Leading Partner
| Full legal name (National Language) | Специализиран клъстер и институт по облекло и текстил – Дунав |
| Full legal name (Latin characters) | Specialized cluster and institute for apparel and textile – Dunav |
| Acronym | SCIAT /СКИОТ/ |
| National ID (if applicable) | 117643094 |
| Department (if applicable) | |
| Address | Rousse, 16 Knyazheska str. |
| Country | Bulgaria |
| Region | District of Rousse |
| P.O. Box | – |
| Post Code | 7000 |
| CEDEX | |
| City | Rousse |
| Website | http://www.sciat.eu |
| milusheva@online.bg | |
| Telephone 1 | +359 888 712281 |
Today, the successor of the Specialized Institute of Textile and Apparel is the Specialized Cluster and Institute of Textile and Apparel. This transformation is a natural step in our development as a progressive and dynamic organization that intends to represent one of the most promising business sectors in our country. Our identification us as a cluster organization completely reflects the structure of our members, as well as our strategic objectives for the role of the Bulgarian textile industryat the international markets.The team behind the Cluster and Specialized Institute of Textile and Apparel, began working together back in 2005, when Specialized institute of textile and apparel was established. The nonprofit organization is committed to consulting companies operating in the textile and clothing industry; training activities covering all stages of production, production planning cycle management and marketing. During this 9-year period of activity the organization was able to gain valuable experience and expertise on the state of the textile industry in Bulgaria, on its problems and prospects for development.
The Cluster objectives are as follows:
- To support the development of the clothing and textile industry in Bulgaria by: promoting the implementation of innovations in the branch; enhancing specialized education and training; conducting development research and educational services; contributing to the harmonization of Bulgarian vocational education with European standards; stimulating local economic development; cooperating and assisting the state and local authorities for the implementation of focused policies towards the industry.
- To advocate in front of public and government authorities and third parties for quick and favorable settlement of all matters affecting the interests of the clothing and textile business in Bulgaria.
- To establish relations and arrangements with similar national and international organizations, associations and companies in order to achieve common goals, to liaise and exchange experience in the textile and clothing business.
Currently the cluster members are 19 enterprises operating in the textile and apparel sector and in related sectors and six educational and scientific institutions – New Bulgarian University; Technical University of Sofia – Department „Textile Machinery“; Vocational high school of clothing and fashion „Nedka Ivan Lazarova“; Rousse University „Angel Kanchev“; Regional center for training specialists for the garment and leather industries in the Bulgarian North Central Region and Scientific-Technical Union of Textile, clothing and leather. Member of the cluster is also the Light Industry Union in Rousse, Bulgaria. Our activities are also supported by the Municipality of Rousse.
Initially, the organization recruits its members in the region of Rousse, as this is one of the regions in Bulgaria with the highest concentration of enterprises engaged in the garment and textile industry, and later the scope of the cluster expands to other parts of Bulgaria.
The entities participatingin the cluster are mainly export oriented – 11 of the 19 member firms export mainly to EU countries. The total number of employees in the cluster is about 5000, which represents about 4% of total employment in the industry.
SCIAT is a full member of the Association of Business Clusters in Bulgaria, whose main mission is to unite the efforts of the clusters in Bulgaria for dynamic development in line with the European standards and to create and promote Bulgarian national standards and traditions in cluster policy.
In April 2013, SCIAT was awarded a bronze label for good cluster governance by the European Secretariat for cluster analysis (European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis – ESCA) compliant with the methodology of the Agency of Kompetenznetze – Germany.
The cluster is one of the initiators for founding Organization of the Balkan Union and cluster organizations in the field of textiles and clothing. SCIAT also participates in the activities of the National Round Table in the field of corporate social responsibility. SCIAT is one of the founders of Green Network in Bulgaria.
Partners
PGO „Nedka Ivan Lazarova“ has 117 years of experience and tradition in vocational education in Clothing industry. The main priority of PGO is to respond to the aspirations of young people to successful professional start by providing innovative vocational education. As recognition of staffs’ professionalism, the PGO was awarded by the Ruse Municipality for the development and promotion of educational innovation and industrial development of the city in 2006. In addition Ministry of education awarded PGO for „The best practice for adult learning” in 2013.
Bulgaria
Weis Consulting Assoc. GmbH – has 25 years of consultation in the textile and clothing industry worldwide. The WCA has successfully worked for PROJECTS of the KfW Bank Group, BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) in cooperation with the GIZ, Sequa and DEG, as well as projects for the EBRD, London. Its General Manger was himself teacher at various professional schools and has a university degree for teachers (“Studienrat”). Thereby WCA have very familiar with the requirements for dual education in specific and education at textile and clothing school in general.
Germany
I.H.C. Internationale Handels- und Consulting GmbH – has 20 years of tradition in Central and Eastern Europe. The IHC is working with the Austrian Development Agency (ADA, Wien) – executive department of the Austrian minster for economy – together with international manufacturers in development projects to enhance the cooperation between schools, universities and the business. Recently, it has successfully cooperated with textile and clothing SMEs in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Albania and Macedonia.
Austria