3rd International Conference on New Business Models

UNWE hosted the 3^rd International Conference on New Business Models: Creation of Successful International Business Models for Sustainable Development: Absolutely Possible. The event was organized by the Free University of Brussels (VUB, Vrije Universiteit Brussel). The two days Forum gathered together 110 representatives of the research and business circles from 28 countries who discussed the modern tendencies in the transition to business models for sustainable development.

The Forum was opened by the Rector Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev who determined the choice of UNWE to host the event as very precise because the Conference topics are in compliance with the research activity of the university where the new business models are studied by the Center for Sustainable Development. Director of the Center is Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Rumen Gechev, member of the Conference Organizing Committee. As evidence for the key role of the university in the sustainable development of the country the Rector pointed out the UNWE Wall of Fame where could be seen the large number of lecturers and graduates of the university who had participated in the Bulgarian government over the years since the establishment of UNWE till now.

Prof. Statev emphasized on the importance of the Conference and outlined the participation of eminent representatives of prestigious academic journals, academic structures and the business.

The Rector expressed his confidence in the positive results of the Forum and clarified that the key conclusions of the Conference would be published in a collection and sent to the interesting institutions.

The Rector Prof. Statty Stattev

The Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee and Moderator for the Forum Prof. Dr. Nikolay Denchev from the Free University of Brussels (VUB) expressed his thankfulness to the Rector Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev for the support and outlined the necessity of new business models for sustainable development in the modern dynamically changing economic conditions.

Prof. Dr. Nikolay Denchev

The first participant in the Forum was Prof. Dr. Irene Henriques from the York University, Canada. She showed her presentation on the Wicked Problems and Social Media: How Must Business Models Adapt. The Conference continued with presentations of experts from the European Commission, editors of leading academic journals and representatives of the business who shared their expert opinion about the role of business models for the sustainable development.

Prof. Dr. Irene Henriques

The Rector Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev and Prof. Dr. Valentin Goev, Vice Rector for Scientific Research Activity (from the right to the left)

During the Conference more than 70 presentation were shown illustrating cases from various part of the world and related to the topics discussed in the Forum: new business models, ecosystems for support of non-profit-making projects, social entrepreneurship, circular economy, etc. (in the pictures below)

The first edition of the Conference was held in Toulouse (2016) and the second – in Gratz (2017). The fourth edition will be held in Berlin in 2019.