News and events

With inspiration, talent and a strong desire for knowledge, the eighth edition of the student programming competition CODE@BURGAS 2026 took place, which took place on May 16. The event, organized by the Burgas Free University and the Municipality of Burgas, once again brought together young minds from all over the country, united by the love of computer science and the challenge of algorithms. CODE@BURGAS is not just a competition – it is a stage where students from grades 4 to 12 demonstrate their logic, perseverance and creativity. Divided into three age groups – A (grades 10–12), B (grades 7–9) and C (grades 4–6) – the participants faced tasks that required not only knowledge, but also quick thinking and resilience under pressure. With the help of the modern automatic evaluation platform codeburgas.com, the solutions were evaluated in real time, turning the competition into a dynamic and exciting experience. This year, the competition brought together 26 students from 11 educational institutions from different parts of Bulgaria - proof of the growing interest in programming and the strong community of young talents who are building the future of technology in our country. Among the participants were representatives of prestigious mathematical high schools, schools and training schools, who worthily defended their knowledge and skills. In an atmosphere filled with concentration, ambition and inspiration, the young programmers showed that the future of the Bulgarian IT community is in safe hands. CODE@BURGAS once again emphasized the importance of the early development of algorithmic thinking and gave students the opportunity to experience the real essence of competitive programming. CODE@BURGAS continues to inspire, challenge, and build the next generation of digital leaders. See the official rankings . Listen to the song for CODE@BURGAS 2026: https://suno.com/s/DcHHnCo9gXKYSHOp    * The results are in the attached file. 

* The largest robotics festival gathered over 800 participants and over 2 thousand guests at the Congress Center Inspired by archaeological discoveries, innovation and teamwork, the "Mechano" team from the Vocational High School of Mechano-Electrical Engineering and Electronics in Burgas is the big winner in the national robotics festival FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge - "Discovery" season, organized by the Center for Creative Learning, the Future Inventors Foundation and the Municipality of Burgas. The large-scale event, which took place on April 25 and 26, featured over 60 teams from 20 towns and villages in Bulgaria. They were joined in friendly matches by prestigious international teams from Kazakhstan, Croatia, Romania, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan. All of them competed according to the global rules of the program, which encourages students aged 10 to 16 to solve real-world problems through technology and science. The road to the international final The winner will represent Bulgaria at the international final of the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge in Greece, with the team's participation being funded by the Municipality of Burgas. The grand prize was awarded by the Deputy Mayor of Burgas Municipality, Mihail Nenov. Team "Mehano" won the jury with an innovative device for "treating" marine artifacts , developed on order and under the guidance of archaeologists. High school students automate the process of desalinizing objects taken from the sea, replacing manual checks with precise sensors for conductivity, temperature and water level. In order to accurately meet the needs of the practice, the students worked together with archaeologists.  The second place went to the team "Zentix" from the robotics school "Robopartans" in Varna, distinguished for overall performance and stability in all components. They will receive a scholarship from the Center for Creative Learning , which will ensure their participation in the international edition of the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge in Greece. The third place in the overall ranking was awarded to the team "Power Vortex" from the "Panayot Volov" Primary School in Shumen. Innovation and archaeology beneath the waves The theme of this year's competition - " Discovery " - transported the participants to the world of archaeology. The teams developed innovative robots designed to assist archaeologists in the discovery and conservation of historical sites. In the "Chernomorie" hall, the audience watched contested robot battles on special playing fields, where the machines performed complex missions. Awards in the four main categories: "Core Values" (teamwork and inclusion): team "QWERTY 2" from "Vasil Levski" Primary School, Razgrad; "Innovative Project" (most creative solution to an archaeological problem): team "Breaking Bots" from PG "Naiden Gerov", town of Lom; "Robot Design" (best construction and programming): team "V_Spike Force" from the "Vale" computer school, Haskovo "Robot Game" (highest score on the playing field): team "LEGO HUB" from "Neofit Rilski" Primary School, Gabrovo. Encouragement awards for spirit and potential: "Breakthrough" Award (for significant progress): "Galaxy" team, "Galaxy Academy", Vratsa; "Rising Star" Award (for best new team): "Robocodes" team from the "Kodiko" Robo Club, Kazanlak; "Most Motivated Team" Award : "LEGOMASTERS" team from the "Acad. Nikola Obreshkov" Specialized High School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.  In addition to the competitive competition, visitors were immersed in a rich program with large-scale LEGO exhibitions , VR experiences about underwater treasures and screenings of documentaries with discussions by leading scientists and journalists. The good mood and new knowledge were taken care of by the "COLOUR" group, thanks to the Socially Responsible Music project, the host Artyom Anatolyevich - Arty and the special interactive zones for digital and financial literacy. The event is organized by the Center for Creative Learning, the Future Inventors Foundation and the Municipality of Burgas. More information can be found at: www.fll.bg/

