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The Bulgarian Construction Chamber (BCC) as coordinator of the “European Digital Innovation Hub in the Construction Sector” (EDIH in the construction sector) signed a funding agreement with the Ministry of Innovation and Growth under the “Research, Innovation and Digitalization for Smart Transformation” (PNIIDIT) programme for the implementation of an approved project for a European Digital Innovation Hub under the Digital Europe programme – DIGITAL-2021-EDIH-01.
In 2023, EDIH in the construction sector was approved by the European Commission and received 50% funding from the European Commission for its activities. The remaining 50% of funding is guaranteed by the already signed contract under PNIIDIT.
The Association “EDIH in the construction sector” started its work and was officially presented on 30 November 2023 at the building of the BCC. According to the Chairman of the Board of the Association, Mr. Lyubomir Peinovski, “digitalization and the introduction of innovations are now not only an important part of the future of Bulgaria and of the entire European Union, but a reality and will determine the direction for the development of society, industry, business, education and science, health care systems and social policy.” EDIH in the construction sector is part of the rapidly growing network of European Digital Innovation Centres, whose main objective is to accelerate the digital transformation of the European economy. “Through EDIH in the construction sector, we are becoming part of the European construction map, with Bulgarian companies having access to a network of over 200 hubs across Europe,” says Mr Painovski.
The EDIH in the construction sector acts as a one-stop shop for small and medium-sized enterprises in the construction industry and for public organisations on their journey towards digitalisation. The association’s experts and partners guide these enterprises through the process of assessing their progress in digitisation, providing them with the most appropriate services for their specific needs and business objectives.
The services provided by EDIH in the construction sector are as follows:
- Pre-investment testing. This type of service provides access to specialised research infrastructure and expertise to test innovative products and services in order to bring them to market faster.
- Training and capacity building. This service includes the organisation and delivery of specialised training and capacity building workshops in the public and private sectors on topics related to the introduction of digital technologies in construction processes.
- Access to finance. EDIH experts and consultants in the construction sector support access to funding through international and national programmes and initiatives to pilot test digital technologies and implement innovative projects.
- Partnerships and networking. EDIH experts in the construction sector facilitate collaborations with partner organisations and foster networking.
