EMPOWERING EUROPEAN EDTECH AND ERASMUS+ SUMMIT
Education, EdTech & the Race for European Competitiveness
3.- 4. November 2025 | 9:30am - 5:30pm
Grand Hotel Millennium, Sofia 89B,
Vitosha Blvd, 1463 Sofia, Bulgaria
Hosted in Bulgaria and shaped through European cooperation, this high-level event reflects Bulgaria’s strategic leadership in shaping a sustainable and digitally empowered European future. This high-level convening positions Bulgaria as a key contributor to Europe's EdTech future—aligned with the Erasmus+ priorities of Digital Transformation and Green Transition.
This event speaks to Europe's long-term investment in digital education, competitiveness and preparedness, and European digital sovereignty. Against the backdrop of the European Education Area, European Skills Agenda, EU Digital Education Action Plan, the AI Act, the Green Deal, and the Digital Decade goals, the event brings together policymakers, practitioners, innovators, educators, and researchers to:
Align EdTech innovation with Erasmus+ goals to promote equity, lifelong learning, and environmental awareness;
Showcase how digital education technologies can power inclusive, accessible, and green learning environments;
Explore how EdTech solutions can support climate education, digital skills for sustainability, and greener operational models in education systems.
The day is designed to demonstrate Europe’s readiness to lead and partner across borders, showcase impactful EdTech initiatives, and contribute substantively to shaping Europe’s digital learning landscape and Europe's long-term competitiveness.
In the evening before the summit, a high-level networking event will take place inviting Government officials from the Region, Ministers, Labour Organisations, Embassies representatives from all EEA countries to support cross countries collaboration and exchange, Trade Associations, Education Leaders And European EdTech Community.
Event Aims & Outputs
A jointly developed “Sofia Perspectives on European EdTech”, summarising the key insights and commitments shared throughout the day, with relevance to future EU policy dialogue. Joint action among government, schools, NGOs, industry, research with one voice for better education orchestrated by EdTech Bulgaria and Human Resource Development Center.
Integrate Erasmus+ collaboration activities that emphasize European EdTech innovation as a catalyst for digital and green transitions in education - showcasing initiatives that promote equity, lifelong learning, environmental awareness and digital innovation.
Celebrating the culmination of the three-year EU funded EmpowerED project by highlighting outputs, learnings and insights from consortium partners - including European strengths and gaps in key EdTech areas as well as the support mechanisms provided for development of the Bulgarian ecosystem within the wider European context.
Provide a platform for cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange, reflecting EU-programmes like Erasmus+ support for transnational partnerships, through stronger connections between EU stakeholders, including opportunities for future pilots and funding proposals.
An alignment of education policy, projects and processes strategically with European digital priorities, supporting long-term within EU digital and education policymaking.
Inspire new partnerships and future funding proposals - including Erasmus+ project proposals, grant opportunities and investment in EdTech solutions that advance sustainability, equity, and digital inclusion.
Summit Agenda
3 November
The VIP Cocktail is planned for November 3 inviting public figures, Minister of Education and Directors of Directorates, Other Public institutions from education and tech sector, Trade Attaches and Ambassadors from respective EU countries with EEA Members; Trade Associations; Business representatives, Researchers, Rectors of Universities, the entire EEA community and International Speakers. The event is invitation only for the Bulgarian guests and all international guests are invited.
Start: 18:00
Location: Planet Schwarz Tech Theater
4 November
09:00-09:30 Registration and welcome coffee
09:30-10:00 Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony - At the heart of this forum is education, driven by people, their needs, and their potential. EdTech stands as a powerful tool, a fuel in the engine that empowers teachers, learners, and communities to achieve better results and create a more inclusive, sustainable future.
Host and event moderator: Albena Spasova, EdTech Bulgaria
Key insights from the Cabinet of Commissioner Zaharieva (European Commission), Krasimir Valchev, Minister of Education and Science, Bulgaria (invited)
Rehana Schwinninger-Ladak - Head of Unit “Interactive Technologies, Digital for Culture and Education”, European Commission
10:00-10:15 Shaping Education for the Future • Keynote
Mrs Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva, Director, DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture
10:15-10:45 The Strategic Role of EdTech and ERASMUS + in Shaping a Competitive Union • Policy Roundtable
Issues of digital sovereignty, resilience, European competitiveness and innovation will play a key role in this discussion spotlighting national and EU leadership and ideas for fostering cross-border collaboration on shared digital education goals.
Moderator: European EdTech, Jannie Jeppensen, Chairwoman of European EdTech Alliance
Representative from Erasmus (invited)
EU Commission, Georgi Dimitrov, DGEAC (invited)
Ministry of Education Bulgaria - (invited)
Business Representative, Ivo Rusev, Telelink Business Services
Milena Stoycheva, Global Technology and Innovation Evangelist, former Minister of Innovation and Growth Bulgaria
10:45-11:15 Coffee and Networking
11:15-11:45 EdTech and Public Policy: Aligning Regional Action with Global Priorities of Sustainability, Equity and Digital Inclusion • Policy Panel Discussion
Panellists will reflect on EdTech’s evolving contribution to European initiatives such as the Digital Education Action Plan, the AI Act, and the Digital Skills Pact, Erasmus+ projects as well as its broader role in enabling strategic digital education sovereignty. The discussion will also bring in global perspectives, highlighting efforts led by UNESCO and the European EdTech Alliance to establish a Global Alliance of EdTech Networks—a collective initiative to promote collaboration across borders.
