4 November: THE SUMMIT

Location: Millennium Hotel, Sofia

8:45 – 9:30 I Registration and welcome coffee

9:30 – 9:45 I Opening Ceremony

At the heart of this forum is education, driven by people, their needs, and their potential. EdTech stands as a powerful tool, a fuel in the engine that empowers teachers, learners, and communities to achieve better results and create a more inclusive, sustainable future.

Music Welcome Concert: Opening Performance – Arfa & Violin musical performance that welcomes the education community into a day of inspiration, innovation, and collective purpose.

9:45 – 10:15 I Welcome notes

Host and event moderator: Albena Spasova, Co-Founder, EdTech Bulgaria, Board Member of the European EdTech Alliance

Opening Speech: Krasimir Valchev, Minister, Ministry of Education and Science, Bulgaria

Opening Speech: Dr. Sc. Yanka Takeva, President of the Union of Bulgarian Teachers

Keynote: Shaping the Future of Education: Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva, Director for Innovation, Digital Education and International Cooperation, European Commission

Welcome note: Nikolay Spasov, CEO, Human Resource Development Center, Bulgaria 

Video address: Rehana Schwinninger-Ladak, Head of Unit “Interactive Technologies, Digital for Culture and Education”, European Commission

10:15 – 10:45 I The Strategic Role of EdTech and ERASMUS + in Shaping a Competitive Union

Policy Roundtable

This roundtable unites EU policymakers, Erasmus+ leadership, national authorities, business innovators, and the EdTech community to discuss how digital education can strengthen Europe’s sovereignty, resilience, and competitiveness. By combining European policy frameworks, funding opportunities, national reforms, business innovation, and thought leadership, the session will spotlight cross-border collaboration and identify joint actions that position EdTech and Erasmus+ as key drivers of Europe’s digital future.

Moderator: Jannie Jeppensen, Chairwoman of European EdTech Alliance, EdTech Sweden

Georgi Dimitrov, Head of Unit, Directorate General for Education Youth Sport and Culture, European Commission

Vladimir Kolev, CEO, Klett Bulgaria, and Co-founder, EdTech Bulgaria

Milena Stoycheva, Global Technology and Innovation Evangelist, former Minister of Innovation and Growth, Bulgaria

10:45 – 11:15 I Coffee and Networking

11:15 – 11:45 I EdTech and Public Policy: Aligning Regional Action with Global Priorities of Sustainability, Equity and Digital Inclusion

Policy Panel Discussion

This panel broadens the lens to explore how European and global initiatives align in advancing sustainability, equity, and digital inclusion. With contributions from leading international organisations, alongside European EdTech actors, the session will highlight how cross-border collaboration and global alliances can reinforce Europe’s digital education sovereignty while supporting shared global goals.

Moderator: Donatella Solda, EdTech Italia, Board Member, European EdTech Alliance 

Ahmet Murat Kılıç, Head of the Digital Transformation Unit, Education Department, Council of Europe

Ciro Avitabile, Senior Economist, World Bank

Maria Yankova PhD, Education Specialist, UNICEF Bulgaria

Jitske van Os, Director, Dutch EdTech

Katerina Kasabova, Program Director, RAABE Bulgaria

11:45 – 12:00 I EdTech Testing and Trialling Environments

Fireside Chat

Building on the policy discussions around competitiveness, global alignment, and equity, this fireside chat will focus on the practical enablers of EdTech innovation: testing and trialling environments. Prof. Alison Clark-Wilson, representing the Global EdTech Testbed Network, will provide a global perspective on how structured experimentation accelerates innovation and evidence-based policymaking. In conversation with Ivo Rusev, Chief Commercial Officer at Telelink Business Services and Co-founder of EdTech Bulgaria, the discussion will highlight how industry partners can catalyse the development and scaling of testbeds and living labs. Drawing on experience in designing infrastructure, integration, and implementation models that work in real educational environments, the session will explore how strategic collaboration between global expertise and local ecosystems can lead to sustainable, impactful transformation in digital education.

Prof. Alison Clark-Wilson, CEO, Global EdTech Testbed Network

Ivo Rusev, Chief Commercial Officer, Telelink Business Services, and Co-founder, EdTech Bulgaria

12:00 – 12:15 I European EdTech Ecosystem Roadmap Report

Insight Keynote

Dr. Agueda Gras-Velazquez, Science Program Manager, European Schoolnet

For the past two years and as part of the EmpowerED project, the European EdTech Alliance has gathered and validated vital challenges facing the European EdTech ecosystem and highlighted tangible solutions for policy, EdTech and education environments. In this session, the EEA and EmpowerED consortium partners will celebrate the culmination of the project by providing lessons learned about supporting the European EdTech ecosystem and a sneak peek of the final roadmap report.

12:15 – 13:00 I From Grant to Scale – EU Projects in Practice, financed by the Erasmus+ and other EU Programmes

Panel discussion

Moderator: Lachezar Afrikanov, EdTech Innovator, Social Innovators Bulgaria

Looking in-depth at the impact and long-term effects of projects like TechWell financed by Erasmus+ programme, EmpowerED, TAICo financed by Horizon Europe. Speakers will also share best practices from Erasmus+ projects where EdTech supported sustainable mobility, green job readiness, or climate-related skill-building.

TechWell Project, Albena Spasova, EdTech Bulgaria, Project Lead TechWell

Project Sustainability, Biliyana Bogoeva, Program Director, Bulgarian School of Politics “Dimitar Panitsa” 

EmpowerEd Project, Anna Akerfeldt, iFous

EdTech Innovators Marathon, Iya Petkova PhD, Director of Children Science Museum Muzeiko and Associate Professor, Sofia University

TAICO Project, Michelle DuQuette, European EdTech Alliance

13:00 – 13:30 I The Future of Digital Education in Europe – Innovation in Action

Perspective Keynotes 

Short, 5-7 minute interventions will highlight success stories of innovation in action from startups, NGOs, Alliances, national policy experts.

