BSMEPA Participates in National Workshop on „Intelligent, Digital, and Sustainable Transformation of the Bulgarian Furniture Industry“ | The Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA)

On June 27, 2024, a national workshop titled „Intelligent, Digital, and Sustainable Transformation of the Bulgarian Furniture Industry“ was held in Sofia. The initiative was part of the project „DRWO4.0 – Danube Region Wood Industry Transformation Model towards Industry 4.0,“ in which the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA) is a strategic associated partner. The event was organized by the Bulgarian Furniture Cluster.

Bringing together manufacturing, technically-oriented, and creative companies, as well as science and administration, is crucial for addressing the challenges faced by Bulgarian furniture enterprises in the context of Industry 4.0. Creating a working platform in the network and identifying good practices aim to adapt models to increase the sustainability and competitiveness of the forestry and furniture industries in Bulgaria. This is achieved through collaboration to discover successful approaches for transforming the sector. Leading experts shared their experiences in ESG policies and digital product passports, as well as the most successful examples of adapting Industry 4.0 models, such as digitalization and software-assisted management, IoT, Lean methods, in the Bulgarian forestry and furniture industries to enhance sustainability and competitiveness.

The event was opened by Ms. Genoveva Hristova, Chairwoman of the Bulgarian Furniture Cluster, and Mr. Lachezar Petkov, Secretary General of BSMEPA. In his opening remarks, Mr. Petkov emphasized the importance of the agency’s support for small and medium-sized businesses and the contribution of the furniture industry to the Bulgarian economy. He reminded the audience of the many projects and initiatives through which BSMEPA encourages entrepreneurial spirit and digitalization in positioning private enterprises on the global trade stage. For Bulgarian businesses to expand their export potential and modernize their production, it is essential to apply several new technological developments: industrial robotics, cloud computing, network communications, and artificial intelligence.