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Description
The project aims to support Bulgarian enterprises to increase their knowledge and capacity to develop and adopt welfare technologies. Innovations in Welfare Technologies could assist people of all ages being more self-sufficient and autonomous in their day-to-day lives. Implementing such technology in different business sectors could increase the health and safety at work, provide independence and improve productivity of workers with disability. The use of these technologies in the workplace is relatively new in Europe and still widely unknown in Bulgaria.
The project will also support activities related to strengthening business development and corporate social responsibility (CSR) image of the companies in close collaboration with Norwegian entities.
Partner under the project is Fønix -a company, owned by the municipality of Sandefjord, acting as non-for-profit within the vocational rehabilitation market in Norway. Fønix is provider of adapted workplaces with over 100 people with disabilities (PwD), employed in their premises and has long-lasting experience in inclusive employment and trainings.
The partner will provide knowledge for SMEs and social enterprises in adapting jobs for better productivity through technology. It will also contribute to the initial study, identifying local welfare companies and their products, as well as describing good practices for integrating PwD in the business. The study visits in Norway will be organized by FONIX as well, providing contacts with local welfare tech innovators that could cooperate with Bulgarian SMEs in the sector and also providing concrete practical showcases of responsible and winning businesses. The partner will be involved in the communication of the project results in Norway and will participate in the training events as well as in the final conference for stakeholders.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several key challenges faced by Bulgarian enterprises in adopting welfare technologies. These included a lack of awareness among employers about the existence and benefits of such technologies, as well as a knowledge gap in their development and implementation. High costs and limited accessibility further hindered adoption, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. The potential benefits of welfare technologies, such as improving inclusivity, workplace safety, and productivity, remained largely unrealized.
The project also tackled cultural and organizational resistance to these innovations, including skepticism and adaptation difficulties among staff. As welfare technologies were a relatively new and underdeveloped field in Europe, particularly in Bulgaria, businesses struggled with limited benchmarking opportunities and broader digital transformation challenges. Additionally, enterprises often lacked holistic strategies to integrate these technologies into corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals and cross-sector applications.
The project delivered significant outcomes across multiple activities, benefiting diverse stakeholders including businesses, innovators, individuals with disabilities, and policymakers.
Studies on Living Lab and Welfare Technology Applications: Researchers analyzed welfare technologies and their productivity benefits, producing detailed bilingual reports on technology integration and user-centered design for vulnerable groups.
Webinars and Showcases for Capacity Building: Findings were shared in webinars and an interactive course on workforce inclusion, with recordings and training materials freely accessible online. Co-creation workshops engaged five welfare tech companies to develop user-focused solutions.
Study Visits and Networking in Norway: Two 4-day visits facilitated knowledge exchange between Bulgarian and Norwegian companies in health innovation and employment technology, fostering collaboration and inclusivity.
Online Catalogue of Welfare Technology: An interactive catalogue was created, offering tools to model technology applications for workforce adaptation, enabling businesses to implement inclusive and productive practices.
The project’s comprehensive approach created value for multiple stakeholders:
Businesses and Innovators: Equipped with actionable knowledge and tools to integrate welfare technologies effectively.
Vulnerable Groups: Empowered through the development of inclusive work solutions and technologies.
Cross-Border Collaborators: Strengthened networks and partnerships between Bulgarian and Norwegian companies, fostering innovation and economic growth.
The Broader Community: Benefited from increased awareness and adoption of inclusive practices in workplaces and society at large.
By addressing inclusivity and productivity through welfare technologies, the project achieved transformative impacts across sectors.
The project achieved significant outcomes and impacts across its activities, benefiting a range of stakeholders, including businesses, welfare technology innovators, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and vulnerable groups.
Activity 1: Studies on Living Lab and Welfare Technology Applications for Business: The project finalized two comprehensive studies in collaboration with the Norwegian partner, focusing on welfare technologies and the Living Lab approach. These studies were tailored to enhance accessibility and engagement through visually appealing illustrations and a bilingual format (Bulgarian and English). The insights provided actionable knowledge for businesses on improving productivity and efficiency through welfare technologies and user-centered design.
Outcomes and Beneficiaries:
- Businesses gained access to research-based strategies for integrating welfare technologies into work processes.
- Innovators in welfare technology benefited from insights into user-centered design methodologies for product and service development.
- The studies supported SMEs in adapting their practices for enhanced productivity and inclusivity.
Activity 2: Capacity Building Through Webinars and Showcases: This activity included the creation of training content in Bulgarian and English, with topics such as welfare technologies within Living Lab frameworks and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices. Video recordings and the development of online Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) were initiated and completed, featuring animated avatars for engaging content delivery. Three online sessions showcasing welfare technologies and Living Lab applications were published on the promoter''s YouTube channel. A final conference, streamed online, attracted 44 participants and 69 additional online viewers.
Outcomes and Beneficiaries:
- Over 40 SMEs benefited from capacity-building sessions, gaining knowledge on welfare technologies, CSR, and Living Lab practices.
- Participants of the final conference and online sessions gained practical insights into technology applications and inclusivity practices.
- Training materials and MOOCs were made accessible to a wide audience, supporting workforce inclusion and business productivity improvement.
Activity 3: Study Visits and Networking in Norway: The study visits involved SMEs and welfare tech companies exploring innovations in the Norwegian health and care sectors and adapted work technologies for people with disabilities. These visits also enabled participants to follow up on Living Lab approaches and begin applying these strategies in their work.
Outcomes and Beneficiaries:
- Participants from Bulgarian SMEs and the Health and Life Science Cluster gained exposure to Norwegian best practices in welfare technologies and inclusive employment.
- New collaborations were initiated between Bulgarian and Norwegian businesses, promoting cross-border innovation and knowledge sharing.
Activity 4: Creation of Online Interactive Catalogue of Welfare Technology: The online catalogue and platform detailing welfare technology applications for various disabilities were finalized. Scenarios were developed to guide businesses on specific applications of welfare tech and adaptations. External expertise ensured a user-friendly interface and seamless web integration.
Outcomes and Beneficiaries:
- Businesses gained a practical tool for implementing inclusive work adaptations, improving workforce inclusivity and productivity.
- Employers were provided with actionable guidance to employ skilled individuals with disabilities using welfare technologies.
Publicity and Outreach: The project engaged audiences through robust publicity efforts, including 28 social media posts on Facebook, which achieved over 40,000 impressions, 20,000 reaches, and nearly 800 content interactions. Articles in online media and updates to the project promoter’s website ensured broad dissemination of the project’s outputs.
Outcomes and Beneficiaries:
- Public awareness of welfare technologies and inclusive business practices was increased through extensive online engagement.
- Project outputs reached a wide audience, including SMEs, innovators, and policymakers, through social media and media coverage.
Overall Impact:
The project empowered SMEs, welfare technology companies, and innovators with tools, training, and knowledge to adopt inclusive and efficient practices. Vulnerable groups indirectly benefited through improved workplace adaptations and innovative welfare technology solutions.