* Free admission for young and old LEGO robotics enthusiasts On April 25 and 26, the FIRST® LEGO® League 2026 Robotics Festival will open at the Congress Center - part of the world's largest educational robotics initiative, taking place in over 110 countries with millions of participants. The event starts at 09:00, and visitors can see unique robots, a LEGO exhibition, documentaries and become part of prize raffles. During the event, over 40 teams from 20 towns in Bulgaria will compete according to the official rules of the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge – a competition that encourages students aged 10 to 16 to seek solutions to real-world problems through technology, science and teamwork. Prestigious world teams from Kazakhstan, Croatia, Romania, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan will also participate in friendly games. The teams' preparation lasts for months under the guidance of mentors, with participants developing innovative projects, programming and testing robots, and acquiring knowledge in various STEM fields. The festival will be hosted by Artyom Anatolyevich - Arty. The theme of the season – “Discovery” – is dedicated to the study of historical sites by creating innovative robots that can support the work of archaeologists as they uncover new sites or work on their conservation. Student teams will demonstrate their solutions on the topic through project presentations and completing missions with robots on a special playing field. The winner will receive the right to participate in the international final of the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge in Greece. In parallel with the competition program, visitors will be able to view: - The innovative projects of the participants in the "Chernomorie" hall, as well as to observe the training games on Saturday and the official robot battles on Sunday; - Forum "Archaeology, Technology, Future" in the "Foros" hall, where scientists from the Center for Underwater Archaeology - Sozopol will present a unique VR experience "Treasures Beneath the Waves"; - Documentary film screenings (10:00 – 12:00, Foros Hall) dedicated to the underwater world and archaeology. bTV multimedia reporter Ladislav Tsvetkov will present his film "Mission Black Sea", and the discussion after the screening will also include scientists from the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Dr. Dimitar Berov and Nikola Bobchev. Journalist Maria Cherneva from BNT will present to the audience "In Search of Sunken Worlds", which tells about the exciting discoveries of the Center for Underwater Archaeology in Sozopol and their cooperation with world scientists. A presentation and live demonstration on the topic "Profession of an Archaeologist" will also be presented by the Regional History Museum in Burgas. Large-scale LEGO exhibitions are traditionally presented by the Brick Hunters collectors. On site, festival guests will be able to become part of Yettel's interactive game - Digital Scouts, which emphasizes digital skills and media literacy. And ProCredit Bank will talk about another important element of knowledge for modern children - financial literacy with the theme "If I were a robot, I would...". The festival also includes several raffles with attractive prizes. The good mood of the participants in the program will be ensured by the group "COLOUR", which, thanks to the "Socially Responsible Music" initiative, performs free concerts in front of schools across the country. The organizers of the event are the Center for Creative Education (an organization with a mission to modernize Bulgarian education through technology and innovation), the Future Inventors Foundation, and the Municipality of Burgas, which traditionally supports the development of youth STEM initiatives. More information about the event can be found on its website: https://www.fll.bg/ 

