Ms. Iliana Filipova, Chairperson of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vratsa (CCI Vratsa), and Mr. Veselin Tsvetkov, Business Expert at CCI Vratsa, actively participated in a study visit organised within the framework of the ReInd-BBG project, which took place in the cities of Ulm, Neu-Ulm, and Augsburg, Germany, from 22 to 25 June 2026.
The Bulgarian delegation also included representatives of the project's regional stakeholders: Mr. Rosen Mihaylov, Governor of the Vratsa District Administration, and Mr. Tancho Tanchev, representative of Czech-Plast Ltd. The participants had the opportunity to explore good practices, policies, and practical approaches related to brownfield regeneration, urban renewal, investment attraction, and the development of innovation infrastructure.
During the visit, participants explored three cities across two German federal states—Ulm in Baden-Württemberg, and Neu-Ulm and Augsburg in Bavaria.
The first day of the programme included a visit to a brownfield site—a former industrial area of approximately six hectares that is currently being transformed into a business park. The visit provided valuable insights into the brownfield regeneration process, including spatial planning, infrastructure preparation, functional redevelopment, and the creation of new economic opportunities.
The second part of the day was dedicated to the city of Neu-Ulm, where the delegation met with the Mayor, Ms. Katrin Albsteiger. Participants were introduced to the Wiley and Neu-Ulm 21 urban regeneration projects, which showcased the successful transformation of former military and railway sites into vibrant urban districts. The programme also included a guided tour of the Wiley district, featuring the TFU Business Incubator, the university campus, and the public park, demonstrating an integrated model that combines education, innovation, business development, public spaces, and green infrastructure.
The second working day took place in Augsburg and focused on regional economic development strategies, innovation infrastructure, and business support mechanisms. During the meeting with Regio Augsburg Wirtschaft GmbH, participants learned about regional approaches to fostering innovation, strengthening cooperation between public authorities, research organisations, and businesses, and the role of regional development agencies in creating a sustainable business environment.
The programme also included a visit to the Augsburg Innovation Park, an innovation district bringing together technology companies, research institutions, educational organisations, and industrial partners. The visit demonstrated how innovation infrastructure can be successfully integrated into regional development strategies, supporting knowledge transfer, technological advancement, and collaboration between businesses, academia, and public institutions.
The examples presented throughout the study visit confirmed that successful brownfield regeneration requires a long-term vision, strong coordination among stakeholders, and a clear connection between spatial planning and the needs of the local economy.
For more information and the latest updates on the project, follow the official project channels and the CCI Vratsa website:
- www.interreg-danube.eu/projects/reind-bbg
- www.instagram.com/reind_bbg
- www.linkedin.com/company/reind-bbg
- https://www.cci-vratsa.org/en/reindustrialisation-following-the-brownfield-is-better-than-greenfield-principle-reind-bbg
