The topic of the Green transition to a low-carbon economy continues to be among the most important in Europe and in Bulgaria.

For our country, which is among the most dependent on fossil fuels in the EU, this is a decisive moment and an opportunity for modernization and innovation, not only for the energy sector, but also for the Bulgarian economy as a whole.

In the focus of the discussions, during the three days, are topics such as: energy security; the future of base energy capacities; the development of green infrastructures; innovation as an accelerator for competitiveness and the future of AI, financial investments in a green economy; sustainable investment funds; ESG and regulations; sustainable development of cities; green mobility; education of the future; agritech, prices, food and food security, etc.

"The path of technologies to sustainable agriculture will be long and not very easy. This is a transition that must be supported in order to be fair," said Ralitsa Zhekova, executive director of RAPIV, EIT Food Hub for Bulgaria.

"Lack of skills, lack of education is among the most mentioned challenges. But the financing options are different. We all need this - for the initiatives to be brought to a successful end", noted Dr. Zhekova. She regretted that until recently the subject of agri-food had not entered the field of view of venture capital funds.

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology gathers over 50 organizations in the field of business, higher education, research institutes, with the intention of building a competitive agri-food sector. The EIT is developing programs to build-up skills, for start-ups, to finance innovation, as well as a program to solve challenges in the sector at European level.