EC: "Bravo, Haskovo!"

The Mayor of Haskovo Municipality and the CARE-GET Project Team Hold an Opening Ceremony and First Press Conference

On March 20, 2025, in the "Haskovo" hall, the CARE-GET project – "Collaborative Advancement for Renewed Education, Generation, Economy and Technology Transition" – was officially launched. The Kick-off event was organized by Haskovo Municipality as the lead partner in the Project, with the participation of all Project Partners.

Project Presentation

The official part of the event began with welcoming speeches and a project presentation. Speakers included the Mayor of Haskovo, Mr. Stanislav Dechev, the Vice-Rector of Thracian University – Stara Zagora, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emil Slavov, and Dr. Yancho Delchev, a distinguished doctor and honorary citizen of Haskovo.

A detailed presentation of the CARE-GET project was delivered by Mr. Valentin Spendarov, the project manager, and Mr. Donal O’Herlihy, the project’s innovation expert.

Among the numerous attendees filling the hall were Ms. Yordanka Chobanova, Head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria, H.E. Alexios Marios Liberopoulos, Ambassador of Greece to Bulgaria, Mr. Georgios Lazaridis, Deputy Mayor of Komotini (Greece), Ms. Tanya Zaharieva, Chairperson of the Haskovo Municipal Council, Ms. Stefka Zdravkova, Regional Governor of Haskovo, as well as prominent doctors, educators, project partners, and experts.

Press Conference

At 11:15 AM, a press conference was held to present the project's main objectives, activities, and expected outcomes. The speakers included Mr. Valentin Spendarov, the project manager, and Mr. Georgi Tabakov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Economic Forum and one of the Bulgarian project partners.

When asked by Darik Radio why telemedicine was chosen as a key component of the project, Mr. Tabakov responded:

“The telemedicine component gave the project an innovative edge, allowing it to stand out among over 100 cities that applied under the European Urban Initiative program. Only 22 projects were approved, and this is the only Bulgarian project that won.”

He added that this success places Haskovo among cities like Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Valencia, Athens, and Barcelona. He also emphasized that the project aims not only to retain medical students from Thracian University in the region but also to attract young specialists from across Bulgaria.

Official Opening Ceremony

At 12:00 PM, the official opening ceremony took place at 9 Bulgaria Blvd., in the building of the former Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov Orphanage.

Speaking before the gathered audience, Mayor Stanislav Dechev stated that the project is one of the most complex initiatives undertaken by the municipality, with the ultimate goal of transforming the former orphanage into a hub for students and young professionals, encouraging them to stay in Haskovo.

"The easiest part will be the renovation. The real challenge begins afterward, but I am confident we will succeed in attracting young specialists. With our partners from Haskovo Hospital and Thracian University, we will ensure that this building becomes a center that brings together young medical professionals."

Ms. Yordanka Chobanova described the CARE-GET project as a project of the future that will become a symbol of Haskovo.

"Bravo, Haskovo! You succeeded in a highly competitive selection process among many European cities to win this European Commission project."

She assured that the European Commission will fully support the project’s implementation and that an innovation expert from the Commission will be involved.

"This is a project of the future, designed to retain young, innovative, and ambitious people in the city, helping them develop their skills and transform Haskovo into a center for talented specialists through science, education, and healthcare."

Funding and International Participation

The CARE-GET project is Bulgaria’s winner in the Second Call for Innovative Actions under the European Urban Initiative and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

One of the project's key activities is the transformation of the former orphanage into an innovative medical-technology center, which will become a regional hub for telemedicine.

The project started at the end of 2024 and includes international participation. Its partners include organizations and institutions from Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, Greece, and Lithuania, collaborating on innovative solutions in medicine and technology.

The total budget of the project exceeds €5 million, with 80% of the funding provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).