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Practices of Scientific Entrepreneurship Webinar

UNWE — Mon, 05 May 2025 18:41:33 GMT

The Institute of Entrepreneurship of the UNWE hosted a webinar on the topic ‘Practices in Scientific Entrepreneurship’, organized within the framework of the ‘Hub for Scientific Entrepreneurship in Bulgaria’ project (EURAXESS ERA TALENT).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov, Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship of the UNWE and Head of the Chair of Entrepreneurship, opened the webinar by briefly presenting his experience in entrepreneurship research, including entrepreneurial practices carried out by scientific entrepreneurs, after which he gave the floor to the participants to present their affiliation, scientific interests and interests as potential entrepreneurs.

Ms. Svetlana Dimitrova, Head of EURAXESS Bulgaria, introduced the webinar participants, lecturers, researchers, and doctoral students from several universities in the country and abroad, as well as from institutes of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, with the goals and projects and the opportunities for participation in the EURAXESS network.

The specially invited guest, Dr. Nedislav Veselinov, founder and head of the experimental design bureau Photonics, presented his practice as a scientific entrepreneur, the challenges he faced in creating his business based on research results, and the solutions implemented in response to these challenges.

Assoc. Prof Dr. Kostadin Kolarov presented systematized practical approaches in problem areas such as identifying entrepreneurial opportunities and developing ideas for creating a business based on research products, attracting partners and investors, managing development and growth, protecting intellectual property, etc.

Prof. Dr. Kamelia Stefanova introduced the webinar participants to the results of the project ‘EUROCC2 - HPC+ technologies for supporting business and research’ coordinated by her and their applicability in the practice of scientific entrepreneurship.

Prof. Dr. Dmytro Zherlitsyn further explained the goals and upcoming activities of the Hub for Scientific Entrepreneurship at the Institute of Entrepreneurship of the UNWE and provided an opportunity for participants to share their business ideas and ask questions related to implementing these ideas.

All participants expressed strong interest in future similar initiatives that foster the exchange of experience, ideas, and collaboration between the scientific and entrepreneurial communities. In this context, the Hub for Scientific Entrepreneurship will continue to develop as a platform for ongoing dialogue, aimed at identifying the key challenges in scientific entrepreneurship and jointly seeking effective solutions.

The Opportunities for Creating an Enterprise Based on a Scientific Product Have Been Discussed at the UNWE

UNWE — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:29:42 GMT

An intensive training course "Creating an Enterprise Based on a Scientific Product", organized within the framework of the project "Hub for Scientific Entrepreneurship in Bulgaria" has been organized by the Institute of Entrepreneurship of the UNWE.

Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov, PhD, Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship of the University of National and World Economy and Prof. Dmytro Zherlitsyn, D.Sc., Researcher at the Institute

Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov, PhD, Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship at the UNWE and Head of the Chair of Entrepreneurship, opened the forum by explaining that the initiative is aimed at researchers from various fields who want to realize themselves as entrepreneurs. In his introductory speech, Assoc. Prof. Kolarov emphasized the fact that the UNWE is one of the first universities not only in Bulgaria, but also in Europe, in which Entrepreneurship began to be systematically studied as a separate discipline (since 1991), a Chair of Entrepreneurship was established in 2006; an independent bachelor's program in Entrepreneurship was opened in 2007, and later, based on the Center for Entrepreneurship Development launched in 1997, an Institute of Entrepreneurship at the UNWE was also established. He recalled the great merits of Prof. Kiril Todorov, D.Sc., founder and honorary head of the Chair, as well as the achievements of the Department of Entrepreneurship in educational and scientific activities. “As a University, we have undertaken various initiatives to develop entrepreneurship – from a discipline that is offered to students of all majors, to training in practical skills for those wishing to start their own business. For this purpose, career centers, a startup hub, startup companies have been built, business academies, business workshops, internships, and competitions are organized. We also actively participate in several international projects,” said Assoc. Prof. Kolarov.

The event's moderator was Prof. Dmytro Zherlitsyn, D.Sc., researcher at the Institute of Entrepreneurship and head of the project "Scientific Entrepreneurship Hub in Bulgaria". He introduced the participants in the intensive training course, some of whom attended the conference hall of the UNWE, while others joined remotely. The majority were representatives from various institutes of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, from other higher education institutions, as well as people from business practice.

Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov, PhD, gave a presentation on the topic “Scientific Entrepreneurship – Principles and Approaches”. "There must be a link between the remuneration of all participants in the process of creating the scientific product, its promotion and transfer and the achieved economic results from the implementation of this product, and this is the main principle in scientific entrepreneurship," said Assoc. Prof. Kolarov emphasizes the need for commercialization, which is transforming knowledge into products, processes, and organizations. According to him, there are gaps in the methodologies for evaluating scientific production at universities. "It is also not clear whether our economy has sufficient need for inventions achieved by working on problems that have lost their relevance in practice," pointed out Assoc. Prof. Kolarov also addressed the problem of distributing intellectual property rights, which, in his opinion, is not well regulated. Radostina Halacheva, an intellectual property expert at the Unified Innovation Center at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, took the opposite view. According to her, intellectual property rights in Bulgaria are clear and respected, which helps create new inventions.

Svetlana Dimitrova from St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia presented EURAXESS Hubs basics – a network for international cooperation through creating hubs, in which over 650 organizations from 43 countries participate. "The goal is to involve scientific entrepreneurs, to share good practices actively, and for all hubs to work together to expand the offer of better services for scientists," said Svetlana Dimitrova.

"There are two hubs in Bulgaria – the first for scientific entrepreneurship and the second is in Plovdiv at the "Center for Plant Biology and Biotechnology", said Prof. Dr. Vessela Kazashka and presented in detail the activities and structure of the Center, which realizes top achievements in the field of biology and biotechnology. "The main goal of our hub is the exchange of talents, including successful women in science", added Prof. Kazashka.

The training course developed into an active discussion on the relationship between science and practice, whether or not there is a good relationship, and who is responsible for this. All participants participated in it, and the topics of what an entrepreneur is and how to become one, what you need to know to start a business, and the path from a business idea to the actual launch were also touched upon.

Scientific Entrepreneur Hub of Bulgaria at the International Conference on Integrated Strategic Management

UNWE — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:06:12 GMT

On February 11-12, 2025, key members of the Scientific Entrepreneur Hub of Bulgaria successfully participated in the 15th International Scientific and Practical Conference titled "Integrated Strategic Management, Portfolio, Program, and Project Management" (https://www.imconf.com.ua/index_eng.html). The event gathered leading academics, researchers, and industry experts from across Europe and beyond to discuss innovative strategies in project management and technological advancements. Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov, Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE), Sofia, Bulgaria, presented on "The Transfer of Knowledge and Technology from Universities to Business in Bulgaria: Status, Problems, and Possible Solutions." His speech, delivered during the plenary session on February 11, addressed key challenges and opportunities in knowledge and technology transfer, emphasizing the role of Bulgarian institutions in fostering collaboration between academia and industry. The participation of Prof. Dmytro Zherlitsyn and Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov aligned with the goals of the Scientific Entrepreneur Hub of Bulgaria, which focuses on promoting entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer, and innovation-driven business strategies. Their involvement highlighted Bulgaria’s scientific and entrepreneurial contributions while fostering international research collaborations.

The Scientific Entrepreneur Hub of Bulgaria remains committed to enhancing collaboration in technology transfer and promoting innovation across various industries. By actively engaging in international forums, it continues to close the gap between scientific research and business applications.

A researcher from the University of National and World Economy was one of the invited speakers at the International Conference on Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in the Global Economy: Role of Returnee Entrepreneurs, 9 – 11 January 2025, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

UNWE — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 16:28:48 GMT

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov was one of the three invited speakers in the Panel Discussion “Entrepreneurial Ecosystem” at the International Conference on Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in the Global Economy: Role of Returnee Entrepreneurs", 9 – 11 January 2025, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. The other speakers in this panel were Prof. Dr. Gita Surie from Adelphi University, New York, USA, and Prof. Dr. Alexander Brem from the University of Stuttgart, Germany.

Prof. Dr. M H Bala Subrahmanya,
Conference Chair

Moment from the Welcome ceremony

Prof. Dr. Gita Surie,
Adelphi University, New York, USA

Prof. Dr. Alexander Brem,
University of Stuttgart, Germany

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov
presenting his research topic

With Prof. Charan Singh,
CEO and Founder Director, EGROW Foundation

The invitation to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov was extended by the Conference Chairman, Prof. Dr. M H Bala Subrahmanya from the Department of Management Studies of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore.

Moment from the Inaugural ceremony

The Inaugural ceremony of the conference was held under the chairmanship of Prof. K V S Hari, Director, Centre for Brain Research, IISc, and was attended by the Guests of Honour Dr. Shama Bhat, Founder and Chairman, Bhat Biotech India Pvt. Ltd., Prof. Vivek Wadhwa, CEO, Vionix Biosciences, Adjunct Professor at Duke and Carnegie Mellon University, Ms. Shanti Mohan, Co-founder and CEO of Trica, and CEO of LetsVenture, and the Advisory Committee Chairman Prof. K L Krishna, Former Director, Delhi School of Economics.

The Participants in the Inaugural Ceremony

Other Guests of Honour at the international conference were Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, IIM Bangalore, Mr. Percy Rajani, Founder, ZettaChi Inc., Dr. Nitin Mehta, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Color Tokens, Prof. Govindan Rangarajan, Director, IIM, Bangalore, and Prof. Noel J Lindsay, Dean of Business, Adelaide Business School, and Pro Vice Chancellor Entrepreneurship, The University of Adelaide, Australia.

Other invited speakers were:

on the theme “Innovation”: Prof. Avvari Mohan, Monash University, Malaysia, Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), Bangalore, and Dr. Joanna Stryjek, Warsaw School of Economics, Poland;
on the theme “Role of Institutions to Promote Entrepreneurship”: Dr. Nirmalya Bagchi, ASCI Business School, Dr. Bhaskar Bhowmick, IIT Kharagpur, and Prof. Charan Singh, CEO and Founder Director, EGROW Foundation;
on the theme “Returnee Entrepreneurship”: Prof Jagannadha Pawan Tamvada, Kingston Business School, UK, Dr. Lakshmi Jagannathan, IIIT Bangalore, and Dr. Amitendu Palit
Institute of South Asian Studies, NUS, Singapore;
on the theme “Technology Ecosystem”: Prof. Arun D Upadhyay, Florida International University, Miami, USA, Prof. Rekha Rao-Nicholson, Essex Business School, UK, and Dr. Sujit Bhattacharya, CSIR - NIScPR;
on the theme “Incubator”: Dr. Rajeev Kamineni, Adelaide Business School, Australia, Prof. Arun Kumar G, IIT Madras, Chennai, and Prof. Rosemond Aboagyewa Boohene, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Professor of Enterprise Development, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprise Development, School of Business, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

The conference organized panel discussions on the topics “Is There a Need for an Exclusive Policy for Returnee Entrepreneurs in India?”, “Women Entrepreneurship for Tech Startups”, “Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization”, “Financing of Tech Startups – Angels, VCs and Beyond”, “Publishing in Top-Tiered Management Journals”, and “Promoting Entrepreneurship among Young STEM Graduates”, in which prominent scientists, entrepreneurs and professionals participated.

