Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

Management innovations are related not only to the development and implementation of information and communication technologies but also with the change in legislation and the way the administration functions, said the Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Kamen Spassov at the conference entitled “Innovations: Economic growth engines”.

Nearly 90 per cent of companies use the Internet to interact with public institutions, he added. The sector of information and communication technologies is characterized with a constant growth in revenues (14%) and profit (83%).  In the period 2007-2013 Bulgarian universities, BAS institutes, hi-tech companies among others benefited 17 million Euros for 78 projects in the ICT field under the Seventh Framework Program for Scientific Research and Technological Development. Under the program “Support for ICT policies” of the Framework Program “Competitiveness and Innovations”, over 5 million Euros were allocated to 43 projects.

Bulgaria ranks among the most advanced countries in the EU when it comes to broadband speed, said Deputy Minister Spassov. Over 98 per cent of the lines allow for speed over 2 Mbps, while for more than 74.1 per cent of the lines it is between 10 and 30 Mbps, which makes them suitable for future Internet applications such as HD television and high quality video calls. Bulgaria is among the European leaders with high speed Internet access penetration at 30 Mbps.

The innovations forum was organized by the University of Finance, Business and Entrepreneurship and B2B magazine.