In today’s digital age, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue—it is a fundamental business necessity, especially in the fields of technical manufacturing, industrial production, and building management. Modern production lines and building management systems rely on interconnected technologies such as industrial control systems (ICS), SCADA, IoT devices, robotics, and smart building solutions.
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A single cyberattack can shut down these systems, leading to costly downtime, disrupted production, and significant financial losses. Beyond the financial implications, cybersecurity is also directly linked to human safety. When critical systems are compromised, it can lead to malfunctioning machinery or the shutdown of building safety systems, putting both employees and company assets at risk.
At the same time, regulations such as NIS2, ISO 27001, and other industry standards require strict compliance. If ignored, this leads not only to fines but also to serious reputational damage. The risk also spreads to the supply chain, where a single vulnerable link can jeopardize entire networks of partners and suppliers.
Strengthening cybersecurity measures ensures operational resilience and positions the business as a reliable and responsible partner in this interconnected industrial ecosystem world.
The European Digital Innovation Hub “Trakia” participated in the International Technical Fair in Plovdiv on September 25-26, 2025, where the consulting events “European Digital Innovation Days at the Plovdiv Technical Fair” were organized. During the two-day events, guest speakers were invited to talk about the importance of cybersecurity to visitors to the international fair.
During the consulting events, a cybersecurity competition called “Maina Hack” , similar to “Capture the Flag,” was organized with the support of Maina Town and Station Street Fest. The competition began on September 24 and continued until September 26, 2025.
The first day, October 25, began with a sectional block for consultations on financing, in which Assoc. Prof. Boyan Zhekov, National Coordinator for Horizon Europe, and Alexander Stoichkov, founder of Balkan Fair Online, participated. The topics they discussed were “Horizon Europe Reception” and “Support for Sustainable Business for Social Enterprises,” respectively.
The next session, featuring representatives from businesses and organizations, began with a presentation by Ivan Pepelov, CEO of IDVKM. The topic presented was “Achieving NIS2 Compliance through Identity Management,” which raised serious questions about the European Industrial Equipment Directive and its importance for survival in the new business environment. Paulina Chotrova presented the Artificial Intelligence Cluster, a non-governmental organization that aims to create a sustainable ecosystem around artificial intelligence technologies.
Vivaсom representative Ivan Parpulov presented the company’s cloud services and their capabilities.
To conclude this session, Desislava Terzieva from ZK “LEV INS” presented the company’s cybersecurity products and the benefits of cyber insurance.
The last session of the day began with a public lecture by Yasen Tanev from EDIH Trakia on the topic of “Cyber risks and defenses in the management of ‘smart’ buildings.” The lecture discussed the importance of cybersecurity for smart buildings and how they can be protected.
Industrial cybersecurity, which Siemens Bulgaria offers to its customers, was also presented at the EDIH Trakia stand. The final topic of the day was presented by Peyo Staribratov, a trainer at EDIH Trakia, who explained how artificial intelligence and cybersecurity can work together to protect and develop businesses.
The following day, September 26, was opened by Krasimir Loikov, Head of the Europe Direct – Plovdiv project, who presented the partner network connecting Europe and Bulgaria.
As a natural extension and part of this network, Rumyana Atanasova presented the CyberSec4OT projects.
In addition to this project, Diliana Gerjikova from the Plovdiv Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented the opportunities offered by the Enterprise Europe Network to small and medium-sized enterprises.
Alexander Nenkov, Commercial Director at AKAT Technologies, offered consultations on compliance with legal requirements for cybersecurity.
Before the lunch break, Sasha Boncheva, coordinator of Women4Cyber, presented the initiative to young women, explaining the opportunities and mission of the foundation.
After a short break, a hybrid session was organized in the afternoon, attended by Iva Tasheva and Krasimir Simonski. They presented the CONFIRMATE project, which aims to create a package of open source tools to help companies comply with the European Union’s cybersecurity act.
In the final part of our event, Stanislav Atanasov announced the winner of the Main Hack cybersecurity competition. The grand prize for the winner is a Lego Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans hybrid car construction set with over 1,700 pieces!