WHAT HAPPENED IN THE IT SECTOR IN AUGUST

Investments and acquisitions

Insight Enterprises acquires Amdaris

Insight Enterprises, a Fortune 500 integrator of digital transformation solutions, has acquired Amdaris, a UK-based Microsoft Gold certified partner, adding software development and consulting services. Amdaris’ Bulgarian office will remain unchanged, with new offices in Varna and Plovdiv.

Expansion

Valtech opens office in Bulgaria

Valtech, a global business transformation and digitalization company, has opened an office in Sofia.In its drive to expand and innovate, the company is in the process of assembling a dynamic team including software engineers, business analysts, project managers, quality assurance specialists, as well as DevOps and Site Reliability engineers. Various platforms and technologies are being worked on, and DXP and Composable Commerce are among the main service lines.

Programs and training

Sofia Tech Park launches South East European Innovators Program

Sofia Tech Park has launched the South East European Innovators Program (SEEIP), an initiative supporting innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers. It will start in October, but applications are now open for companies and teams: https://seeip.eu/. A panel of experts will determine the selected participants in two stages – in September and in March. The technology programme will benefit entrepreneurs and researchers who want to set up a company and develop a business project, it includes elements of incubation, acceleration and technology transfer, and there is no limit to the field of projects developed. SEEIP will follow the teams all the way – from establishing a specific product/service, to finding investment, to commercialisation and going international. The program will be conducted in English in a hybrid model – online trainings and in-person events, and in addition participants will be able to get one-on-one consultations with a team of experts.

Second season of Bosch Startup Harbour in Bulgaria

Bosch Startup Harbour, Bosch’s accelerator program for startups, has launched its second season in Bulgaria. Managed by Bosch Digital, the unit specialising in IoT, artificial intelligence (AIoT) and digitalisation, this initiative is tailored for technology startups. It connects these startups with Bosch experts from different units, providing them with mentoring, guidance and the opportunity to collaborate on real Bosch Group projects. The program’s focus areas include innovations based on generative AI and synthetic data, improving learning through generative AI, augmented reality in autonomous driving software development, intelligent sensor technologies for motion and performance tracking in the Metaverse, and digitalization in manufacturing. Applications for this program are open until September 30, and more details can be found here. In addition, the Bosch Startup Harbour program is expanding to Serbia.

24 Bulgarian students are part of Visteon’s RISE programme

The program lasts 18 months and students participate in three stages: a one-month introduction to automotive software and mechanics, followed by two stages involving real-world projects focused on software testing, integration and programming. Over 50 participants are part of this initiative at the Visteon Technology Center in Sofia.