SZ REDA Celebrates 30 Years

The Agency brought together partners from over 15 European regions in Stara Zagora for the jubilee conference “30 Years of Connecting the Dots”

Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency (SZ REDA) celebrated its 30th anniversary with an inspiring international conference titled “30 Years of Connecting the Dots”which gathered over 200 participantsincluding more than 100 international partners from over 15 European regions. The guests represented 6 international project consortiums in which SZ REDA is a partner - COMMIT, GreenSmartMed, GH2M, Just Femme, DUST, RuralMed Mobility..

The event took place on 15 October at the Zahariy Knyazheski Regional Library and highlighted the dialogue between people, institutions and businesses – just as SZ REDA has been doing for the past three decades.

An International Forum Looking Ahead

The conference was moderated by D-r Rumyana GrozevaExecutive Director of SZ REDA, who opened the forum with the words:

“Connecting the dots is not just a mission, it’s a way of life. For 30 years, we have been building bridges between institutions, business, education and people who believe our region has a future.”

The official opening featured Ms Nadezhda Chakarova, Deputy Mayor of Stara Zagora, Mr Nikolay Dikov, Secretary of the Municipality, and Dr Nedelcho Marinov, Regional Governor, who congratulated the SZ REDA team for their consistency, professionalism and long-standing contribution to the region’s development.

On behalf of the Municipality of Stara Zagora, Mr Nikolay Dikov presented Dr Rumyana Grozeva with the Mayor’s Honorary Sign, while the Regional Governor, Dr Nedelcho Marinov, awarded her the Regional Governor’s Emblem as a symbol of recognition for the agency’s sustainable vision and long-standing dedication.

The topics of the Future: Green Economy, Mobility and Equality

The keynote speaker of the conference was Professor John Bachtler from the University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom – one of Europe’s leading experts on cohesion policy – who shared his vision for the future of regional development and the just transition. His speech laid the foundation for discussions across four strategic parallel sessions addressing key themes for the region of Stara Zagora.

The event brought together four simultaneous international forumsthat turned Stara Zagora into a European platform for dialogue and ideas:

• Sustainable Mobility and Hydrogen – guests from Spain, Greece and the Netherlands presented good practices and solutions for introducing electric and hydrogen mobility in transition regions. SZ REDA is a partner in two international projects in this field RuralMED Mobility and GH2M.
• SMEs at the Heart of Change – focused on access to finance and innovation for small and medium-sized enterprises under the projects GreenSmartMed and COMMITThe role of the European Digital Innovation Hub Zagore, coordinated by SZ REDA , was highlighted as a driver of digital transformation in the region’s businesses. Agapi Teftiki, Research Associate at CERTH, took part in the session as a panelist, representing the GreenSmartMed project. Her intervention provided valuable insights into the project’s transnational approach to supporting SMEs in adopting green and smart practices, as well as its contribution to enhancing access to finance, innovation capacity, and cross-regional cooperation across the Mediterranean area.
• People - centered transition presented results from the DUST Projectintroducing new models for involving citizens in shaping policies for a fair and inclusive transition.
• Women in transition regions inspired by the newly launched JustFEMME project , promoting women’s entrepreneurship and gender equality in transition regions.

The diversity of topics and the participation of experts from over 15 European regions turned the conference into a genuine platform for sharing knowledge, visions and practical solutions– true to the mission of SZ REDA to connect the dots between people, ideas and policies.

More information about the topics and the participants in the conference fin on the event website.

30 Years of Trust, Recognition and Human Energy

A special highlight of the day was the story of SZ REDA itself. Before a full auditorium at the Regional Library, Dr Rumyana Grozeva and Ms Petya Atsinova – the current and former Executive Directors – shared milestones, anecdotes and photos from three decades of dedication and growth.

To mark the anniversary, SZ REDA and Dr Grozeva received numerous distinctions – the Mayor’s Honorary Sign, , the Regional Governor’s Emblem, as well as congratulatory letters from institutions and organisations including the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy,, the Stara Zagora Municipal Council,, the Regional Association of Municipalities “Trakia”,, the Regional Historical Museum,, Nikolaevo municipality and and long-standing business partners from the region..

All messages shared a common sentiment – gratitude and respect for SZ REDA as a symbol of sustainability, trust and vision – proof that strong regions are built on strong partnerships.

Dr Grozeva dedicated the awards to her team “These honours belong to the people of SZ REDA – for their professionalism, creativity and humanity. Together we have proven that our region has both a voice and a future.”

A Celebration with a Message for the Future

The jubilee day concluded with the festive “Connecting the Dots Cocktail” at the Stara Zagora State Opera, where partners and friends from across Europe exchanged memories, smiles and ideas for the future.

The evening ended as it began – with connections between people, ideas and communities– because that remains the greatest achievement SZ REDA has created over the years

About SZ REDA

Founded in 1995, the Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency is an independent organisation whose mission is to promote the sustainable economic and social development of the region.

Over the past three decades, SZ REDA has become a trusted partner in Bulgaria and across Europe, implementing more than 100 projects in the fields of entrepreneurship, green transition, education and social innovation..

Today, thirty years later, SZ REDA continues to “connect the dots” – between people, institutions, businesses and opportunities, proving that a sustainable future begins with collaboration.

The Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency (SZ REDA) was established in 1995 through a partnership between the Municipality of Stara Zagora, Trakia University, and the Stara Zagora Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the goal of supporting the region’s sustainable development.

Members of SZ REDA include all 11 municipalities of the Stara Zagora region, Trakia University, the Stara Zagora Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Centre for Human Resources Development and Regional Initiatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Regional Department – Stara Zagora.

Currently the implemented projects are over 100.

Since 2009, under a framework agreement with the European Commission’s DG Communication, SZ REDA has hosted the Europe Direct Stara Zagora centre– serving as a bridge between European initiatives and local communities through outreach, media activities and public events.

Watch the video from the cofnerence here:

Photos from the event