Informal photo with the Conference Co-Chair Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jon Thomas,
University of the Fraser Valley, Canada

In the week after the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov was invited by Prof. Dr. M H Bala Subrahmanya to deliver a seminar on “Business Modeling and Business Planning for Startups” to students at the IISc. During the session, Dr. Kolarov provided a comprehensive methodological framework, detailing the key steps involved in developing and implementing effective business models and plans for start-ups. He emphasized the importance of designing smart, highly individualized business strategies while highlighting common pitfalls entrepreneurs face during the planning process. The seminar also explored the relative advantages of different approaches to business modeling, offering practical insights for consultants and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Photo with the participants in the seminar

Our Lecturer Gave a Series of Lectures at an Indian University

UNWE — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 16:02:23 GMT

Chief Ass. Prof. Dr. Silviya Georgieva from the Department of Entrepreneurship delivered a series of lectures to students from two streams at LJ University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, during the period January 14–30, 2025. She met with professors, entrepreneurs, and heads of institutions from the entrepreneurial ecosystem and participated in a broadcast on the LJ University Radio.

Chief Assistant Professor Dr. Silviya Georgieva

Dr. Georgieva delivered lectures within the framework of the course "Social and Sustainable Entrepreneurship" to 4th semester students and the course "Global Entrepreneurship: Overcoming Boundaries and Seizing Opportunities" to 6th semester students of a program integrating bachelor's and master's degrees.

4th semester students studying the Social and Sustainable Entrepreneurship course

6th semester students studying the Global Entrepreneurship: Overcoming Boundaries and Seizing Opportunities course

Meetings were held with representatives of the academic and business communities in Gujarat, including during the second "Startup Day" in India, organized on 16 January 2025.

Training at the UNWE, the entrepreneurship program, opportunities for cooperation between businesses from the two countries, the role of education in economic development and the creation of a new generation of entrepreneurs were among the topics discussed in a program on the LJ University Radio, which was recorded and broadcast on social networks and the media outlet's YouTube channel.

Interview with Prof. Shivali Thakar

The preparation of the second School of Entrepreneurship for students of the Indian university at the UNWE, which will be held in May and June, as well as the opportunities for cooperation in education and science, were discussed with the leadership of LJ University.

12th International Conference ‘Empowerment Entrepreneurship: How Entrepreneurs & Stakeholders Can Build a Sustainable Future’

UNWE — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:32:23 GMT

The 12th International Conference ‘Empowerment Entrepreneurship: How Entrepreneurs & Stakeholders Can Build a Sustainable Future’ was held in September, 2 – 5, 2024, in Albena, organized by the Institute of Entrepreneurship and the Chair of Entrepreneurship of the UNWE, the Bulgarian Association for Management Development and Entrepreneurship (BAMDE), in partnership with the University of Economics – Varna, the Institute for Economic Research of the BAS and the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ECSB), and with the support of the National Science Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science.

Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov, PhD, opens the conference with a brief retrospective of the previous editions

Assoc. Prof. Radan Miryanov, PhD, Vice-Rector of the University of Economics – Varna, welcomes the participants in the conference and presents the role of the university in building a sustainable future

Keynote speakers at the conference were:

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, OBE, Founder, UK Fast Growth 50 Index and the National Startup Awards;
Professor Raymond Saner, PhD, International Relations & International Management University of Basle, Switzerland;
Professor Lichia Saner-Yiu, Co-Founder and President of the Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development (CSEND), Genève, Switzerland, Taiwan, A UN ECOSOC accredited think tank with Special Consultative Status;
Professor Diego Matricano, PhD, Department of Management, Università degli Studi della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Chair of SIG Entrepreneurship @ EURAM Conference
Mr. Aurel Laurentiu Plosceanu, EESC Vice-President for Communications
Assoc. Professor Milena Angelova, PhD, SME Envoy of Bulgaria, SME Envoys Network, DG GROW, on behalf of the Ministry of Economy and Industry.

Prof. Dylan Jones-Evans, OBE, at the end of his keynote speech ‘Empowered Entrepreneurship – Engaging the Innovation Ecosystem to Build a Sustainable Future’ shares his tribute to Prof. Kiril Todorov, DSc, founder and longtime chairman of the International Conference on Entrepreneurship

Prof. Raymond Saner, PhD, presents his keynote ‘Business Diplomacy for SDG Implementation through Intra- and External Entrepreneurship’

Prof. Lichia Saner-Yiu presents her keynote ‘Sustainability & Global Supply Chain’

Prof. Dr. Diego Matricano presents his keynote ‘Entrepreneurship and Social Development Goals: A relationship worth investigating’

Mr. Aurel Laurentiu Plosceanu delivers his keynote speech on ‘The Role of EESC in Support of Sustainable Development’

Assoc. Prof. Milena Angelova, PhD, presents her keynote ‘Modern Business Responsibility: Enabling SMEs Transition to Sustainability’

Ms. Anelia Zografova, founder and CEO of a large enterprise operating with environmental goals, shares her entrepreneurial experience and her views on the challenges to sustainable development

Participants in the plenary session

The rest of the participants presented papers covering various aspects of entrepreneurship and sustainable development, which apart from the immediate feedback from the sessions, will be further peer-reviewed with a view to targeting them for publication in journals and books of reputed international publishers.

Within the framework of the conference, with the kind hosting of the University of Economics – Varna, a workshop was held on the topic ‘How to get published in renowned international journals; the do's and don'ts’, led by Prof. Diego Matricano, PhD, author of more than one hundred publications (papers, monographs, and chapters) focused on entrepreneurial processes, profiles and dynamics, the winner of the Best Book Award 2024 (“Interdisciplinarity in Entrepreneurship” published by Palgrave Macmillan/Springer) assigned by the European Academy of Management (Bath, June 2024), Associate Editor for several top-ranked journals and is the Chair of SIG Entrepreneurship at EURAM Conference and Co-coordinator of the Thematic Group “Entrepreneurship” at SIMA – Società Italiana di Management.

Participants in the conference before leaving for the University of Economics – Varna

With the Vice-Rector for Research and Development of the University of Economics - Varna – Assoc. Prof. Vladimir Dosev, PhD

Opening of the workshop led by Prof. Diego Matricano

In this year's edition of the conference, along with the traditional participants, new participants from Bulgaria and abroad played an active role, who confirmed the usefulness of this forum and expressed their interest in participating in the next editions. Among the new participants were prominent scientists such as Prof. Igor Kononenko, DSc, as well as many doctoral students and young scientists.

Despite the rich scientific program of the conference, a social program with memorable events was traditionally organized, in the organization of which Dr. Yordanka Stoeva, Chairwoman of the Municipal Council of the town of Shabla, and the opera singer Mr. Vladimir Marinov played a key role. These events contributed to the creation of a friendly atmosphere, encouraging informal communications and the establishment of new academic partnerships.

Moments from the cultural program in Shabla and Tyulenovo

Before the participants parted

The 12th International Conference on Entrepreneuship proved its role in the exchange of new knowledge, research practices and the creation and development of international scientific networks.

Summer School in Entrepreneurship 2024

UNWE — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 09:54:30 GMT

The University of National and World Economy hosted the Summer School in Entrepreneurship organized by the Institute of Entrepreneurship, the Department of Entrepreneurship of the UNWE and L J University, Ahmedabad, India from 11 June to 4 July 2024. Special efforts for organization of the Summer School were spent by Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov and Dr. Silviya Georgieva (by the side of UNWE) and Ms. Urja Joshi (by the side of L J University).

Participants in the Summer School were a group of eight students studying various majors at L J University, as well as their mentors - Dr. Viralkumar Shah, CEO of Antrapreneur the Business Incubator and Executive Director of Lok Jagruti Kendra Trust and Dr. Jay Shukla, Asst. Prof. at L J Institute of Event Management.

The training was based on the Principles of Entrepreneurship curriculum, which has been studied for decades by students in the bachelor's programs of UNWE.

The summer school was solemnly opened on June 11, 2024 by the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov, the Ambassador of the Republic of India H.E. Mr. Sanjay Rana, Ms. Radostina Chaprazova, Regional Director of the Arete Foundation, Iliyan Chabukliyski, President of the Student Council at UNWE, Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov, Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship and head of the Chair of Entrepreneurship and Dr. Jai Shukla. The ceremony was also attended by the vice-rectors Assoc. Prof. Maria Vodenicharova, PhD (VR for Research) and Assoc. Prof. Yanko Hristozov, PhD (VR for International Activity). Guests at the opening ceremony were young people supported by the Arete Foundation.

The course in Principles of Entrepreneurship covered a wide range of topics in the following areas:

The Nature of Entrepreneurship
The Entrepreneurial Process and Starting Up a New Business
The Nature of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Management, Growth, and Internationalization of SMEs

In addition to the lectures in Principles of Entrepreneurship delivered by Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov, Dr. Silviya Georgieva, and Dr. Maria Vasilska, the summer school was saturated with visits to various economic, cultural and historical sites in the country – the innovative enterprises "Alpi Commerce" and "Bultech - 2000", Sofia Tech Park, the choir of the Bistritsa’s grandmothers, the National History Museum , the Asenova fortress, Old Plovdiv and others.

In some of the lectures, successful young entrepreneurs were invited – Mr. Vasil Chakardakov and Mr. Hristiyan Stoylkov – the last graduated Entrepreneurship specialty.

In the last week of the summer school, the students and their mentors from LJ University were invited by H.E. Sanjay Rana at a meeting at the Embassy of the Republic of India in Bulgaria, where issues related to the knowledge gained from the summer school, the entrepreneurial ideas of the participants in the training and opportunities for implementing these ideas, what was learned about Bulgaria and the European Union were discussed.

During the training, a tour was organized for the participants of the summer school in Romania, and after the training – another tour in Turkey.

On the basis of conducted control and examination tests and the implementation of educational assignments, the knowledge of the participants in the summer school was assessed and certificates were prepared with the awarded grades.

On July 4, 2024, the solemn ceremony closing the summer school was organized, the official participants of which were the vice-rector for educational activities of UNWE – Prof. Dr. Matilda Alexandrova-Boshnakova and the commercial counselor and second secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of India – Ms. Soni Dahiya, who extended their greetings and wishes to the successful graduates of the summer school and handed over some of the certificates. Greetings were also given by Dr. Shah and Dr. Shukla, Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov and Dr. Silviya Georgieva, who also presented certificates for successful completion of the summer school.

