The final round of Digital Twin’s National Skills Competitions is now complete. Just last week, on 18 June 2026, the Bulgarian city of Ruse became the stage for one of the most exciting moments of the Digital Twin project so far as the Bulgarian National Skills Competition brought together talent and teamwork in a dynamic showcase of future-ready skills. Hosted by the Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) in partnership with “"Angel Kanchev" University of Ruse, the event celebrated the energy, commitment and growing expertise of young people preparing for the world of smart manufacturing.
The competition was a major milestone in the project, giving participants the chance to move beyond training and into action. Students were challenged to put their knowledge to the test, worked together under pressure and showed how much they had gained through the Digital Twin pilot training course during the past 6 months.
The winning Bulgarian team was “Balkan Lions”, made up of three enthusiastic students from the “Baba Tonka” High School of Mathematics. Thanks to their strong performance, determination and excellent teamwork, they earned first place and became Bulgaria’s national champions.
We are excited to see Balkan Lions move forward to represent Bulgaria at the International Skills Competition in Italy this autumn, where they will compete alongside the other winning teams from across the Digital Twin program.
“For us, this is one of the most rewarding parts of the entire journey, seeing a talented Bulgarian team reach the international stage and carry the spirit of the project beyond the national competition. We cannot wait to cheer them on in Italy and watch them take this next big step” shared Mr. Ayri Memishev, Project Manager at Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Now that the national stage has been completed, the excitement continues with the final chapter of the Digital Twin pilot programme – the International Skills Competition in Italy. This upcoming event will bring together all national winners for an international showdown of talent, teamwork and innovation, with a special mobility visit in Italy awaiting the overall winning team. It promises to be a fantastic finale to the project and a memorable experience for the young talents who have made it this far. Stay tuned!
