The tech landscape in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has witnessed significant growth in recent years – 40% of tech startup funding in the region has been directed towards AI projects.
Countries like Slovenia, Slovakia and Czechia are leaders in robot density, positioning the region as key in global tech development.
After major CEE successes like the acquisition of Starfish by Humans.AI, Movieo.AI successful seed round, and the emergence of four unicorns, our region is proving to be more and more dominant in the tech space.
In the rapidly shifting tech landscape, communities are vital in uniting talent and resources, especially in regions like CEE, where collective efforts help drive both innovation and global competitiveness.
Events like the annual the ISTA Conference are essential in reinforcing these advancements, providing the crucial platforms where ideas are exchanged, collaborations are born, and new opportunities are realized. This year’s ISTA conference speaker lineup includes regional tech pioneers, each bringing a wealth of experience and unique perspectives to the table.
Organized by industry leaders like SAP, Experian, Musala Soft, Merkle and Infragistics, the event hosts will aims to empower the regional tech community to engage in conversations that shape the future of technology on the 7th of November at Sofia Tech Park, Bulgaria.
What’s on the plate?
Since 2011, the ISTA conference has evolved from a local event into one of the most prominent tech conferences in the CEE region.
Organized by IT professionals for IT professionals, ISTA has become a tradition where innovation, collaboration, and inspiration converge. This year, under the slogan Dare. Explore. Change., the conference invites attendees to go beyond their limits, explore new technologies, and embrace the changes shaping our future.
Curious about how to improve your web testing framework? This year’s sessions will compare Selenium with newer alternatives like Playwright and Cypress, offering real-world guidance for optimizing testing workflows.
Want to know how blockchain is being applied beyond cryptocurrency? Experts will explore its use in digital identity verification and decentralized finance (DeFi).
There will also be deep dives into AI-assisted coding, with tools like GitHub Copilot, as well as an explanation of Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and its practical applications in areas like customer support chatbots and vector databases.
With speeches from industry leaders from Microsoft, SAP and Payhawk, ISTA 2024 promises to deliver the knowledge tech evangelists need to not only understand these technologies but also to easily start using them in their own projects.
Keynote speakers
ISTA 2024 is set to feature two exceptional keynote speakers, each bringing a wealth of expertise and insight into the evolving landscape of technology. Leading the lineup is Patrick Chanezon, General Manager Cloud Developer Advocacy at Microsoft, who will delve into the role of cloud infrastructure as the backbone for AI, distributed systems, and modern developer platforms.
The event will be closed by Paul Saunders, Head of Product Strategy and Chief Evangelist for Cloud ERP at SAP. At ISTA, Saunders will explore how cloud ERP systems are transforming enterprise landscapes, helping businesses adapt to an increasingly complex digital economy.
Sofia’s Deputy Mayor Ivan Goychev, will also be present, offering a comparative analysis of operational quality in the public versus private sectors, and providing insights into best practices and lessons learned from both worlds.
Check out the full agenda for a detailed breakdown of the sessions .
Who should attend?
ISTA 2024 serves as a forum where IT professionals can come together and explore how artificial intelligence, blockchain and automations are shaping everything from product development to IT strategy.
After gathering 500+ participants last year, this year’s conference will focus on the practical implications of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and blockchain, providing attendees with actionable insights and a comprehensive understanding of the technological frontier.
The event is tailored for startup founders, software developers, IT managers, QA engineers, and anyone passionate about technology and innovation by those who know the audience’s struggles best – their fellow colleagues in the tech industry.
The conference promises to be a valuable opportunity for professionals at all stages of their careers to enhance their knowledge, network with peers, and gain insights from some of the brightest minds in the industry.
Tickets are now available online – grab yours and secure your spot.
Welcome note from ISTA’s organizers
The ISTA Conference will once again play a central role in fostering this sense of community and collaboration. As one of the largest tech events in the region, it provides a platform for cross-industry knowledge sharing and innovation exchange.
„ISTA 2024 will once again create a platform for knowledge-exchange, networking, and collaboration amongst IT professionals in Bulgaria and the region. Under the motto Dare.Explore.Change we invite participants to be bold and open, take on a new perspective and bring about positive change.
Our agenda encompasses a range of exciting topics – from innovations in AI, security, accessibility through QA, testing, and automation to soft skills and organizational culture. We are looking to welcome you onsite on November 7 in Sofia Tech Park.”, says Lora Terziev, COO at SAP Labs Bulgaria and ISTA 2024 organizer for The Recursive.
Overall, what attendees can expect is an insider look at the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of technology and practical tools to apply in their own work.
Visit ISTAcon website for more information.
