The Center for Research and Analysis (CRA) has further strengthened its partnership with VekaTech, a Plovdiv-based microelectronics company, originally initiated during the Science Festival in Plovdiv in November 2025. Together with the Chips of Europe project, CRA supports VekaTech’s STEMkids initiative, which actively engages children and high-school students in hands-on microelectronics experimentation and participatory printed circuit board (PCB) design.
VekaTech is a full-service Bulgarian electronics manufacturing and R&D company, successfully re-certified under ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 in 2024. The company serves demanding sectors such as automotive and industrial electronics and plays a key role in producing PCBs used in STEMkids’ extracurricular weekend workshops.
CRA’s strategy in implementing project-related activities focuses on mobilizing regional support for microelectronics beyond Sofia. As Bulgaria’s second-largest city, Plovdiv attracts numerous manufacturing enterprises, including key players in the microelectronics sector such as Sensata and Milara. Additionally, the Stara Zagora region—historically a microelectronics hub prior to 1989—holds significant potential that requires renewed engagement to inspire students and activate local industry participation.
In March, STEMkids, with the support of CRA’s Chips of Europe project, participated in two external events: the “Plovdiv – City of Science and Technology” initiative (March 21) and a city-level STEM competition held on March 28 in cooperation with the private high school “Academician Blagovest Sendov”.
During the same period, CRA, the Technical University of Sofia, Sofia University, and STEMkids collaborated to prepare a joint exhibition area for the largest national educational fair in April in Sofia, “The Return”.
Here's a video from the event in Sofia.
PCB specially co-designed by students
Workshop in Plovdiv
Children engaged in microelectronics activities.
Children and parents engaged in microelectronics activities.
Mothers are also actively involved
PCB specially co-designed by students
Stemkids 1
Assoc. Prof. Nikola Shakev, Director of the Technical University of Sofia – Plovdiv Branch
In March, STEMkids, with the support of CRA’s Chips of Europe project, participated in two external events: the “Plovdiv – City of Science and Technology” initiative (March 21) and a city-level STEM competition held on March 28 in cooperation with the private high school “Academician Blagovest Sendov”.
Stemkids 3
Stemkids 4