Moderator: Beth Havinga, Managing Director, European EdTech Alliance

Dr. Yuliana Topazly, Director of the Strategic Team at DOHE, EdTech Hub

Svetlana Savova, EdTech Expert / Partnerships & Growth Advisor at VEDAMO

Alicia Berlanga, CEO, Edu Tech Cluster Spain

Gergana Ruseva, Senior Account Manager, Microsoft Elevate EMEA

13:30 – 14:30 I Networking Lunch

Featuring guided discussions with European National Contact Points and EEA Members, Erasmus+ Agencies.

14:30 – 15:15 I From Insights to Action

Small-group collaboration

The workshop will take place in English and Bulgarian language groups with moderators in both languages.
Participants will engage in themed tables aligned to the five areas of opportunity identified in the Ecosystem Roadmap Report:

1. Key stakeholders have a nuanced understanding of digital education.
   • Johanna Karlén, Swedish EdTech Industry
   • Beth Havinga, European EdTech Alliance 
   • Yana Piperevska, TBS Tech
2. EdTech is designed to serve clear educational purposes and commercial viability.
   • Vilma Ferrari, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Lithuania 
   • Antonia Clary, European EdTech Alliance
   • Anna-Marie Vilamovska, Hewlett Packard Enterprise operated by Selectium
3. EdTech adoption across Europe’s educational institutions is guided by intentional and evidence-based decisions.
   • Vasileios Gkamas, Computer Tech Institute & Press Diophantus
   • Willem Schoors, Ministry of Education and Training Flanders
   • Irena Sokolova, PhD, President of KAcademy
4. Evidence is used to develop, select and implement EdTech tools and services.
   • Christina Makarona, European Schoolnet
   • Anna Åkerfeldt, iFous
   • Toni-Teodora Koseva, t’each’one by Telelink Business Services
5. Knowledge is shared across the European EdTech ecosystem.
   • Michelle DuQuette, European EdTech Alliance
   • Antonia-Götte-Ortiz, European EdTech Alliance
   • Teodora Vavova, TBS Tech

Guided by EmpowerED consortium members, participants will explore local strengths, gaps, and partnership ideas with a matrix for how to get from recommended ideas to action. Insights from this session will feed into the Sofia Perspectives summary document.

15:15 – 15:45 I Coffee and Networking: EEA Meets

Introductions to European projects, guided interactions between participants

15:45 – 16:30 I Scaling for EdTech Leadership

Small-group collaboration

The workshop will take place in English and Bulgarian language groups with moderators in both languages.

In interactive small groups moderated by EEA members and EmpowerED National Contact Points, participants will discuss case studies, ideate on solutions and identify next steps focusing on the following topics:

1. Inclusion: Exploring how EdTech can ensure equal access to quality education for all learners, regardless of background, ability, or location.
   • Yuliana Topazly, DOHE 
   • Anna-Marie Vilamovska, Hewlett Packard Enterprise operated by Selectium
2. “Erasmus+” Green priority: Sustainable Digital Practices – discuss the idea of “digital minimalism” – the use of tech efficiently and intentionally.
   • Plamena Dimitrova, EdTech Bulgaria 
   • Anamarija Petrov, Erasmus+
3. Screen Time: Discussing balanced, research-informed approaches to screen use in education that support student wellbeing and meaningful learning.
   • Willem Schoors, Ministry of Education and Training Flanders
   • Toni-Teodora Koseva, t’each’one by Telelink Business Services
4. Evidence: Identifying how data and research can guide the effective use and scaling of EdTech tools in classrooms and policy.
   • Alison Clark-Wilson, UCL / GETN
   • Yana Piperevska, TBS Tech
5. Scaling Innovation: Examining how professional development can empower teachers to adopt, adapt, and scale educational innovations across diverse learning environments.
   • Christina Makarona, European Schoolnet 
   • Irena Sokolova, PhD, President of KAcademy
6. Digital Sovereignty: Defining how education systems can retain control over digital infrastructure, data governance, and technology choice focussing on aligning EdTech adoption with European values, safeguarding learner data, supporting open standards, and reducing dependency on non-EU platforms.
   • Jannie Jeppesen, Swedish EdTech Industry
   • Teodora Vavova, TBS Tech

Insights from this session will feed into the Sofia Perspectives summary document.

16:30 – 17:15 I The Sofia Perspectives on European EdTech

Plenary Discussion

Rapporteurs from the small group collaborations report back their main findings.

Speakers respond with their ideas of action items and next steps

Prof. Galin Tsokov, Director, Institute for Education, former Minister of Education, Bulgaria 

Prof. Roumiana Peytcheva-Forsyth, Professor of Education Technologies, Faculty of Education, Sofia University

Prof. Silvia Ilieva, Director, GATE Institute 

Real time responses captured by EEA and EdTech Bulgaria Teams (Miro)
Moderator: Albena Spasova, Co-Founder, EdTech Bulgaria, Board Member of the European EdTech Alliance

Drafted from the roundtables and interactive discussions, the Sofia Perspectives document will provide a summary of commitment and capabilities to further innovation in EU EdTech including next steps.

17:15 – 17:30 I Closing of the Day: Event Surprise and Inspiration

Empowering children to unlock their potential

Host summary

17:30 I End of Event – Closing Cocktail and Networking