Participants from 15 countries on four continents contributed to the success of the 11th International Conference "Entrepreneurship in a Challenged World: The Role of Universities in the Development of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems"

UNWE — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 21:00:00 GMT

The 11th international conference on entrepreneurship, organized by the Bulgarian Association for Management Development and Entrepreneurship (BAMDE), with the efforts of its members, first among them UNWE, represented by the Institute of Entrepreneurship and the Chair of Entrepreneurship, and in partnership with the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship was held at the Flamingo Grand Hotel and Spa in the Albena resort from 11 to 14 September 2023.

The eleventh edition of the conference was held after a three-year hiatus, a period in which the forum lost not only its founder – Prof. Kiril Todorov, a pioneer in the research of small business and entrepreneurship in Bulgaria, recipient of numerous international recognitions, but also notables in entrepreneurship science and education, who participated as keynote speakers and contributed to the development of the conference – Prof. David Smallbone, Prof. Robert Hisrich and Prof. David Storey. Their loss to the scientific community, of course, brought a certain amount of sadness to the mood of the regular participants in the forum, but it was also a motivating impulse to preserve what had been achieved and for its further development.

Keynote speakers in this year's edition were Prof. Nikolay Dentchev, founder and head of the Chair of Social Entrepreneurship at the Free University of Brussels, and Prof. Andrew Burke, Dean of the Trinity Business School at the University of Dublin.

Researchers, teachers, doctoral students and entrepreneurs from a total of fifteen countries took part in the conference.

Greetings to the participants of the conference were made by Prof. Mitko Dimitrov, Chairman of the Board of BAMDE and representative of the Institute for Economic Research of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Ken O'Neill, member of the international Advisory Committee of the conference and Doctor Honoris Causa of the UNWE, Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov, Rector of UNWE, Prof. Mariyana Bozhinova, Rector of the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics – Svishtov, and Professor Radan Miryanov, Deputy Rector of the University of Economics – Varna.

Within the framework of the conference, 27 papers were presented and a round table was organized on the topic "The role of universities in the creation and development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem", led by Dr. Paolo Zaramella and Dr. Bruce Whitefield.

The papers were presented in thematic sections, the main ones focusing on issues of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, female and youth entrepreneurship, digital technologies and entrepreneurial education.

Part of the program was a visit to the University of Economics – Varna (UEV), where Prof. Miryanov introduced the conference participants to the Varna Deep Tech Innovation Port project, and Dr. Petar Petrov – to the activities of the UEV Accelerator.

The conference participants were also enthused by the social program, which included both the traditional welcome cocktail in the evening preceding the conference, as well as Folklore and Gala dinners. Particularly strong were the impressions of the gala dinner with a culinary show organized at the Culinary Arts Institute at Varna University of Management under the leadership of Chef Hugues Boutin, and a musical show organized by the opera bass-baritone Vladimir Marinov.

At the end of the third day of the conference, a summary of the papers presented was made by the Sessions’ Chairpersons – Prof. Kostadin Kolarov (who also presented the summaries made by Prof. Dmytro Zherlitsyn), Prof. Olga Tabachnikova, Prof. Tadeusz Poplawski and Prof. Desislava Yordanova, with whom the nominations for the Kiril Todorov Best Paper Award were also consulted. The comparable high scores of the best papers led to the decision to award the authors of four best papers.

The conference ended with the high evaluation shared by the participants for the organization of its conduct and expressed gratitude for this to Prof. Kostadin Kolarov and Dr. Maria Vasilska, as well as with a discussion of ideas and a plan for the next edition of the forum.

Conference opening.
Greeting from Prof. Mitko Dimitrov to the participants

Greetings from Prof. Ken O'Neill

Greetings from Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov, Rector of UNWE,

Prof. Mariyana Bozhinova, Rector of D.A. Tsenov Academy of Economics – Svishtov,

and Prof. Radan Miryanov, Vice-Rector of the University of Economics – Varna

Prof. Nikolay Dentchev, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and UNWE, presents a keynote paper

Prof. Dr. M H Bala Subrahmanya, Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

Prof. Andrew Burke, Trinity Business School, University of Dublin, presents a keynote paper

Discussion after presentation of paper. In the foreground – Prof. Pradeep Kumar Ray, Distinguished Professor and Founder of the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE), University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, and Prof. Bala Subrahmanya

Prof. Dmytro Zherlitsyn and Prof. Irina Kuzmina-Merlino

Round table moderators – Dr. Bruce Whitefield and Dr. Paolo Zaramella

Prof. Andrew Burke and Prof. Desislava Yordanova

Conference participants visiting the University of Economics – Varna

Presentation of the Varna Deep Tech Innovation Port project and the UEV Accelerator

Handing out certificates for best papers and participation in the conference

DIGI WOMEN - The Third, Final, Partner Meeting

UNWE — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 09:41:46 GMT

The third, final meeting of the partners of the "DIGI WOMEN" project was held on September 12 and 13, 2022 in the city of Riga, hosted by the Latvian partner CEBSR.

Originally planned for April, the meeting was postponed to September in line with the extension of the project due to the war against Ukraine, which dramatically affected the workability of colleagues from the project's partner National Technical University in Kharkiv.

The main objectives of the meeting were to review the report with the recommendations with a view to its finalization, the activities for the dissemination of the intellectual products, the discussion of the tasks for the preparation of the final report, and the possibilities for the further development of activities based on the results of the present project.

The following representatives of partner organizations participated in the meeting:

Dr. Zane Zeibote and Dr. Vera Komarova from CEBSR, Latvia;
Dr. Ria Aerts (online), Dr. Paolo Zaramella and Mr Alberto Maistrello from Consulenza Direcionale di Paolo Zaramella, Italy;
Ms. Athanasia Ioannidou (online) from the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs – SEGE;
Prof. Igor Kononenko and Assoc. Prof. Marina Grinchenko from the Department of Strategic Management of the National Technical University "Kharkov Polytechnic Institute", Ukraine;
Dr. Mirela Alpeza from CEPOR – Center for SME and Entrepreneurship Policy, Croatia;
Mr. Herwig Simoner from "bit management beratung" GmbH, Austria; and
Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov and Dr. Silviya Georgieva from the Institute of Entrepreneurship of the UNWE, Bulgaria.

СThe meeting was held at the Innovation Center of the University of Latvia in Riga, whose high-tech equipment allowed an effective combination of face-to-face and online participation, similar to the second partner meeting hosted by Consulenza Direcionale di Paolo Zaramella, Italy.

During the meeting, the main directions in which the realization of the intellectual products, results of the project will be sought – the Curriculum containing a set of courses for training experts in business digitalization and for training women entrepreneurs, and the report with recommendations for use of the curriculum addressed to institutions and organizations supporting the development of female entrepreneurship and, in particular, the digitization of business.

The work programme was supplemented by cultural and social events, which created an atmosphere for informal communication between the meeting participants, and thus contributed to strengthening the mutual trust and teamwork built through the project work.

Women and digital marketing tools (Donne imprenditrici. Il valore dei talenti: esperienze e buone pratiche sul campo) Meeting-workshop, 12 July 2022, Oderzo (Treviso)

UNWE — Sun, 17 Jul 2022 21:00:00 GMT

The meeting represents the "multiplier event" of the European project entitled "DIGI WOMEN - digital entrepreneurship tools and support for women entrepreneurs".

The very challenging objective of the project was to develop a training material - innovative in content and approaches - able to help in particular women who manage small businesses and who, due to Covid19 and crisis, can be found in difficulties, both on a personal / family and work level.

After a qualitative and quantitative analysis, in order to understand the situation of women entrepreneurs in the seven countries involved, an attempt was also made to investigate the positive link between corporate competitiveness and digitization processes. In fact, as the title of the project suggests, digitization processes should help women in particular who often find themselves managing not only a small business activity, but also family and personal tasks.

The meeting is part of another final event, relating to a regional project co-financed by the ESF - European Social Fund with the "Veneto delle Donne" call. Also in this case, it was a regional initiative to support women entrepreneurs and workers, with particular attention to innovation processes.

During the event several experts spoke (Paolo Zaramella, Mirco Casteller, Manuela Tonon, etc.) but also female entrepreneurs, managers and workers.

The meeting generated a lot of interest, as evidenced by the lively discussions about the local situation, labour market and above all how technologies (and digital skills / tools) are supporting women at local level.

In general, participants appreciated DIGI Women project, in term of tools and methodologies. Several participants asked if, in the next future, also a piloting phase is planned.

During the meeting, guests were pleasantly detained by the Musical Quartet:

Rossella Biagioni - Flute
Giulia Carniel - Violin
Marcella Campagnaro - Viola
Anna Campagnaro - Cello

Music by Mozart, Cimarosa, Mascagni, Rossini was played.

Digital networking and collaboration tools - Multiplier Event: 19 October 2021, bit management Beratung GmbH, Lembockgasse 49, 1230 Wien

UNWE — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 22:00:00 GMT

The team from bit Management Beratung GmbH presented the objectives and the content developed so far for the Erasmus+ project Digi Women.

Experienced partners from 7 European countries (Bulgaria, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Ukraine, Latvia and Greece) are working together in this project.

Mag.a Sandra Kavan (bit management)

The curriculum developed in IO3 for digitisation experts who will subsequently train women entrepreneurs was presented and the individual modules and their contents were described in detail.

In addition, it was explained why these modules were chosen and what opportunities arise for women entrepreneurs through this additional knowledge.

After a short coffee break, the meeting continued with an input regarding digital networking and collaboration tools.

In a keynote speech, Diana Dressler gave insights into on how to create Magic Moments and how to build relationships online.

Dipl. Phil. A Diana Dressler lectures about Appearance and impact in the digital world

Afterwards, Gerlinde Götz presented useful digital collaboration tools that can be used especially by small businesses.

Gerlinde Götz, BA lectures about digital tools for small budgets

Afterwards, the participants had the opportunity to discuss the presented content and make contacts in a speed-dating format.

After a final discussion round where the participants confirmed the importance and relevance of the presented contents, there were further discussion over bread rolls and champagne and valuable contacts were made.

DIGI WOMEN - The Second Partner Meeting

UNWE — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 15:25:42 GMT

The second meeting of the partners of the international project "DIGI WOMEN, digital entrepreneurship tools and support for women entrepreneurs" took place on October 21 and 22, 2021 in Vicenza, Italy, and was hosted by the Consulenza Direzionale di Paolo Zaramella.

The main objectives of the meeting were to review the completed tasks and achievements of the first stage of the project, to discuss current and future tasks of the second stage, the problems related to their implementation and to draw up a plan for the overall completion of the project.

Despite the desire to hold the meeting fully in a presence form, some circumstances necessitated the combination of in presence with online participation.

The following representatives of the partner organizations actively participated in the meeting:

Dr. Paolo Zaramella and Alberto Maistrello from Consulenta Direcionale di Paolo Zaramella, Italy, as well as Dr. Ria Aerts (online);
Ms. Katerina Mouratidou and Ms. Alexandra Thomaidou from the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs – SEGE, Greece;
Dr. Vera Komarova from Cluster Experts Baltic Sea Region, Latvia;
Prof. Igor Kononenko and Assoc. Prof. Marina Grinchenko from the Department of Strategic Management, National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute", Ukraine;
Dr. Mirela Alpeza and Ms. Danica Eterovic from CEPOR – Center for SME and Entrepreneurship Policy, Croatia;
Mr. Herwig Simoner from bit management Beratung GesmbH, Austria (online); and
Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov from the Institute of Entrepreneurship of UNWE, project coordinator.

