Haskovo
CARE-GET - Collaborative Advancement for Renewed Education, Generation, Economy and Technology Transition
About the project
The CARE-GET project aims to transform Haskovo into a hub of health, wellness and innovation, addressing key challenges like population decline, youth unemployment, and a lack of skilled professionals. The project lays the foundations for an ecosystem where talents are nurtured, businesses grow, and healthcare services improve by leveraging the city's existing strengths in culture, education, and the medical sector.
The project establishes a MedTech Hub that integrates health, digitalisation and education. This hub will enhance healthcare access, particularly in rural areas, through telemedicine and wellness services. It also provides a collaborative workspace for professionals, students and entrepreneurs to drive innovation.
Alongside, tailored training programmes align education with industry needs, ensuring individuals acquire essential skills in healthcare and digitalisation. The project also fosters start-ups by offering mentorship, digital tools and business incubation support.
CARE-GET encompasses a comprehensive analysis of Haskovo’s labour market, to produce strategies that address local workforce gaps. This is followed by initiatives that align education with industry needs and support start-ups through digital transformation. The MedTech Hub enables the piloting of innovative healthcare solutions, wellness services and nature-based approaches.
Challenges
Haskovo faces significant challenges, including population decline, youth unemployment, and a lack of skilled labour due to brain drain and limited job opportunities. These issues have led to an aging population and increased pressure on healthcare services. The mismatch between workforce skills and labour market needs hinders local economic growth. It is vital to tackle these challenges in order to revitalise the city's economy and improve quality of life.
-
Population decline and brain drain: Young people leave Haskovo due to limited education and employment opportunities, leading to an aging population and a shrinking workforce, which strains healthcare and the economy.
-
Youth unemployment and skill gaps: Haskovo’s youth struggle to find jobs matching their skills. A mismatch between workforce qualifications and labour market demands hinders sustainable employment and economic growth.
-
Healthcare access and workforce shortage: An aging population increases the demand for healthcare services, while the lack of qualified healthcare professionals limits the urban authority’s ability to meet these needs, especially in rural areas.
Proposed solutions
The CARE-GET project offers a comprehensive solution by establishing a MedTech Hub in Haskovo. This hub integrates healthcare, digital innovation and education to address workforce gaps, improve healthcare services, and foster local economic growth. By offering tailored training, telemedicine services and business incubation, CARE-GET helps the city attract, retain and nurture talent, while promoting sustainable development in both urban and rural areas.
-
New MedTech Hub and wellness centre in a former orphanage: With wellness services and a digital corner for telemedicine, the hub fosters collaboration between professionals and students to drive healthcare innovation and improve service accessibility.
-
Digital skills and training programmes: Tailored training programmes align education with industry demands, equipping individuals with skills in digital health and technology, and preparing young professionals for the job markets.
-
Business incubation and start-up support: Offering mentorship, digital tools and business incubation, the project empowers start-ups in healthcare and technology, driving local entrepreneurship and creating new opportunities for young innovators.
Milestones
Personal telemedical devices and stations installed in certain key locations.
The main investment focuses on transforming the former orphanage into a MedTech Hub.
The plan provides a roadmap for the hub's ongoing success and its sustainability.
A dynamic network of entrepreneurs and innovators for the healthcare technology sector.