On 15 January 2025, Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF), Ambassador a.D. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, received Assoc. Prof. Savina Mihaylova-Goleminova, of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” for a working meeting at the premises of Vienna Economic Forum in Vienna. Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” is a long-standing active Strategic Partner of Vienna Economic Forum.

The meeting focused on the role of higher education and science as fundamental pillars for intellectual capacity and strategic strength in economic development.

In this context, the League of Universities from the Region of the Vienna Economic Forum – From the Adriatic to the Black Sea was highlighted as an essential strategic instrument of Vienna Economic Forum. The initiative aims to bring together universities from the VEF region within a structured framework, to deepen academic dialogue, and to generate joint impulses for economic and education-related development within the extended VEF area. Discussions addressed the concretisation of the idea to organise an extended meeting within the framework of the League of Universities in Sofia. Initial thematic cornerstones as well as the next organisational steps were jointly discussed with Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and University of National and World Economy – Sofia.

Furthermore, possibilities were discussed to further strengthen young people under 30 years of age from VEF Member Countries through targeted joint pro-European initiatives, in particular within the framework of existing and future Erasmus projects.

Vienna Economic Forum considers active cooperation with universities from the VEF region as an integral part of its Mission and looks forward to the further concrete implementation of the next steps within the framework of the League of Universities from the Region of the Vienna Economic Forum – From the Adriatic to the Black Sea.