Bulgaria–Romania Pitching Event: Bioeconomy Innovations for the Balkan Region

The event is organised under the BIOEAST Initiative and the BOOST4BIOEAST project, in cooperation with the Bulgarian BIOEAST Hub and the Romanian BIOEAST Hub.

The Bulgaria–Romania pitching event will bring together startups, innovative teams, researchers, entrepreneurs, SMEs and other bioeconomy actors developing solutions with potential for practical application, market uptake and regional impact. The event aims to connect promising innovators with investors, business experts, public-sector representatives and relevant stakeholders in the BIOEAST macro-region.

This event is open to a broad range of bioeconomy-related innovations. Applications may address, among others, circular bioeconomy, resilient small and medium-sized farms, sustainable agriculture and food systems, bio-based products and materials, biomass logistics, biomass and biowaste valorisation, digital solutions for the bioeconomy, green technologies, sustainable bioenergy, innovative wood technologies, resource efficiency and other solutions contributing to the transition towards a more sustainable and competitive bioeconomy, monitoring agri-food and forestry systems and rising awareness of the circular bioeconomy.

Useful details

Date: 11 June 2026

Location: Bl. 8, Technical University, Sofia, Bulgaria

Deadline for applications: 28 May 2026

Co-located event: The Boost4Bioeast Pitching Event is organised in partnership with Cleantech Bulgaria as part of the Spinoff Europa Conference 2026.

Event format: On-site pitching event

Event language: English

Selected applicants will have the opportunity to present their innovative solution before a jury. The programme will include pitching sessions, feedback from experts and networking opportunities with representatives of the bioeconomy innovation ecosystem.

Each selected team will be invited to deliver a short pitch presenting the problem addressed, the proposed solution, the innovation potential, the target market and the expected impact.

Deadline for applications: 31.05.2026

Co-located event: The Boost4Bioeast Pitching Event is organised in partnership with the International Conference on Technologies and Business Models for Circular Economy – TBMCE 2026.

More details on the agenda and speakers will be made available soon.

Travel & practical information

Selected applicants will be informed in advance of the event and contacted by the organisers with further information about travel costs.

Travel costs: The organisers will provide support for travel costs. Before booking any travel, selected participants will be asked to share an estimate of their travel expenses. The organisers will review and confirm what can be covered. Only agreed travel costs will be reimbursed.

Accommodation: Participants are responsible for organising their accommodation. Support is possible after confirmation of the expenses.

Travelling tips

• Travelling from Bucharest to Sofia – there is a regular railway communication through Russe. There is a direct flight from Bucharest to Sofia by Wizz Air. There is a regular bus line (every day) from Bucharest to Sofia.
• Travelling from Craiova to Sofia is possible by train through Vidin.

Travelling in Sofia

• From Sofia Airport – take the metro to station “G.M. Dimitrov”. The conference venue is one kilometer away from it.
• From Central railway station/International bus station – take the metro (Line M2) to station “Serdika” and change to the Sofia Airport (Line M1) or Business Park (Line M4) to the station “G.M. Dimitrov”.

The venue is easily accessible by taxi. Ride-hailing platforms such as Bolt and Uber are not currently available in Sofia.