WE.Circular Kick-off Event and First Transnational Learning Event in Varna

On March 19-20, 2024, RAPIV proudly hosted the Kick-off Dissemination Event and the 1st Transnational Learning Event for the WE.Circular project in the beautiful sea capital of Bulgaria, Varna.

WE.Circular – Boosting Digital and Industrial Capacity for Sustainable Circular Transition of Women Entrepreneurs in the Danube Region aims to enhance the digital and business skills of women entrepreneurs, equipping key stakeholders with the necessary expertise to develop and implement smart specialization strategies. This initiative supports the transition to Industry 4.0 while incorporating circular economy principles.

During the event, partners and participants had the opportunity to share experiences and insights on several key topics:

• Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Danube Region: Recent activities of the Working Group on Women's Entrepreneurship of Priority Area 8 of the EUSDR Competitiveness of Enterprises, presented by PAC 8 Coordinators.
• Interreg Danube Region Programme: Updates on the results of the 1st call, application details for the 2nd call, and project implementation insights from the Joint Secretariat of the Danube Region Program.
• EU Industrial Policy: Insights from the Ministry of Economy and Industry, Bulgaria, on active policies designed to stimulate growth.
• Support for Women Entrepreneurship: Presentations on various projects and initiatives, including the Women Entrepreneurship Centre, Business Programme Smart Lady by First Investment Bank, projects TEX-DAN and RE-FEM, and the Sector Group on Women Entrepreneurship within the Enterprise Europe Network.

During the afternoon session of the first day, selected good practices were presented by Bulgarian partners RAPIV and Varna Free University, as well as the Romanian partner, Impact Hub Bucharest.

On the second day, partners discussed the methodologies to be applied within the project framework for conducting national and transnational analyses of the skills needs and gaps of women entrepreneurs. These discussions also covered the implementation of other activities aimed at achieving the project’s objectives.

We would like to thank all partners and participants for the fruitful events! The event was a resounding success, providing a platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaborative learning. It marked the beginning of a significant journey towards empowering women entrepreneurs in the Danube region, fostering sustainable growth, and driving the circular economy forward. 

Stay tuned for more updates as WE.Circular continues to make strides in transforming the entrepreneurial landscape