94 APPLICATIONS FOR THE BAIT AWARDS FOR 2021

94 registrations by individuals, companies and institutions were made by the deadline for participation in the "BAIT Awards" for 2021.

With 22 applications, the most contested category is a Successful Bulgarian ICT product / service, in which ICT companies reveal details about the competitive advantages and marketing of their products. Among the applications are innovative solutions based on artificial intelligence and machine self-learning - for automatic verification of financial transactions against money laundering; for data processing and analysis, for document and asset management. Various platforms specific to the sales sector compete here - for operational management of production processes, GIS platform, for Peer-to-Peer lending and investment, for management of charging stations for electric cars and others. Requests for a distribution also provide a solution for distributed data storage in cloud environments, a high-speed system for sorting shipments and games.

21 participants will compete for the Educational Award. Among them are kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and universities, as well as teachers. Educational initiatives and platforms created by ICT companies also take part in the competition.

Again, there is strong competition in the Youth Award category. In it 11 projects of students and pupils from all over the country impress with ideas and realization. Among them are a robot powered by eco-energy, a semi-autonomous drone for supplies, a smart electricity meter, a platform based on neural networks and more.

In the category of Successful ICT project in favor of the Bulgarian economy compete 11 applications that demonstrate the digitalization of Bulgarian companies from different sectors - industrial enterprises, utilities, pharmacy and cosmetics, insurance and others.

11 companies are competing in the Start UP category. The innovative projects present developments based on VR technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as products for process management and digital payments.

10 applications have been submitted in the Public Administration category. State agencies, municipalities and municipal enterprises and departments present implemented projects for administrative services to citizens and businesses.

8 media representatives have applied for participation in the category Journalistic Contribution, presenting materials and developments on ICT topics.

The jury is to evaluate the submitted applications, and the nominees in the individual categories will be announced after mid-February.

This year, too, the Special Contribution Award is presented by the jury through internal nominations, and no applications were accepted for this category.

The awards will be presented at an official ceremony on 24 February 2022.