Stara Zagora hosts a conference and innovation forum on 30 September on the future of EU funding and the growth of transition regions, organisers told BTA. They expect people from EU, national, regional and local bodies, along with business, universities, experts and journalists.

The forum starts at 9:00 am at the Verea hotel under the slogan "Cohesion policy in action: results, innovation and more opportunities for transition regions." The main topic is how the rules for EU funding are changing and what that means for regions, municipalities and business after 2027. Speakers will also look at how cohesion policy, competitiveness, innovation and investment can help transform regional economies.

One panel focuses on Bulgaria's three transition regions — Stara Zagora, Pernik and Kyustendil. The regional governors of the three areas, Kaloyan Damyanov, Greta Koleva and Atanas Gerginov, have been invited to take part.

The forum will also showcase new technology for business and public bodies, including artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, virtual reality, robotics and cybersecurity. Speakers will discuss free services coming soon from the European Digital Innovation Hub Zagore for small and medium-sized businesses and public bodies.

A separate discussion will look at the future of transition regions and their place in the EU's new financial framework. Invited panellists include deputy prime minister Atanas Pekanov and deputy prime minister and economy, investment and industry minister Alexander Pulev.

Hydrogen technology is also on the agenda. Speakers will present H2START, the Trakia University's Centre of Excellence for Hydrogen and New Technologies in Stara Zagora. The talk will cover how hydrogen technology can be used in industry and energy.

The forum will also address the role of the media at a time when people face disinformation and uncertainty. Organisers will present results from training sessions and webinars held with journalists from the three regions, plus the "European Funds 101" platform and a Media Toolkit.

An innovation exhibition will run all day. Visitors will see technology solutions and demonstrations for business and government, and will be able to talk directly to the companies, organisations and people behind them.

The conference is organised by ARIR – Stara Zagora, Stara Zagora Television and Brand Media Bulgaria as part of the COREJIO project — "One Cohesion Policy: Many Regions in Sync for a Just Transition." The project aims to help people better understand EU cohesion policy and what it means for the development of transition regions. It is co-funded by the European Union through the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy.

Taking part in the forum is free, but registration in advance is required.