The first National Innovation Forum organized jointly by ARC Fund, the World Bank office in Bulgaria and the Ministry of Economy on October 22, 2004 featured a national contest for the most Innovative Enterprise of the Year - 2004.

The main objectives of this contest were:
- To encourage the innovation activities in Bulgarian production companies; and
- To promote the participating enterprises and their innovative products and practices.

Eligibility criteria:
Innovative enterprises from all sectors of the economy were eligible to participate in this contest. An “innovative enterprise” was defined to be one which had developed new, or significantly improved products, services or processes over the last three years.

The innovative potential of participating enterprises was evaluated against a set of criteria by a special jury and expert panel, and on the basis of questionnaires, which each contestant had completed in advance.

Awards:
"Innovative Enterprise - 2004" awards were given in two main categories:
- To small innovative enterprises (with less than 50 employees)
- To medium-sized and large enterprises (with over 50 employees)
The award-giving ceremony took place during the National Innovation Forum on October 22, 2004 at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan. The awards were presented by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Georgi Parvanov.

The award for the most innovative small enterprise (with less than 50 employees) was given to Point L, followed by EES – Energy Efficient Systems Ltd and Spesima Ltd. The award for most innovative medium-sized or large enterprise (with over 50 employees) was presented to Mauer Locking Systems Ltd., followed by Telephone and Telegraph Technique PLC and ELDOM Invest Ltd..

Point L won the award with its 4th generation Automation System for Management of Technological Processes with applied software for projection/design, administration and monitoring of the network and the process which is unique for the world market and is protected with a patent.

Spessima took part in the competition with a series of manipulators for dosage and charging of foundry machines FEEDMAT that possess higher technical economic parameters than the existing world analogues and are protected with a patent.

EES participated with its system for monitoring and control of the energy consumption and resources which is an innovation for the Bulgarian market.

Mauer won the first place in the medium-sized or large enterprise category with 3 innovative products – combination lock GUARD, which is new on the world market, protected with a patent; combination lock MLS, which is unique and protected with national and international registered mark for design; lock for metal shells holding a patent for “useful product”.

Eldominvest participated in the contest with the following products – water heater with immediate effect, a series of water heaters with heat exchangers, a series of small ovens with glass-ceramic hot plates.

TTT participated with the following products:

• Station for Testing of Static Electricity Consumption Meters
• Electricity Consumption Meters Switchboard
• Four-position distribution valve
• Three-pole splitter 3MP – 10
• Duplex Cassette
• Static Electricity Consumption Meter

All enterprises which took part in the contest will be included in a special Catalogue of Innovative Bulgarian Companies.

Members of the expert panel and jury
Evaluation criteria (available only in Bulgarian)