During the meeting of the partners the following issues were discussed and decided:

Practical application of the curriculum developed under the project in the countries represented in the project;
Objectives, approaches and methods for dissemination of project results;
Work plan and schedule of upcoming task;
The experience from the conducted multiplier events and the preparation of the forthcoming events;
Оrganization of the planned one-week training of expert trainers on the issues of digitalization of enterprises established and managed by women entrepreneurs.

Within the meeting of the partners a workshop on digitalization of women-run businesses was held with the participation of Ms. Laura Ceccon (expert in the field of communication and marketing and entrepreneur), Ms. Ana Laura Benachio (expert on social media marketing) and Ms. Moran De Sanctis (trainer at StudioCentroPersonale e Traduzioni srl – provider of training courses also for unemployed women).

Motivated freshmen of Entrepreneurship major got acquainted with their lecturers

UNWE — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 10:57:40 GMT

Lively, full of excitement and mutually motivating, no doubt, was the first meeting of freshmen with the lecturers from the Chair of Entrepreneurship, for which the scheduled time happened to be insufficient.

During the meeting, the lecturers presented themselves with an emphasis on their professional competencies, which will be useful to students of Entrepreneurship major in creating and developing their own businesses.

The students were acquainted with the history of the major and the successes of its graduates.

The freshmen confidently shared their motivation for the choice made and their expectations to the bachelor programme. It is gratifying that some of them already have entrepreneurial experience and specific plans for developing their own businesses. This places high demands on the teaching staff, but at the same time is a source of motivation for even greater efforts in the preparation of future entrepreneurs.

Equal opportunities in difficult circumstances - Meeting-workshop, 4-5 September 2021, Park Hotel Latgola, Daugavpils

UNWE — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 21:00:00 GMT

The team of the foundation “Cluster Experts Baltic Sea Region” presented an original training programme for improving the skills of using digital tools by women-entrepreneurs in difficult circumstances, developed in collaboration with proven partners from six other European countries (Bulgaria, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Ukraine and Greece).

Dr. Vera Komarova presents the DIGI Women project

Participants of the meeting-workshop “Equal Opportunities in Difficult Circumstances” was organized as an event to multiply results of the project. Participants of the event were women-entrepreneurs in difficult circumstances, trainers-experts in the field of business digitalization and entrepreneurship support, including Dr. Vladas Tumalavicius, the expert from UAB “Sustainability for Regions” (Lithuania). Apart from them, also the representatives of Daugavpils University and Daugavpils branch of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry joined the meeting-workshop.

Participants of the meeting-workshop

Application of various approaches for the identification and use of new digital tools, and support instruments enabling equal opportunities of women in difficult circumstances, as well as digital tools and solutions equally applicable for businesses and individuals (different on-line meeting platforms, online repositories, online presentation of business and creation of own home page – a business card for enterprise, e-Signature; EDS, services offered by the united platform latvija.lv, etc.) were presented by Dr. Vera Komarova and Dr. Zane Zeibote.

The training programme for women-entrepreneurs, aimed at accelerated and successful digitalization of business was presented during the meeting-workshop. Dr. Vera Komarova emphasized comparative advantages of DIGI Women’s Curriculum for women in difficult circumstances. Women-entrepreneurs and digitalization experts presented their ideas and proposals for improvement of the curriculum, and Dr. Vladas Tumalavicius (Lithuania) moderated this process.

Dr. Vladas Tumalavicius, the expert from UAB “Sustainability for Regions” (Lithuania),
moderates presenting ideas and proposals for improvement of the curriculum by women-entrepreneurs and digitalization experts

To facilitate the discussion, each participant was provided with materials acquainting him or her with the objectives, content and expected results of training in the individual modules, and members of the team of the foundation “Cluster Experts Baltic Sea Region” were available to participants for consultations on individual modules of the curriculum.

The owner of agribusiness Liene Liekuma-Rimicane speaks about existing problems
of women-entrepreneurs in Latgale region of Latvia and gives her feedback on curriculum

On the second day of the meeting-workshop, women-entrepreneurs and digital experts continued to share ideas and make suggestions for improving the curriculum. Participants took a stand on the curriculum, based not only on their own entrepreneurial or expert experience and needs, but also on the experience gained in their participation in various training and support initiatives for women-entrepreneurs. In summary, the recommendations can be grouped in four directions: (1) aim and scope of the curriculum; (2) content of the individual modules; (3) training methods and (4) organization of the study cycle.

Work discussions during the second day of the meeting-workshop

The participants in the event expressed their satisfaction with the opportunity to gain new knowledge to use in their practice, to discuss with each other their problems and their solutions, to establish new contacts and to actively participate in the upcoming project activities. Confirmation of the expressed satisfaction were the lively discussions between the participants during coffee breaks and the time outside the programme of the event. The participants parted with proposals for maintaining the established links for the implementation of new useful initiatives.

DIGI WOMEN: Strategic Paths to New Business Opportunities, meeting-workshop, 2-3 July 2021

UNWE — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 10:31:22 GMT

The team of the Institute of Entrepreneurship of UNWE presented an original training program for improving the skills of using digital tools by women entrepreneurs, developed in collaboration with proven partners from six other European countries (Austria, Italy, Latvia, Croatia, Ukraine and Greece).

Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov, PhD, presents the DIGI Women project

The curriculum is an innovative product created within the DIGI Women international project, co-financed by the Erasmus + program of the European Commission.

Participants in the 'Strategic Paths to New Business Opportunities' meeting-workshop, organized as an event to multiply the results of the project, were women entrepreneurs, trainers - experts in the field of business digitalization and entrepreneurship support, media. Apart from them, the representatives of the two associated partners from the Bulgarian side - Ladies' Club "Business in high heels" and Social Center "Nativity of Christ", as well as experts from the Fund of Funds, the Union for Private Economic Enterprise and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Participants in the seminar-workshop

Strategic planning in the identification and use of new business opportunities by women entrepreneurs and opportunities to use digital (digital) tools in the process of strategic planning were presented by Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov and Assoc. Prof. Nikolay Vankov.

Assoc. Prof. Kolarov emphasized the advantages and specifics of applying the strategic planning approach in the case of small businesses, and Assoc. Prof. Vankov introduced the participants to specific digital tools applicable in the search for new business opportunities, the creation and operation of digital business. The examples given by Assoc. Prof. Vankov, which illustrated in real time the search and finding of relevant information necessary for the validation of specific business ideas, were of particular interest and raised questions by the participants. Unfortunately, the limitations of the program, within which the curriculum had to be presented, as a result of the work of the project team, did not allow for comprehensive answers to the questions asked.

Assoc. Prof. Nikolay Vankov, PhD, presents digital tools,
applicable in the search for new business opportunities

The presentation of the curriculum, designed to build useful skills by women entrepreneurs, was another important element of the event. Through this presentation, participants were introduced to the motives, arguments, and methodology applied in the development of the curriculum, as a basis for the expected constructive feedback from them. The main issues discussed in the curriculum were its modular structure, the content of the individual modules and its relationship with the existing problems of women entrepreneurs in Bulgaria, teaching methods, training organization and opportunities for use of the curriculum by training and entrepreneurship support organizations.

To facilitate the discussion, each participant was provided with materials acquainting him with the objectives, content and expected results of training in the individual modules, and members of the team of the Institute of Entrepreneurship of UNWE were available to participants for consultations on individual modules of the curriculum.

from left to right: Chief Assist. Prof. Maria Vasilska, PhD, Prof. Nikolay Shterev, PhD, Chief Assist. Prof. Silvia Georgieva, PhD, ,
Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Nikolay Vankov, PhD, and Chief Assist. Prof. Daniela Tsvetkova, PhD, -
participants in the discussion of the curriculum, a result of the implementation of the first stage of the project

On the second day of the seminar meeting, women entrepreneurs and digital experts shared ideas and made suggestions for improving the curriculum. Participants took a stand on the curriculum, based not only on their own entrepreneurial or expert experience and needs, but also on the experience gained in their participation in various training and support initiatives for women entrepreneurs. In summary, the recommendations can be grouped in three directions: thematic scope of the curriculum; content of the individual modules; and resource provision of the application of the curriculum and organization of the study cycle.

Participants in the meeting-workshop

The participants in the event expressed their satisfaction with the opportunity to gain new knowledge to use in their practice, to discuss with each other their problems and their solutions, to establish new contacts and to actively participate in the upcoming project activities. Confirmation of the expressed satisfaction were the lively discussions between the participants in the coffee breaks and the time outside the program of the event. The participants parted with proposals for maintaining the established links for the implementation of new useful initiatives.

The DIGI WOMEN project is launched

UNWE — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 22:13:21 GMT

The kick-off meeting of the team of DIGI WOMEN project was held on 3 December 2020. The project’s overall objective is to develop a training programme that will train experts in order to offer trainings and mentorship sessions tailored to the needs of the female entrepreneurs digitalizing their business and help them overcome the obstacles they face in the digitalization.

The project is funded by Erasmus+ Programme, Key Action 2, Strategic Partnerships, Adult Education, with Grant Agreement No. 2020-1-BG01-KA204-079272.

The purpose of the kick-off meeting was to introduce the partner organizations by sharing their relevant experiences, to present the project goals, and to revise the main project tasks and activities in accordance with the reductions in scope and time imposed by the evaluators.

The meeting had to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria in the Institute of Entrepreneurship of the University of National and World Economy as project coordinator. Unfortunately, the anti-pandemic measures to fight the Covid-19 spread didn’t allow travelling of the project partners’ representatives and the kick-off meeting had to be conducted in online form.

Participants in the kick-off meeting were the heads and experts from each of the partner organizations:

Paolo Zaramella, Ria Aerts, Alberto Maistrello of the Consulenza Direzionale di Paolo Zaramella (CDPZ), Italy
Herwig Simoner of the bit management Beratung GesmbH, Austria
Apostolina Tsaltampasi and Katerina Mouratidou of the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs – SEGE, Greece
Vera Komarova and Zane Zeibote of the Cluster Experts Baltic Sea Region (CEBSR), Latvia
Igor Kononenko and Karina Bukrieieva of the Department of Strategic Management, National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» (NTU KhPI), Ukraine
Mirela Alpeza and Danica Eterovic of the CEPOR SMEs and Entrepreneurship Policy Centre, Croatia
Kostadin Kolarov, Nikolay Vankov, and Silviya Georgieva of the Institute of Entrepreneurship, University of National and World Economy (UNWE), Bulgaria

Prof. Dr. Diana Kopeva, Vice-Rector for Scientific Research Activity of UNWE, welcomed the participants and stressed the importance of the project in addressing significant challenges to female entrepreneurship. She also expressed satisfaction with the high level of partnership, which combined significant experience and expertise in all aspects of the project objectives and tasks.

