Our virtual trip to find out more about the progress of the DEVISE’s additional activities continues this week in Bulgaria, where our project partner Silvia Stumpf, Chairwoman of Business Agency Association, tells us more about the findings and results of the recently concluded COVID-19 Regional Context Assessment in relation to digital transformation of targeted local SMEs, and some successful COVID-19 good practices package production.
According to our DEVISE partner, all available funds under OPIK (the policy instrument tackled by DEVISE), were redirected into COVID-19 direct support scheme. Silvia mentions that some major changes took place in Bulgaria during the pandemic. Among them, a new Ministry for Digital Government, a new Ministry for Innovations and Growth, a new Ministry for Tourism and a new program tackling innovation and digitalisation were created. Nevertheless, many companies ceased their activities, and no further help is planned to be provided to them within old policy instruments. Our DEVISE partner adds that there have not been implemented specific measures to support SMEs through digital tools to answer the COVID-19 challenges. However, she highlights that the new version of RIS3 for 2021-2027 is at the stage of final amendments and our DEVISE Bulgarian partners are contributing at the final stage of public consultations.
Regarding the COVID-19 Regional Context Assessment survey carried out through DEVISE, our partner mentions that the majority of respondents (85%) cite the introduction of more technologies for remote communication and meetings as the most important priority in the field of digitalisation. Furthermore, for the 40% of respondents, greater automation of IT and business processes would be crucial. Silvia adds that third of participants also highlighted that the increasing investments in digital transformation and (re)training employees would also be a priority. Only 10% of the surveyed companies stated that they develop and offer new digital products and services. “The percentage of respondents that the pandemic has not changed the company’s priorities, is minimal”, concludes Silvia.
Need for the digital transformation
“Digital transformation is becoming increasingly important for businesses”, states our Bulgarian partner. When asking companies about their plans to invest in digital technologies, Silvia finds a difference between the responses received before and after the pandemic started. “About half of the companies (47%) intend to invest more than they have invested in the past year. Moreover, approximately the third of the interviewed businesses invest the same amount and only 2% will invest less”, adds Silvia. However, she recognises that there is still some uncertainty as almost one out of five (18%) responded that, ‘I can’t judge’.
Stay tuned for further updates!
