the existing marketing channels from catalog sales to personalized customer choice.
Area ”Innovative start-up enterprise”
Small Foot Ltd
Small Foot produces patented inflatable snowshoes specially created by the company for mountain rescue services, police and military forces as well as extreme winter sport practitioners. The snowshoes are extremely sturdy, light and compact. The product has been financed under Operational Programme “Competitiveness” and is already on the market in Europe, USA, Canada, Japan and Hong Kong.