Then participants introduced themselves and their institutions with emphasis on the expertise gained through completion of different projects related to the topic as well as on the networks they are active in.

Dr. Ria Aerts, member of the team of Consulenza Direzionale di Paolo Zaramella, presented the scientific background of the DIGI WOMEN project and discussed the reflections of the research findings in the project activities.

Kostadin Kolarov from the Institute of Entrepreneurship of the UNWE presented project main goals, contents and activities, target groups, events, etc. as were initially planned and as they are reduced after the evaluation to focus on some issues related to project schedule and problems caused by Covid-19 situation.

Paolo Zaramella presented in more details the structure and content of the activities needed for producing of intellectual output defined as Curriculum for training of experts to help women entrepreneurs with their digital tools needs. The goal of this curriculum is to link the digital tools knowledge of the expert to improve other business skills that the women entrepreneurs are lacking, ignoring or approaching differently than men entrepreneurs like networking, internationalization, strategy development, entrepreneurial opportunity seeking, etc. The process of development of the curriculum was discussed with the active participation of all the partners.

Kostadin Kolarov did similar presentation about the second intellectual output – the Recommendation Report which is to provide advices how the curriculum will be best used, what the impact is, how it can help supporting organizations and policy makers to improve the situation of women entrepreneurs in general and women entrepreneurs facing difficult circumstances but also SMEs in general..

A discussion among project partners followed up the presentations rising important questions about practical implementation of the project including cooperation with the associated partners in each country, precising the profiles of women entrepreneurs the curriculum will be target to, the next steps, time planning, “to do list”, tasks and responsibilities of the partners, as well as the organization of next meetings.

The project will be implemented into two stages until April 2022 and includes a series of multiplier events to be held in each project partner’s country and a Train the Trainers week with the participation of all partners.

Conference of Young Entrepreneurs presented the successes of entrepreneurship programmes’ graduates at UNWE

UNWE — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:07:29 GMT

More than 30 graduates of the ten classes of the Entrepreneurship specialty, who created and developed their own businesses, took part in the conference entitled „100 years of UNWE - a school for entrepreneurs of the new century“, organized by the Institute of Entrepreneurship of UNWE on October 23, 2020.

Restrictions in connection with Covid-19 did not allow a number of other successful business graduates to join the forum, as well as to invite a wider range of participants - colleagues and students of UNWE.

The event, which lasted all day, was honored by the Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Dr. Boyko Takov, Executive Director of the Executive Agency for Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr. Vladimir Danailov, Executive Director and Member of the Management Board of Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria EAD (Fund of Funds), Ms. Nina Tsaneva, Advisor to the Minister of Economy, Mr. Vasil Karaivanov, Chairman of the Management Board of Sofia Tech Park, Mr. Zheng Zhong, entrepreneur and Director of Terraland Group , Ms. Irina Beleva, Senior Adviser of the Bulgarian-Chinese Association for Business Development and Former Consul General of Bulgaria in Shanghai, Ms. Maya Gesheva, Director of the National School of Finance and Economics (NSFE), and Mr. Angel Stoykov, Chairman of the Student Council of UNWE.

“I am glad that despite the difficult situation we are here together to celebrate both the 100th anniversary of UNWE and the contribution of the specialty in creating entrepreneurs, so necessary to meet the challenges of the new century.” With these words, Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov, PhD, Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship, opened the conference.

In the Great Conference Hall

Before the greetings of the official guests with a minute of silence the conference participants honoured the memory of Prof. Kiril Todorov, D.Sc., founder of the Center for Entrepreneurship Development (1997), Department of Entrepreneurship (2006), Entrepreneurship specialty (2007), and Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship until his death.

The Rector Prof. Dimitrov welcomed the participants and pointed out that despite the complicated situation by Covid-19, the tradition of using modern information technologies and involving students and doctoral students in the activities of the university continues at UNWE. “The presence of so many interested people today proves that the Institute of Entrepreneurship is on the right track and has huge potential for development. You know that UNWE celebrates its 100th anniversary in a special atmosphere, but this has made us more enterprising and use what we have not used so actively so far,” said the Rector. “Since the beginning of the school year there were a series of conferences, which outlined prospects, a desire was expressed to continue to develop, to improve what we teach, research and do with business and society,” said Prof. Dimitrov and wished success to the conference and to young entrepreneurs.

The Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov

The event was attended by current students of the specialty, as well as students from the NSFE and Tsar Simeon the Great Private Higher School – partners of the Institute of Entrepreneurship.

Special thanks were extended to the conference sponsor Geotechmin Ltd.

“It should be emphasized that the admission of the first class of entrepreneurship students in 2007 was preceded by over 15 years of systematic accumulation of knowledge through research on Bulgarian practice and transfer of achievements of colleagues from other countries. With the introduction of a bachelor's programme in entrepreneurship, UNWE has overtaken not only universities in Eastern Europe, but also a number of Western European universities. Entrepreneurship training itself was started by Prof. Kiril Todorov in 1991 (for the first time in the country) and we can boast that in 2003 we trained a group of American students in International Entrepreneurship from the Florida International University, Miami - a practice that we continued with other foreign universities.”

At the end of his speech, Assoc. Prof. Kolarov stated with confidence “that the time will not be far away when the wall with the names of our graduates, entrepreneurs of the new century, will surpass the one with the names of Bulgarian statesmen associated with UNWE”, and addressed the current students with the words: “We rely on your knowledge, talent and ambitions. I am sure that in not so many years UNWE will be proud of you.”

Two of the Institute's many long-term foreign partners, Prof. Ken O'Neill, Professor Emeritus of Entrepreneurship at Ulster University, the first person awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion – Lifetime Achievement Award (2005), and Doctor Honoris Causa of the UNWE, and Dr. Mark Potts, Director of the Program for Personal Financial Planning at the Central University of Michigan, USA. They congratulated the university on its 100th anniversary and wished success to Bulgarian entrepreneurship and business.

Prof. Ken O’Neill

Dr. Mark Potts

Dr. Boyko Takov expressed his hope that this year the book "History of Bulgarian Entrepreneurship", in the development of which members of the Institute of Entrepreneurship participate, will be completed and used as a textbook. “Today, more than ever, entrepreneurship needs to be encouraged because of its extreme importance and its potential to pull us out of the recession we are already in.” said Dr. Takov in his address.

Dr. Boyko Takov

“I know from your eyes that you have gathered here people who have decided to change their lives, the lives of their families and the environment around them.” With these words Mrs. Nina Tsaneva addressed those present in the hall. “The entrepreneur is the one who does not wait to consume a change made by another, but the one who resolutely creates it. Your first supporters are your teachers, but don't stop there and keep in touch with your colleagues. At the Ministry of Economy, we are trying to support the growing community of entrepreneurs and start-ups,” she said.

Mrs. Nina Tsaneva

Mr. Vasil Karaivanov shared three important things about entrepreneurship: looking for opportunities, the use of new technologies and the availability of partners. “Start with the partner inside you and so attracting your next partners will be much easier,” advised those present Mr. Karaivanov and assured them that they can count on the support of “Sofia Tech Park”..

Mr. Vasil Karaivanov

Mr. Zheng Zhong wished the UNWE and the Institute of Entrepreneurship to continue to create professionals that will become a sound ground of the Bulgarian economy. As Confucius said many years ago, wise people put the right people in the right positions, and weak leaders put the loyal and do everything themselves,” he said and wished the graduates of the Entrepreneurship specialty to be very successful entrepreneurs.

Mr. Zheng Zhong

Mrs. Irina Beleva congratulated UNWE on the anniversary and on the rich traditions in entrepreneurship education. “In the new conditions in which we are forced to work, the entrepreneurial spirit is the basis of all our actions,” she said and wished the students to maintain their entrepreneurial spirit, seek support and rely on their sense of business. “Because there are always opportunities for the one who takes a lot of steps.”

Mrs. Irina Beleva

Mrs. Maya Gesheva noted that some of the students of NSFE have already made their informed choice to continue their education at UNWE in Entrepreneurship specialty. „I am confident that our high school and the UNWE give the knowledge and courage to their graduates to realize their ideas“, said Mrs. Gesheva..

Mrs. Maya Gesheva

“When I read the program of the conference, I was extremely impressed by how many graduates of UNWE will make presentations of companies created by them,” said Mr. Angel Stoykov. “We, the young people, have proved that we are not only the future of the country, but also its present.”

Mr. Angel Stoykov

In a special session, Mr. Vladimir Danailov presented the activities of the Fund of Funds and specific programmes to support entrepreneurs. Questions from the audience followed, to which Mr. Vladimirov answered and called on young entrepreneurs to be active in communication and seeking assistance from the Fund's experts.

Mr. Vladimir Danailov

The work program of the conference included three sessions with a presentation of the businesses of the graduates of the Entrepreneurship specialty, with emphasis on the path travelled, the achievements, lessons learned, new ideas and inspiration. Enterprises from almost all spheres of the economy were presented - high technologies, knowledge-based services and traditional industries. The former students shared how they applied the knowledge gained and the skills acquired during the training in the specialty in their business practice.

The conference was a meeting of young entrepreneurs from different classes of the specialty, who discovered mutual interests for business cooperation.

And although the time for presentations provided in the programme turned out to be insufficient, the conference ended with advice expressed by the guest Mr. Zheng Zhong, useful summaries made by Assoc. Prof. Kolarov, increased enthusiasm and clearly stated desire of young entrepreneurs for future similar initiatives.

A small part of the entrepreneurs presenting their businesses

Participation in International Conference

UNWE — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 11:58:45 GMT

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov and Ch. Ass. Prof. Dr. Silviya Georgieva participated at the invitation of the organizer in the international conference Territorial and Inter-Organizational Cooperation ‘2020, which was held on September 23-24, 2020 in Brenna, Poland. The researchers from the Institute of Entrepreneurship were present on site, despite the risks associated with the spread of Covid-19. The forum also brought together (some online) scientists from a number of countries, including Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Moldova, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, and Spain. The conference is organized by the Research Institute on Territorial and Inter-Organizational Cooperation at the largest private Polish university outside Warsaw - Akademia WBS, Dabrowa Górnicza, which educates over 12,000 students from 40 countries around the world.

Assoc. Prof. Kolarov was the moderator, and Dr. Georgieva - panellist in the round table debate "Inter-organizational cooperation - innovative forms and their benefits."

The results of the fundamental research on "Determinants and Models of Competitive Performance of SMEs in International Business Environment" funded by a contract with NSF № DN05 / 15 of 15.12.2016 were presented.

