Varna on the way to more circularity through digitalisation

Citizens, businesses and institutions gathered in Varna for CEI BOOST dissemination event on February 28th in Radio Varna hall, in Varna, Bulgaria. The project team presented the concept for the linkages between circular economy challenges and the digitalisation opportunities. 

It was discussed tha Bulgaria is still among the countries most affected by the transition to climate neutrality due to its dependence on fossil fuels, carbon-intensive processes in the energy sector and the peculiarities of the national economy (the most carbon-intensive EU member state). Participants agreed the decarbonisation might be supported and enhanced strongly through circular economy. The circular economy itself can be upheaved by digitisation. Bulgarian SMEs suffer from very low resource productivity. There is a need to support entrepreneurs, municipalities and citizens about the opportunities and benefits of developing circular business models, creating opportunities for exchange of good practices and implementing innovative solutions to accelerate the implementation of the circular economy. 
 Bulgaria (DESI2022) is also the least developed EU member for digital performance and competitiveness. The biggest lag is in the integration of digital technologies whith almost no progress in recent years. The penetration of digital technologies in enterprises is slow, and investments in digitalisation are limited.  So the event put again the accent that there is a need to promote the pursuit of digital technologies, provide financial resources for the implementation of digital solutions (including solutions related to security, confidentiality of information circular economy implementation), and to increase awareness of entrepreneurs about the benefits of digitalisation circular economy.