Moderator: Donatella Solda, EdTech Italia
Representatives from: Council of Europe, OECD, UNICEF Bulgaria, EdTech and Erasmus+, World Bank
11:45-12:00 EdTech Testing and Trialling Environments • Fireside Chat
Prof. Alison Clark-Wilson, Global EdTech Testbed Network
Vladimir Temelkov, Deputy Mayor Digitalisation, European Policy, Business Development and Education, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
12:00-12:15 European EdTech Ecosystem Roadmap Report • Insight Keynote
For the past two years and as part of the EmpowerED project, the European EdTech Alliance has gathered and validated vital challenges facing the European EdTech ecosystem and highlighted tangible solutions for policy, EdTech and education environments. In this session, the EEA and EmpowerED consortium partners will celebrate the culmination of the project by providing lessons learned about supporting the European EdTech ecosystem and a sneak peek of the final roadmap report.
Dr. Agueda Gras-Velazquez, European Schoolnet
Beth Havinga, Managing Director, European EdTech Alliance
12:15-13:00 From Grant to Scale - EU Projects in Practice, financed by the Erasmus+ and other EU Programmes • Panel discussion
Looking in-depth at the impact and long-term effects of projects like TechWell financed by Erasmus+ programme, EmpowerED, TAICo financed by Horizon Europe. Speakers will also share best practices from Erasmus+ projects where EdTech supported sustainable mobility, green job readiness, or climate-related skill-building.
Moderator: Lachezar Afrikanov, EdTech Innovator, Social Innovators Bulgaria
Representatives from: EdTech Bulgaria, Sustainability Project, EmpowerEd, TAICO
13:00-13:30 The Future of Digital Education in Europe - Innovation in Action • Perspective Keynotes
Short, 5-7 minute interventions will highlight success stories of innovation in action from startups, NGOs, Alliances, national policy experts.
Moderator: Beth Havinga, European EdTech Alliance
Dr. Yuliana Topazly, MBE Associate Professor of Enterprise and Innovation at the University of East London and Director of the Strategic Planning Team at DOHE Europe
Svetlana Savova, EdTech Expert / Partnerships & Growth Advisor at VEDAMO
Alicia Berllanga, Edu Tech Cluster Spain
Thomas Van Cauwenberghe, EdTech Station, Belgium
13:30-14:30 Networking Lunch
Featuring guided discussions with European National Contact Points and EEA Members, Erasmus+ Agencies
14:30-15:15 From Insights to Action • Small-group collaboration
Participants will engage in themed tables aligned to the five areas of opportunity identified in the Ecosystem Roadmap Report:
A common understanding of what “EdTech” means
Strategic governance and policy alignment
Infrastructure and skills for innovation and collaboration
Smarter funding for sustainable growth
Evidence, data, and standards for trust
Guided by EmpowerED consortium members, participants will explore local strengths, gaps, and partnership ideas with a matrix for how to get from recommended ideas to action. Insights from this session will feed into the Sofia Perspectives summary document.
15:15-15:45 Coffee and Networking: EEA Meets
Introductions to European projects, guided interactions between participants
15:45-16:30 Scaling for EdTech Leadership • Small-group collaboration
In interactive small groups moderated by EEA members and EmpowerED National Contact Points, participants will discuss case studies, ideate on solutions and identify next steps focussing on the following topics:
Inclusion: Exploring how EdTech can ensure equal access to quality education for all learners, regardless of background, ability, or location.
“Erasmus+” Green priority: Sustainable Digital Practices - discuss the idea of “digital minimalism” - the use of tech efficiently and intentionally.
Screen Time: Discussing balanced, research-informed approaches to screen use in education that support student wellbeing and meaningful learning.
Evidence: Identifying how data and research can guide the effective use and scaling of EdTech tools in classrooms and policy.
Scaling Innovation: Examining how professional development can empower teachers to adopt, adapt, and scale educational innovations across diverse learning environments.
Digital Sovereignty: Defining how education systems can retain control over digital infrastructure, data governance, and technology choice focussing on aligning EdTech adoption with European values, safeguarding learner data, supporting open standards, and reducing dependency on non-EU platforms.
Insights from this session will feed into the Sofia Perspectives summary document.
16:30-17:15 The Sofia Perspectives on European EdTech • Plenary Discussion
Rapporteurs from the small group collaborations report back their main findings. Speakers respond with their ideas of action items and next steps.
Prof. Galin Tsokov, Director, Institute for Education, former Minister of Education, Bulgaria
Prof. Rumyana Forsaight, Sofia University
Prof. Silvia Ilieva, GATE Institute
Real time responses captured by EEA and EdTech Bulgaria Teams (Miro). Drafted from the roundtables and interactive discussions, the Sofia Perspectives document will provide a summary of commitment and capabilities to further innovation in EU EdTech including next steps.
17:15-17:30 Closing of the Day
Formal Address by host organisations and the Bulgarian Ministry of Education
17:30 End of event • closing cocktail - event inspiration
This event will occur exclusively in-person. Certain speakers may be invited to prepare a video message instead of an in person intervention. The event will take place in English and Bulgarian.
Speakers