During their visit in Poland, Assoc. Prof. Kolarov and Dr. Georgieva held talks with the directors of the Department of Science Development and the International Relations Office of Akademia WSB, as well as with leading scientists in the field of cross-border cooperation, where they discussed ideas for future joint research and educational projects, including in the field of cross-border entrepreneurship and SME development. Opportunities for future publications of researchers from the Institute of Entrepreneurship of UNWE were discussed with Prof. Sebastian Kot, editor of the Polish Journal of Management Studies, indexed in Scopus and Web of Science.

New Conference Proceedings

UNWE — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 11:52:32 GMT

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to inform you that the Conference Proceedings from the 10th anniversary, international conference "Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice: Present and Future", which took place in June 2019, has been published.

This book contains papers presented at the 10th, anniversary, International Conference of the Bulgarian Association for Management Development and Entrepreneurship (BAMDE).
As in previous conferences, new ideas and research results were presented and discussed to contribute to better knowledge and understanding of the nature and problems related to entrepreneurship and small business.
Internationally recognized professionals from the United Kingdom, the Nether-lands, Ireland, Columbia and China made an important contribution as keynote speakers to the high scientific level of the conference.
Some of the papers presented at the conference were aimed at journal publication. Other authors preferred to develop further their papers before being published. That is why only a subset of the papers presented is published in this volume.
The papers included in this proceedings are grouped into three sections:

Factors of Entrepreneurial Success
Entrepreneurship Education and Learning
Entrepreneurship Policy and Support

The participants in this conference expressed their satisfaction with the excellent opportunities for meetings and discussions in a stimulating professional and informal communication environment and thus encouraged us to continue the traditions in the format and atmosphere of the past conferences.

Table of Contents

Preface

Factors of Entrepreneurial Success

From Shark Tanks to Incubator Pitch Days: Effectiveness of Experts’ Predictions of Short-Term and Long-Term Startup Survival
Paula Englis, Joris Heuven, Basil Englis, Aard Groen and Kasia Zalewska-Kurek

Firm Performance, Guarantees and SMEs Credit Access
Federico Beltrame, Giorgio Stefano Bertinetti and Luca Grassetti

The Quest for the Underlying Variables and the Links between Women Entrepreneurs’ Happiness, Digital Entrepreneurship, Digital Collaboration, and Business Performance
Ria Aerts

Entrepreneurship Education and Learning

The Future of Education and Research: Teaching Entrepreneurs, or Shaping Them?
Mark W. Pruett, Harun Sesen, J. R. Pandian and Gregory Winter

Towards a Framework for Evaluation of Organisational Learning in European SMEs
Tim Gittins

The Role of Entrepreneurial Education for Economic Growth in Ghana: A Case Study of Some Selected Universities
Boahene Ebenezer Annoh

The Entrepreneurial Culture of the Future Teacher: Theoretical Approaches to the Definition of the Concept
Unzeilya Khassenova

Entrepreneurship Policy and Support

Objectives and Instruments of Regional Entrepreneurship Support Policies within the EU Framework
Jan Degadt

How to Increase the Number of SMEs Exporters in Less Technology Developed Economy
Zhelyu Vladimirov

Social Entrepreneurship and Neighbouring Concepts: From Theory to Practices. Case of Morocco
Salma Idrissi Boutaybi and Meryem Kabbaj

With great sadness we announce the death of Professor Kiril Todorov, D.Sc.

UNWE — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 06:42:49 GMT

It is with deep sadness that we announce that on December 31, 2019, a great man suddenly left us - Prof. Kiril Todorov, D.Sc., distinguished professor of the University of National and World Economy (UNWE).

Prof. Kiril Todorov was not only a bright scientist and teacher, who laid the foundations of the systematic entrepreneurship education and training in Bulgaria dating back in 1991, but also an example of an academic entrepreneur, who managed to complete a number of initiatives for the development of entrepreneurship education and to achieve nationally and internationally recognized results. Among these the following should be mentioned: the establishment of a Center for Entrepreneurship Development at the UNWE in 1997, which grew into an Institute in 2006; the establishment of the Chair of Entrepreneurship in 2006, with the subsequent launching of bachelor's and master's programs in entrepreneurship and accreditation of the first doctoral program in entrepreneurship in Bulgaria. Prof. Kiril Todorov also had significant achievements in the development of a team of academic fellows, helping them with his valuable experience in their professional development and scientific careers. Prof. Todorov was known for his intensive international activities through building fruitful cooperation with prominent researchers in entrepreneurship from leading European and American universities. His international acknowledgement has been expressed in numerous invitations as a partner and national leader of research and educational projects, invited keynote speaker at prestigious forums in the US, UK, Switzerland, Ireland, Croatia, Slovenia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Brazil, Brunei, publications in prestigious British and American publishing houses and international journals. The professional recognition of the international entrepreneurship conference established by him is growing. The last such conference held for the tenth time in 2019 gathered scholars, researchers, practitioners and consultants from 23 countries from four continents.

We will remember him as a leader, bursting with energy, seeking opportunities, offering ideas and solutions, able to attract people needed for their realization, confidently defending his views and getting together like-minded persons.

The academic achievements of Prof. Kiril Todorov will serve not only as an example, but also oblige us to make the needed efforts for their preservation and further development.

A deep bow to his cause!

From the team of the Institute of Entrepreneurship at UNWE

and Bulgarian Association for Management Development and Entrepreneurship

10th International Conference 'Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice: Present and Future', 10 - 13 June 2019, St. St. Constantine and Helena Resort, Varna, Bulgaria

UNWE — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 19:30:46 GMT

The 10th International Conference on Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice: Present and Future was held from 10 to 13 June 2019 in Astor Garden Hotel, St. St. Constantine and Helena Resort, Varna, Bulgaria. The conference was organized by the Institute of Entrepreneurship at UNWE and the Bulgarian Association for Management Development and Entrepreneurship, in partnership with the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ECSB) and with the support of Science Research Fund of the Ministry of Education and Vitagold Ltd.

The opening of the conference (from left to right): Prof. Andrew Burke, Dean of Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, Mrs. Madi Sharma, Founder of "Madi Group", United Kingdom/India, Prof. Kiril Todorov, Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship, UNWE, Prof. Ken O'Neill, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, and Prof. David Storey, OBE, University of Sussex, United Kingdom.

Prof. David Storey presents his paper "A Chance-based Theory of Entrepreneurship: Taking the Entrepreneur out of Entrepreneurship".

Mrs. Madi Sharma, founder of Madi Group, a representative of UK employers at the European Economic and Social Council, spoke at the plenary session.

Prof. Ken O'Neill makes his introduction.

The prestigious forum was attended by 92 participants, including 60 foreigners from 23 countries: Australia, Belgium, China, Colombia, Dubai, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia , United Kingdom, and the United States.

Eight prominent authorities in entrepreneurship took part in the plenary session: Prof. David Storey, Prof. David Smallbone, Prof. Roy Thurik, Prof. Andrew Burke, Prof. Rodrigo Varela, Mrs. Madi Sharma, Prof. Herbert Chen, and Prof. Ken O'Neill.

Prof. David Smallbone, Kingston University, UK, Ex-President of the International Council for Small Business, with his care assistant, presents his paper "Born Globals and Their Value Chains".

Prof. Roy Thurik, Professor Emeritus at the Erasmus School of Economics, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and the Montpellier Business School, France, presents his paper "The Quest for the Entrepreneurial Gene Continues".

The four big in conversation

Prof. Kiril Todorov with the keynote speakers of the conference.

Prof. Andrew Burke, Ireland, presents his paper "What Government and Managers Need to Know about High Skilled Flexible Work in the Project-based and Gig Economies".

Prof. Herbert Chen, COO of TUSHoldings Co. Ltd. (holding company managing the world's largest scientific park at Tsinghua University, Beijing), China, presents "Innovation and Entrepreneurship Eco-System in China".

Prof. Rodrigo Varela, founder and director of the Center for Entrepreneurship Development at the University of Cali, Colombia, presents his paper "Entrepreneurial Activity in Latin America and the Caribbean Region".

Prof. David Storey comments on part of the presentation of Prof. Rodrigo Varela.

Prof. Kiril Todorov with the Chinese participants from TUSpark and Mr. Gang Liu (second from left), Director of Innovation Research Center IVY, Beijing.

During the conference the traditional Round Table "Science - Practice" was also held, led by Prof. Ken O'Neill, holder of honorary title "Doctor Honoris Causa of UNWE", and Senator Michael Negel (Germany), entrepreneur, owner of investment companies in the high-tech industry. Professor David Smallbone led the workshop "How to get published in renowned international journals; the do's and don'ts". The other participants presented wide-ranging papers, which after analysis and assessment will be sent for publication in influential international publications such as Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Small Business Economics, International Review of Entrepreneurship, as well as in the Conference Proceedings.

Prof. Todorov opens the round table on the subject "Science – Practice. The Case of Startups". From left to right: Prof. Ken O'Neill (University of Ulster, Northern Ireland), Ms. Nina Tsanova (Adviser to the Minister of Economy), Senator Michael Negel (Investor, Germany).

Senator Michael Negel presents the story of his fast growing businesses.

Mr. Galin Zhelyazkov, founder of a high-tech accelerator in Varna, with a group of young entrepreneurs (start-ups).

Workshop led by Professor David Smallbone on the subject "How to get published in renowned international journals; the do's and don'ts".

Mr. Gang Liu, China, is trying to hit the target.

Part of the participants in the conference.

Part of session chairpersons report.

Prof. Todorov, assisted by Best Presentation Award winner of the previous conference - Dr. Ria Aerts, Australia, gives the award to this year's winners - Prof. Paula Englis and Prof. Basil Englis, USA.

The new participants in the forum were extremely impressed by the fact that UNWE was among the pioneers in Europe in entrepreneurship education and training, launched in March 1991, and has an independent Chair of Entrepreneurship (now the Institute of Entrepreneurship) Bachelor and Master degree in Entrepreneurship and Doctoral Programme in Entrepreneurship.

As in the previous editions of the conference, an informal and friendly atmosphere was created, including through the holding of memorable social events, which facilitated communication between the participants and the formation of scientific and business partnerships. Indisputable proof of the great success of this anniversary forum is the interest shown by new participants from Latin America and Asia for attending the next conference.

The tenth anniversary conference created a solid foundation for new knowledge, good practices, future scientific and business partnerships.

In the rhythm of the dance at the Gala dinner.

Winners of the Best Dance Competition of the Gala Dinner.

Ninth International Conference 'Youth and Women Entrepreneurship in Challenging International (Global) Business Environment', 11 - 14 June 2018, Lighthouse Golf and SPA Resort, Balchik, Bulgaria

UNWE — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 18:14:21 GMT

The 9th International Conference on Entrepreneurship was held from 11 to 14 June 2018 in Lighthouse Golf and SPA Resort near Balchik, Black Sea, Bulgaria. The topic of this year conference was ‘Youth and Women Entrepreneurship in Challenging International (Global) Business Environment’.

