23 Sep 2025
Municipal experts gained valuable experience in Italy to strengthen Stara Zagora as an even more attractive environment for investment and innovation
From September 16 to 20, 2025, a delegation from the Municipality of Stara Zagora visited Rome, Italy, as part of the TAIEX-REGIO initiative — a European Union tool for exchanging good practices and providing technical assistance between member states. The main goal of the visit was to strengthen administrative capacity and improve public policies by adapting successful European models, according to the Department of Investments, Energy Efficiency, and Green Transition of the Municipality of Stara Zagora.
At the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, the delegation was presented with the country’s industrial strategy, as well as its vision for digital transformation and enterprise sustainability. At the Competence Center for Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and Industry 4.0, the delegation learned about Italian laws DL 179/2012 and DL 3/2015, which regulate the activities of innovative startups, SMEs, incubators, and accelerators. Particular emphasis was placed on incentives for entrepreneurs, including tax relief, interest-free loans, and opportunities for blended financing.
At the Directorate for Investment Promotion, the mechanism for attracting foreign capital was presented, including the organization of a dedicated structure for large strategic projects. Of special interest was the meeting with Lazio Innova — the Regional Innovation Center, which combines national and European resources to support businesses. The center provides guarantees, loans, venture capital, and programs for internationalization, as explained by Invest Stara Zagora experts.
The visit also focused on support for young entrepreneurs and women, as well as mechanisms for combining loans with regional grants.
The trip to Rome provided valuable experience and demonstrated how partnerships between the state, business, and academia can build a sustainable and competitive entrepreneurial ecosystem. For Stara Zagora, this is an opportunity to apply good practices, expand its partner network, and strengthen its position as an even more attractive environment for investment and innovation, the participants from the investment department concluded.
