The South Central Region of Bulgaria is a vibrant region where industry, education, culture, creative industries, and civil society come together. With the rapid development of digitalisation in Europe, organisations and communities in this region are increasingly relying on digital technologies, though they face challenges in accessing expertise in cybersecurity, advanced digital skills, and innovation support. Against this background, the European Digital Innovation Days in the South Central Region were established, a forward-thinking initiative in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital resilience in an inclusive and accessible manner.
The European Digital Innovation Days were designed and delivered by EDIH Trakia in partnership with the Station Street Festival in Plovdiv and BULGACON 2025, a national science fiction festival hosted at the Youth Centre in Pazardzhik. The European Digital Innovation Days were conducted between 6 and 8 September 2025, and the activities were diverse, reaching out to various audiences in the region.
The initiative was designed to include diverse audiences, such as students, educators, artists, and civil society, through a wide range of activities such as demonstrations, lectures, investment-focused discussions, workshops, and networking activities. The European Digital Innovation Days were designed around a key theme of rethinking cybersecurity through imagination and practice. The initiative explored the role of science fiction in understanding the future of cybersecurity and the opportunities it brings. Through this approach, artificial intelligence, cyber risks, and digital security were communicated in an interesting and unconventional manner.
The programme was designed to be interdisciplinary, with speakers from cybersecurity, AI, education, culture, science, and governance. The events brought together expertise in these fields to encourage a broader understanding of digital transformation as a societal process, rather than just a technical one.
Over the course of the three days, participants were given the opportunity to learn about:
- The latest cybersecurity risks and protective tools
- Artificial intelligence applications, digital skills, and training
- The cyber services offered by the European Digital Innovation Hub Trakia
- Cyber risk assessment in EU-funded projects and innovation initiatives
- Funding and investment opportunities in European programmes
- Good practices in SMEs, innovators, and technology providers
Day 1 – Cyber Awareness and Demonstrations (Plovdiv)
The first day was held at the National School of Music and Dance Art “Dobrin Petkov” in Plovdiv. This choice reflects the organisers’ commitment to reaching a broader audience beyond the traditional scope of technology enthusiasts. The programme kicked off with a Demonstration Day session presented by Dr. Hristian Daskalov, Project Manager of Cyber4AllSTAR, and Chair of the Management Board of EDIH Trakia.
Dr. Hristian Daskalov’s presentation, “Cyber Attacks – How They Happen and How to Protect Ourselves,” provided an overview of common cyber attacks such as phishing, social engineering, malware, and ransomware. The emphasis was on the role of the human factor in cybersecurity. The presentation encouraged participants to be digitally aware, as cybersecurity is not just an IT issue but a societal one. The importance of educating people, particularly children, on how to behave in a digital world was also discussed.
Day 2 – Skills, Investment, and Future Scenarios (Plovdiv & Pazardzhik)
The second day also extended the scope of the initiative, this time in two cities. In Plovdiv, the second session of the Demonstration Day focused on the theme of cybersecurity as a career path. The representatives of Women4Cyber presented the opportunities for education, certification, and professional development in the field, stressing the importance of the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals and the role of inclusiveness and diversity in the field.
Meanwhile, the Pazardzhik event continued as a comprehensive Investor and Innovation Day, taking place at the Youth Centre. The opening sessions brought together representatives from the local administration, culture, academia, and civil society, stressing the importance of engaging the youth, their creativity, and their participation in the solution of the digital challenges.
One of the most unique aspects of the entire initiative was the discussion on the theme of “Deep-Tech Threats and Solutions at the Intersection of Practice, Science, and Science Fiction.” The discussion brought together internationally acclaimed science fiction writers and cybersecurity and technology experts to discuss the role of science fiction in anticipating the ethical, the technological, and the cybersecurity risks and threats of the future.
The agenda continued with a Financial Engineering Round Table, offering concrete support opportunities for the SME and the industry under the Cyber4AllSTAR project and the forthcoming ones, going beyond 2025.
In the afternoon, a Digitalisation Networking Conference featured the cyber services and training portfolio of EDIH Trakia through an innovative program that combined technology, art, and storytelling. Demonstrations of cyber services on the cyber range, presentations on artificial intelligence, cyber risks, and digital ethics, as well as art performances, highlighted the significance of a human-centric and forward-thinking approach to cybersecurity. The day ended with a B2B and B2C networking session, reinforcing the connections in the regional innovation ecosystem.
Day 3 – Artificial Intelligence and Closing Activities (Plovdiv)
The last day of the European Digital Innovation Days returned to Plovdiv and featured a concluding demonstration on artificial intelligence. The session, “AI Tarator 2.0 – The Magic of Artificial Intelligence,” used an engaging and entertaining format to introduce concepts on artificial intelligence, using humor and cultural references to simplify complex concepts and make artificial intelligence more accessible and interesting to a wider audience. The activity was a fitting end to the European Digital Innovation Days in the South Central Region, as it embodied the philosophy of the project: making complex digital technologies accessible, interesting, and relevant to people’s lives.
Conclusion
The European Digital Innovation Days in the South Central Region presented a new paradigm in cybersecurity awareness and digital transformation that combined technology, culture, creativity, education, and finance. The project’s success in engaging a wide range of stakeholders and encouraging inter-disciplinary dialogue has reinforced the importance of imagination, collaboration, and community-building in enhancing digital resilience.
The European Digital Innovation Days in the South Central Region reinforced the role of EDIH Trakia as a regional innovation catalyst that can translate European digital agendas into local action and lay the groundwork for a successful partnership under the Cyber4AllSTAR project and its extensions.