Keynote speakers at the conference were:

Prof. Shailendra Vyakarnam, Director of the Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship, Cranfield School of Management, United Kingdom, and Co-Founder and Director of AcceleratorIndia, India;
Prof. Thomas (TE) du Plessis, President of the South African Council for Small Business. Professor emeritus and former Dean of School of Business and Governance at the North-West University, South Africa;
Prof. Lichia Saner-Yiu (Taiwan), Co-Founder of the Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development (CSEND), Geneva, Switzerland, long-year social entrepreneur.

Scholars, teachers, consultants, entrepreneurs and policy-makers from Australia, USA, United Kingdom, Switzerland, India, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Slovakia, Finland, Poland, Romania, Taiwan, Sweden, Latvia, Oman, Kenya, Dubai, South Africa and Bulgaria took active part in the conference.

Prof. Kiril Todorov, D.Sc., opens the conference. Next to him – Prof. Ken O'Neill – moderator of the panel.

Part of the participants at the conference opening. At the forefront – Prof. Raymond Saner (Switzerland), Prof. Lichia Saner-Yiu (Taiwan), Dr. Olga Tabachnikova (United Kingdom).

Part of the participants at the conference opening. At the forefront – Prof. Shailendra Vyakarnam (United Kingdom).

Prof. Shailendra Vyakarnam, Director of the Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship, Cranfield School of Management, United Kingdom, as conference keynote speaker.

Prof. Thomas (TE) du Plessis, President of the South African Council for Small Business. Professor emeritus and former Dean of School of Business and Governance at the North-West University, South Africa, as conference keynote speaker.

Prof. Lichia Saner-Yiu (Taiwan, Switzerland) as keynote speaker, presents her rich experience as a social entrepreneur and advisor to various international institutions.

Mr. Willem Odendaal, Executive Director of the South African Council for Small Business, makes comment.

Prof. Raymond Saner, Prof. Shailendra Vyakarnam and Prof. Ken O'Neill answer questions during the Workshop „Entrepreneurial Education and Economic Growth“.

Prof. Nancy Jurik and Prof. Gray Cavender, Arizona State University, present their paper.

Dr. Ria Aerts, Australia and Dr. Daniela Tzvetkova, after presenting their papers.

Prof. Jan Degadt, Belgium, presents his paper.

Ms. Ana Criado-Gomis and Prof. Gisela Ammetller, Spain.

Mrs. Aziza Al Ghafri and Dr. Beldina Owalla, researchers from Sweden, present their analysis of women’s entrepreneurship in Kenya and Oman.

Dr. Veneta Hristova, and Dr. Maria Vasilska, Bulgaria, present their joint research.

Dr. Mark Potts, USA, presents his report in an original way.

During the coffee break. A conversation between Prof. Lichia Saner-Yiu and Dr. Abigail Kemper.

Prof. Kiril Todorov presents the best paper award (500 euros) to Dr. Ria Aerts, Australia.

In the competition for best dance couple – Roland Persson, entrepreneur, Sweden, and Dr. Abigail Kemper, consultant, South Africa.

Participants in the conference look at the conference proceedings over the years. Ms. Nina Tsanova, a journalist, adviser to the Minister of Economy.

Talks during coffee break.

Social Event: Participants in the conference “shoot” with water cannons the “enemy” ship with French tourists.

Stewardess of the pirate ship with participants in the conference.

Prof. Todorov as Captain of the Ship.

The stewardess looks around the pirate ship crew.

Seventh Graduation Ceremony in Entrepreneurship

UNWE — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 12:16:06 GMT

For seventh time the graduates of the Entrepreneurship specialty received their diplomas. The Graduation ceremony took place on December 4, 2017 in the Ceremonial Hall of the UNWE. The graduation coincided with 10 years since the creation of the Entrepreneurshi" specialty and the 20th anniversary of the Institute of Entrepreneurship at the University of National and World Economy.

Traditionally, the diplomas were handed out by officially invited guests presenting businesses and supporting institutions and organizations. At this year's ceremony they were:

Dipl. eng. Ilia Keleshev, Chairman of the Bulgarian Branch Chamber - Machine Building,
Mr. Lubomir Ganchev, Advisor to the Minister of Economy,
Prof. Dr. Mitko Dimitrov, ex-director of the Economic Research Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,
Dr. Kiril Grigorov, Governor of the Municipal Guarantee Fund for SMEs of the Sofia Municipality,
Mr. Stefan Gugushev, Attorney-at-Law, Chairman of the Family Business Association - Bulgaria,
Mr. Stamen Tassev, Executve Director of the Indian-Bulgarian Business Chamber,
Mr. Zheng Zhong, owner of Terraland Group,
Mr. Vladislav Ivanov, Attaché at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bulgaria,
Mr. Lubomir Varbanov, Entrepreneur, outstanding graduate of the first class of Entrepreneurship specialty.

A sure sign of the recognition of the importance of the ten-year specialty and the interest in it was the significant presence of many parents and friends of the graduates, for whom it was difficult to find a place in the hall.

The ceremony was opened by Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov, Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship, who gave the floor for the welcoming speech of the creator and honorary Head of the Department and Entrepreneurship specialty Prof. Kiril Todorov, Vice-President for Bulgaria of the European Council of Small Business and Entrepreneurship and Chairman of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Association for Management Development and Entrepreneurship. Prof. Todorov in his speech addressed the long, difficult and yet successful way of preparing and creating the specialty and its ten-year development as the only one in the country and among the few in the European Union. It is particularly important that training in entrepreneurship in the specialty has international recognition, including as a good practice, recognized by the leading accreditation institution the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), Brussels. Along with the bachelor programme Prof. Todorov presented the advantages of the Master Programme in Family Entrepreneurship and the PhD in Entrepreneurship. Highlights in the speech were on the prospects of graduates as present and future entrepreneurs.

Mr. Lubomir Ganchev, Advisor to the Minister of Economy, pointed out the role of the Ministry of Economy to support young entrepreneurs and presented the latest grant program for start-ups with growth potential, whose budget allows the support of about 400 start-up projects of business.

Each of the official guests presented their greetings, guidance and wishes to the graduates, reflecting their specific personal and institutional experience and position.

Along with the diplomas, the graduates received a symbolic gift from the Department of Entrepreneurship - a specially engraved pen, with which to sign their first business contract.

After the ceremony, a DJ party was organized, where the joyful emotions of graduation and future intentions were shared in an informal atmosphere.

Prof. Kiril Todorov and Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov at the opening of the ceremony

Prof. Kiril Todorov presenting the long way in the promotion of entrepreneurship education, specialty and department at UNWE. In the Presidium (right to the left) - Mr. Iliya Keleshev, Chairman of the Bulgarian Branch Chamber - Machine Building and Mr. Lubomir Ganchev, Advisor to the Minister of Economy.

Ceremonial Hall Sitting - parents and relatives, in the background - graduates

Ceremonial Hall.
On the first line - the guests of the event - entrepreneurs and representatives of institutions

At the forefront - future female entrepreneurs

Mr. Ilia Keleshev handing in a diploma

Mr. Lubomir Ganchev and Prof. Kiril Todorov handing in a diploma

Prof. Mitko Dimitrov, long-time director of the Economic Research Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, welcomes the graduates before to hand in diplomas

Dr. Kiril Grigorov, Governor of Municipal Guarantee Fund for SME of Sofia Municipality, handing out diplomas

Mr. Stefan Gugushev, Attorney-at-Law, Chairman of the Family Business Association in Bulgaria, greeting the graduates

Mr. Stamen Tassev, Executive Director of the Indian-Bulgarian Business Chamber, handing in a diploma

Mr. Zheng Zhong, a Chinese entrepreneur, introduced the graduates to the entrepreneur's career

The joy of graduates

Prof. Kiril Todorov in a conversation with Mrs. Pamela Naidenova and Mr. Lubomir Ganchev,
Advisors to the Minister of Economy

Mr. Vladislav Ivanov, Attaché at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bulgaria,
handing in diplomas

Mr. Lubomir Varbanov, outstanding graduate of the first class of Entrepreneurship, shares his experience with the graduates

Conference Proceedings 2016

UNWE — Sat, 08 Apr 2017 11:41:00 GMT

Dear Students and Colleagues,

We have the pleasure to inform you the Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference ‘Entrepreneurship Teaching, Research and Practice in Global Environment – Building Bridges’ held in June 2016 have been published.

The conference strengthened and developed further the established tradition of high professional level and excellent atmosphere for networking. There are several moments that featured 2016 conference:

The enrichment of the countries and continents of origin of the participants – among which we would mention China, Pakistan, South Africa, Colombia, Puerto Rico;
The extremely strong composition of the keynote speakers including:

– Prof. David Smallbone, Kingston University, London, UK

– Prof. Marc Cowling, University of Brighton, England, UK

– Prof. Rodrigo Varela, Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia

– Dr. Paolo Zaramella, Studio Centro Veneto, Italy

– Prof. Herbert Chan, Tsinghua University Science Park (TusPark), Beijing, China

– Prof. Andrew Burke, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, Ireland

– Mrs. Madi Sharma, Founder "Madi Group" – Make A Difference Ideas group of International Private and Social Enterprises, UK

Organisation of new seminars in the frames of the conference: for PhD students and research publications led by Prof. David Smallbone and seminar on incubators and technoparks led by Prof. Herbert Chen.
The ‘traditional’ round table "science – practice" led by Prof. Ken O’Neill, Professor Emeritus of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development at University of Ulster, UK.

Besides the plenary session, high professional level was shown in different sections, which discussed problems and solutions on the subject of the conference. Besides publications in this Proceedings some selected papers have been directed for publication in the International Review of Entrepreneurship (IRE).

By the opinion of the majority of the participants, BAMDE Conference in 2016 was a desirable professional and informal event with its own distinctive characteristics. That’s why many participants are fans of the BAMDE Conference from many years.

Table of Contents

Preface

Entrepreneurship Education and Training

Learning by Doing to Become an Effectual Entrepreneur:
Bachelor Young Entrepreneur Program, EM Strasbourg Business School
Coralie Haller, Olga Bourachnikova and Odile Paulus

Entrepreneur Education and Training: The Solution for
an Entrepreneurial Culture to Economic Development in Puerto Rico?
Lisa Mariel Escóbales, Zulma Quiñones Rivera-Howell and Teresa Ibarra

Greek Young Farmers’ Attitudes and Education Needs
towards Entrepreneurship in the Agrifood Processing Sector
Panagiotis Kotsios and Rodica Arpasanu

Innovations and Finance in Entrepreneurship Practice

The Innovativeness as the Measurement
of the Entrepreneurship Orientation
Anna Wójcik Karpacz and Joanna Rudawska

Entrepreneurs’ Sense-making of their Ecosystem:
Consequences for Self-Determination towards Innovation
Claudia Nunes Esposo

Financial Literacy: What Motivates a Learner Entrepreneur to Achieve It?
Irina Kuzmina-Merlino and Ishgaly Ishmuhametov

The Entrepreneurship Education –
through the Bulgarian Entrepreneurs’ Eyes
Veneta Hristova

Entrepreneurial Management and Internationalisation

A Methodology for Collaborative Performance Estimation
of Industrial Enterprises in Furniture Industry
Svetoslav Dimkow

Project Management at Industrial Enterprises of Ukraine
Nastasia Rovinska and Yuliya Vykhodets

Do Key Actors’ Characteristics Relate to Internationalization Modes
in Bulgarian Family Firms?
Yordanka Ivanova and Kostadin Kolarov

Family Business Successors’ Role in Internationalization Process
Branimir Yordanov

Meeting of student studying "Art and Creative Entrepreneurship" with the artist Stavri Kalinov

UNWE — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 12:34:42 GMT

On December 6, 2016 students studying the course "Art and Creative Entrepreneurship" with the assistance of a part-time lecturer Todor Madolev visited the studio of one of the leading Bulgarian artists – Stavri Kalinov. Interesting discussions about the role of the artist, inspiration and expression used in the creation of a painting and sculpture were held in his creative lab. An interesting focus of the meeting was the knot and relations between the author's work and its commercialization, including the reasons for purchase, its price and placement.