This weekend, on April 25 and 26, the Burgas Congress Center will become a place where technology meets history. While over 800 young talents prepare their robots for the competition fields, the organizers invite all residents and guests of the city to a large-scale scientific forum with free admission, which promises to turn the Foros Hall of the city's Congress Center into a portal to unknown worlds.  Personal meeting with the discoverers and cinema under the waves The main highlight of the program is the opportunity for a personal meeting with the people who unravel the secrets of our past. Visitors will be able to watch free screenings of documentary films, followed by discussions with their authors.  On Saturday morning at 10 am, bTV multimedia reporter Ladislav Tsvetkov will present his film "Mission Black Sea", which reveals the unexpected richness of marine life. The conversation about the film will also include scientists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Dr. Dimitar Berov and Nikola Bobchev, who will share how modern science helps us better understand the fragile ecosystem of our coast. Immediately after the first screening, BNT journalist Maria Cherneva will lead the audience "In Search of Sunken Worlds", telling about the cooperation of Bulgarian archaeologists with the global scientific community.  Virtual Reality Diving and Live Archaeology A special virtual reality zone has been prepared for thrill seekers. Using VR technology, guests will be able to take a unique virtual dive to ancient shipwrecks discovered at great depths in the Black Sea – an experience that was until recently only available to professional researchers.  In parallel, specialists from the Regional History Museum - Burgas will present the demonstration "Profession of an Archaeologist". They will show the real tools they use in the field and will reveal to children and parents the exciting path of a valuable find - from the seabed or the earth's layers directly to the museum display case.  Expo zone, robo-battles and LEGO emotions While the scientific forum inspires future discoverers on the second floor, the rest of the Congress Center will pulsate to the rhythm of the big competition. Visitors will be able to watch the spectacular official robo-battles, in which teams from Bulgaria and abroad participate, and explore the impressive LEGO expositions of the Brick Hunters collectors. The program is complemented by interactive games by Yettel and ProCredit Bank, a concert by the group "COLOUR" and numerous raffles with prizes for the audience, which start as early as 9:00 in the morning.  Mission and Organization This entire celebration of knowledge and technology is organized by the Center for Creative Learning, the Future Inventors Foundation, and the Municipality of Burgas. Their joint efforts turn the Robotics Festival into an event that not only showcases engineering skills, but also inspires the next generation of Bulgarians to explore, discover, and preserve our heritage. More information about the full program can be found on the event website: https://www.fll.bg/

Regional Information Center /OIC/ - Burgas in strategic partnership with Enterprise magazine  invites you on 22.04 at 10:00 a.m. in Burgas to a special business brunch  on the topic: "Artificial Intelligence and Business 2026–2030: How to Stay Competitive in the Age of Artificial Intelligence".  The highlights of the business forum will be:  "Business and  AI  on the Path of Digitalization" ; "Current programs with European funding for SMEs for digitalization and innovation" ; "Challenges facing the HR business" . The event will bring together owners, managers and executives of small and medium-sized companies for a focused two-hour meeting dedicated to the most important issues: Which  AI  trends will actually impact SMEs? How do we approach it strategically, not experimentally? Where are the opportunities for growth and optimization? What risks and regulatory changes are ahead? How to plan financing and new investments wisely in the next 3–5 years ? How can businesses address staffing challenges as the  AI  ​​era enters?  The format combines expert presentations, discussion, practical guidance and the opportunity to talk in an environment of active business leaders.  Location:  Industrial and Logistics Park, Burgas Duration:  about 2 hours Format:  business brunch  Registration is free , but places are limited to ensure quality dialogue and effective communication.  If the topic is relevant to the development of your company, we would be happy if you confirm your participation by registering at:  https://smebusiness.enterprise.bg/burgas/  We are waiting for you for a strategic conversation about the future of business in the era of artificial intelligence.  The event is held with the support of Postbank.  In the attached file you will find the program of the event.

The first edition of the forum "Parade of Professions: Discover your talent, choose a profession" brought together young people, pupils, students, parents, representatives of business and institutions at the Neftohimika Cultural Center. The event was implemented within the framework of the national campaign for career activation of young people up to 29 years of age. Congratulations to the organizers and participants were extended by the deputy mayors of Burgas Municipality for education and finance, Mihail Nenov and Stanimir Apostolov, Polina Zlatarska - expert on dual education at the Ministry of Education and Science, Atanaska Yaneva - manager of the Labor Bureau Directorate, as well as representatives of the employer sector from the Burgas region. The forum attracted significant interest from pupils, students and young people up to 29 years of age, as well as their parents. Participants had the opportunity to learn about various professions, receive valuable information about the requirements of the labor market and hold personal conversations with employers and experts. The event highlighted the fact that out of a total of 142 officially recognized professions, only about 30 are widely known, which often leads to missed opportunities and unrealized potential among young people. That is why the forum created an environment for active dialogue between business, education and institutions, aimed at better awareness and support for career development. The forum was organized by the Corporate Development Agency "OMNI Human Development", with the assistance of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Employment Agency and the Municipality of Burgas. The main goal of the initiative was to inspire young people to discover their professional path by providing them with the opportunity for direct contact with leading employers from the region. During the event, companies were presented by sector, along with educational institutions, which gave a clear and comprehensive idea of ​​the opportunities for education and realization in Burgas. The first edition of the "Parade of Professions" was held with great interest and activity, laying the foundations for a sustainable platform for meeting between young people and the opportunities for their professional future.