GBS to Host 2026 Global Innovation Summit in Sofia

The GFCC is pleased to announce that the Global Innovation Summit will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, in October 2026, hosted by corporate member Glavbolgarstroy Holding (GBS).

GBS is the largest construction group in Bulgaria and one of the biggest in Southeastern Europe. With over 55 years of experience, the company has been responsible for leading groundbreaking construction projects across the region, pioneering sustainability and innovation in the sector.

The announcement was made during Forging the Future: The Intersection of Health, AI and Tech, yesterday, in Pittsburgh, US. On occasion, Mr. Kalin Marinov, GBS’s Head of International, Strategic Development and ESG, shared insights about the competitiveness landscape in Bulgaria and offered a glimpse of what to expect for GIS 2026.

A GFCC member since 2022, GBS has been a key player in catalyzing innovation and competitiveness in Bulgaria. In May 2025, the company led the foundation of the Bulgarian Advisory Board on Competitiveness.

Tomislav Donchev, Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth, GFCC President, Deborah L. Wince Smith, and Kalin Peshov, Chairman of the Management Board of GBS, at the launch of the Bulgarian Advisory Board on Competitiveness in Sofia, in May, 2025.

This first-of-its-kind institution in the country was designed to serve as an independent platform for research, analysis, dialogue, and advocacy, focused on promoting competitiveness and innovation. It acts as an independent body and was inspired by the GFCC’s mission, structure, and activities.

GBS invites to the Global Innovation Summit 2026 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Learn more about the Global Innovation Summit.