On October 30, the “Women in Innovation” roundtable took place at the Planet Schwarz Tech Theater in Sofia, organized by the Ladies’ Forum Association. The event brought together leading figures from the technology sector, the scientific community, entrepreneurship, and government institutions to highlight the role of women in building the modern innovation ecosystem.
The 5GEDGE4HEALTH project was presented by Zhanet Zaharieva – project manager and representative of Vivacom.
High Level of Representation
The roundtable was opened by Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Innovation and Research, and by Tomislav Donchev – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth.
The event featured two thematic panels:
- “The Women Behind the Bold Ideas” moderated by Boyko Takov (IANMSP)
- “The Future in Science and Technology” moderated by Diana Aladzhova
Among the other participants were representatives of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, leading companies, and entrepreneurs implementing large-scale projects in the fields of technology and science.
Presentation of the 5GEDGE4HEALTH Project
During the panel, Zhanet Zaharieva presented the main objectives, scope, and expected societal benefits of the 5GEDGE4HEALTH project – a large-scale initiative for the deployment of 5G and edge infrastructure to benefit children’s healthcare in the Burgas region.
In her presentation, she emphasized:
- The strategic role of telecommunications infrastructure in the development of digital healthcare
- The importance of high-speed connectivity for modern medical services
- The specific solutions the project introduces in the region – from telemedicine consultations to mobile 5G clinics
Zhanet highlighted that 5GEDGE4HEALTH is not merely deploying a technological network, but is building the foundation for a new model of accessible and quality healthcare for children in 34 remote settlements in the Burgas region. Through real-time connectivity, intelligent data analysis, and mobile health services, the project will improve prevention, diagnostics, and timely response in emergency cases.
The Role of Women in the Project
During the discussion, Zhanet Zaharieva also presented the significant contribution of women in the implementation of 5GEDGE4HEALTH – 40% of the project participants are women, engaged in key areas such as telecommunications, digital technologies, engineering, healthcare, and project management.
This was recognized as a good example of balanced participation and strong female leadership in innovation initiatives of national scale.
Significance for the Project and for Society
The participation of 5GEDGE4HEALTH in such a format contributes to the broader recognition of the project, the promotion of its objectives, and the creation of sustainable partnerships with scientific, institutional, and business organizations.
The event provided an opportunity to share best practices, seek common directions for development, and demonstrate how technological solutions can have a real impact on the quality of life in the regions.