Meetings with prominent artists, producers and entrepreneurs in the field of music, theater, art and other creative sectors help our students to broaden their horizons and culture, to have their own view also to intangible, spiritual dimension in society. This spiritual opening of students helps them to a significant degree to experience things in life and build their desired career and develop as individuals.

Seventh International Conference 'Entrepreneurship Teaching, Research and Practice in Global Environment - Building Bridges', 8 - 10 June 2016, Pomorie

UNWE — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 20:41:20 GMT

The Chair of Entrepreneurship and the Institute for Entrepreneurship Development (IED) at the UNWE have organized together with the Bulgarian Association for Management Development and Entrepreneurship (BAMDE) and the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ECSB) the Seventh International Conference on ‘Entrepreneurship Teaching, Research and Practice in Global Environment – Building Bridges’ (one of the sixth in the world recommended by the International Council for Small Business (ICSB).

The conference was held from 8 to 10 June 2016 in the town of Pomorie (Via Pontica Resort).

The Conference’s mission is to get together professionals in the field and to discuss and ex-change ideas, problems, solutions, and best practice in competitive and practical oriented entrepreneurship education, training and consulting.

Keynote speakers at the conference were:

Prof. David Smallbone, Small Business Research Centre, Kingston University, London, UK, Past President of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB);
Prof. Marc Cowling, Director of Research, Brighton Business School, University of Brighton, England, UK, one of the most quoted researchers in Europe;
Prof. Rodrigo Varela, Director, Centro de Desarrollo del Espíritu Empresarial (Center for Entrepreneurship Development), Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia. (The Center is certified as one of the best in Latin America).
Dr. Paolo Zaramella, CMC, senior consultant, Studio Centro Veneto, Italy, holders of Brand No 1 in Family Business Transfer recognition by the European Commission;
Prof. Herbert Chen, COO, Tsinghua University Science Park (TusPark), Board Member, UNESCO Regional Center for Technology Incubators and Science Parks Development (IRIS), Director of China Office , Board member, President of Asian Pacific Division, International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP);
Prof. Andrew Burke, Dean & Chair of Business Studies, Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, Ireland, Founding Editor of the International Review of Entrepreneurship (IRE);
Mrs. Madi Sharma, Founder "Madi Group" – Make A Difference Ideas group of International Private and Social Enterprises. UK Member, Employers Group, European Economic and Social Committee.

Part of the conference were:

Round table "Science – Practice" with participation of entrepreneurs from several countries – chaired by Prof. Ken O’Neill, University of Ulster, Norther Ireland, Past President of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), Doctor Honoris Causa of the UNWE.
Workshop for PhD students: how to prepare a solid dissertation work?
Workshop: how to publish in prestigious international journals?

Both workshops were led by Prof. David Smallbone, Kingston University, UK, Past President of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB).

Seminar on management and development of science / technology parks, incubators, innovative clusters. The moderator was Prof. Herbert Chen – COO, TUSPark (China). The seminar was attended by representatives of other scientific and technological parks from different countries. TUSPark (Tsinghua University Science Park, Beijing) is the largest in the world with a turnover of 5.5 billion USD, and has prepared 50 Chinese billionaires. His graduate is the current President of China Xi Jinping.

Scholars, consultants, entrepreneurs and policy-makers from Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Pakistan, Poland, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Sweden, Ukraine and USA took active participation in the conference.

Graduation Ceremony 2015

UNWE — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 22:00:00 GMT

The fifth class of bachelor’s graduates in Entrepreneurship specialty and master’s graduates with specialization in Family Entrepreneurship received their diplomas at a ceremony held on December 11, 2015.

Official guests at the ceremony were Prof. Dr. Valentin Goev, Deputy Rector for Research of the University of National and World Economy, HE Mr. Temirtay Izbastin, Head of the Diplomatic Mission of Kazakhstan in Bulgaria, Eng. Iliya Keleshev, Chairman of the Bulgarian Branch Chamber of Machine Building, Ms. Anna Naydenova, Executive Director of the ICT Cluster, Prof. Dr. Mitko Dimitrov, Director of the Institute for Economic Research of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Kiril Grigorov, Governor of the Municipal Guarantee Fund for SMEs to Sofia Municipality, Mrs. Diana Parigvozdeva, representative of DSK Bank, Mr. Dimitar Penkov, Head of Business Clients Department of UniCredit Bulbank, Eng. Dimitar Kuzev, a longtime director of ZMM Haskovo, Mrs. Jeanette Popova, founder and manager of AMET GmbH, Mr. Bashar Rahal, actor and film producer, Mrs. Krasimira Shindarova, project manager of ICT Cluster, and Mr. Branimir Yordanov, president of the Club of Young and Innovative Entrepreneur.

Traditionally, guests at the ceremony were many parents, friends and relatives of the graduates, so, the Ceremonial Hall turned out to be narrow, but whose presence was a symbol of the growing popularity and importance of the Entrepreneurship specialty.

The ceremony was opened by the founder and head of the Chair of Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship specialty Prof. Kiril Todorov, who described the development path of the specialty, the major problems solved and achieved success in preparing young entrepreneurs.

As an official representing the university, Prof. Valentin Goev delivered a welcoming speech in which emphasis was placed on the further development of graduates, not only as practitioners but also as scholars of significant economic and social processes and phenomena through opportunities provided by the university’s doctoral programs.

Welcome speeches were delivered and by other official guests, in which, each of the guests by position of their professional experience and capabilities of the represented organizations headed not only beautiful wishes but also valuable guidance and ideas to encourage the graduates.

Along with diplomas graduates received a symbolic gift from the Chair of Entrepreneurship – engraved pen with which to sign their first contract business.

The podium from left to right: Prof. Kiril Todorov, Prof. Valentin Goev, Prof. Mitko Dimitrov, Mr. Eng. Iliya Keleshev

Prof. Kiril Todorov opens the ceremony.

Left to right: Prof. Valentin Goev, Prof. Mitko Dimitrov, and Mr. Iliya Keleshev

Prof. Valentin Goev, Vice Rector on Scientific Research Activity, is addressing the graduates.

Graduates listen with interest the speeches of the official guests.

The valedictorian student Elitsa Horozova shows a picture of our famous artist Stavri Kalinov, which graduates gave the Chair of Entrepreneurship in recognition of the received preparation.

Petya Chobanova gives valedictory address.

Prof. Valentin Goev handed diplomas to the graduates.

Prof. Kiril Todorov hands souvenir pen to graduate for future signing of business contracts.

Prof. Kiril Todorov gives the floor to HE Mr. Temirtay Izbastin, Head of Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Bulgaria.

HE Mr. Izbastin hands the diploma to a graduate.

Н.Пр. г-н Избастин връчва диплома на абсолвентка.

Mr. Iliya Keleshev, Chairman of the Bulgarian Branch Chamber of Machine Building, brings a greeting.

Mr. Dimitar Kuzev, longtime director of manufacturing companies, hands a diploma.

Giving diploma on behalf of AMET Company

Ms. Anna Naydenova, Executive Director of ICT Cluster, welcomes graduates.

Mr. Kiril Grigorov, Governor of the Municipal Guarantee Fund for SMEs to Sofia Municipality, hands diploma.

Mr. Bashar Rahal, actor, hands a diploma.

Prof. Mitko Dimitrov presents diplomas.

Mr. Dimitar Penkov, Head of Business Clients Department of UniCredit Bulbank, hands diplomas.

Ms. Diana Parigvozdeva welcomes the graduates on behalf of DSK Bank.

A graduate

Prof. Kiril Todorov awards diploma of Master to Mr. Branimir Yordanov,
Chairman of the Club of Young and Innovative Entrepreneurs.

Prof. Kiril Todorov and HE Mr. Temirtay Izbastin in a handshake as a sign of current and future partnership.

Graduation Ceremony of the fourth class of Bachelor of Entrepreneurship

UNWE — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 22:00:00 GMT

Prof. Kiril Todorov opens the Graduation Ceremony of the graduates of the fourth class of the specialty "Entrepreneurship" and the Masters of the first class "Family Entrepreneurship". On the right – the Rector of the University of National and World Economy, Professor Statti Stattev.

Graduates of the Chair of Entrepreneurship

Prof. Kiril Todorov, the Rector of the University of National and World Economy, Prof. Statti Stattev, and Mr. Marián Jakubócy, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic in the Republic of Bulgaria

Prof. Kiril Todorov presents the published in USA Handbook of Research on Strategic Management
in Small and Medium Enterprises, with the participation of 40 (co-) authors from 18 countries, incl. from the Chair of Entrepreneurship at the University of National and World Economy.

The Rector awards diploma "Bachelor Honours Student" to the excellent among graduates.

Ms. Jeanette Popova, manager of AMET Ltd. hands gifts
to the achieved the highest success during their studies.

Prof. Kiril Todorov gives diploma "Bachelor Honours Student".

The Ambassador of the Slovak Republic Mr. Marián Jakubócy greets one of the graduates.

Prof. Valentin Goev, Deputy Rector for Research, awards the diploma to a graduate.

Dr. Kiril Grigorov, manager of the Municipal Guarantee Fund for SMEs to Sofia Municipality

Mrs. Ilonka Karatodorova, Director,
Small and Medium Enterprises and Agribusiness Directorate, DSK Bank plc

Part of the official guests. In the foreground - Mr. Tomáš Bican, Deputy Ambassador
of the Slovak Republic in the Republic of Bulgaria, and Mrs. Emma Vita, Deputy Director,
responsible for development and marketing of Confindustria Bulgaria
(Association of Italian Entrepreneurship in Bulgaria).

Mr. Temirtay Izbastin, Head of the Diplomatic Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan
in the Republic of Bulgaria

Mr. Temirtay Izbastin congratulates a graduate.

In the foreground - Ms. Janette Popova, Manager of AMET Ltd.
and Mr. Bogdan Wassilev, Economic Director of Petrov PM Ltd.

Mr. Temirtay Izbastin among graduates of the Chair of Entrepreneurship