Green Transition Forum 5.0

Green Transition Forum 5.0

About the Event

In June 2025, Sofia will host the Green Transition Forum 5.0 — a landmark gathering that has become a symbol of green innovation and sustainability in Central and Eastern Europe. With a track record of promoting environmental responsibility, this annual forum stands as the region’s most anticipated event for policymakers, business leaders, and sustainability experts. Now in its fifth edition, GTF is no longer merely an event — it is an institution.

Organized by leading digital media platforms Dir.bg and 3E News, the Green Transition Forum is unmatched in its scale and ambition. It brings together European and global leaders to chart the course toward a net-zero future. By tackling the most pressing challenges, opportunities, and strategies for sustainable development, GTF serves as a platform for shaping the green economic transformation of Bulgaria, the CEE region, and beyond.

Why You Should Attend

• • Engage with visionaries and sustainability leaders from across sectors.
  • Contribute to the formulation of policies that will reshape Bulgaria and CEE.
  • Attend masterclasses and keynote lectures led by distinguished figures.

What to Expect at Green Transition Forum 5.0

Competitiveness in the Green Era

Drawing on the EU’s new economic agenda and the insights of the Draghi and Letta reports, this theme explores how technologies, investments, and policy reforms can boost the competitive edge of CEE nations in the green transition.

Amplifying CEE Voices — From Baku to Belém

We examine how the region’s priorities are reflected in global climate negotiations, and we strategize on strengthening CEE’s role in shaping future climate policy.

Connectivity for a Sustainable Future

How can digital, energy, and transport connectivity serve as catalysts for sustainable growth and regional cohesion? This track explores the infrastructures of tomorrow.

The Blue Economy: A New Horizon

The Black Sea is emerging as a core axis of sustainable innovation. This session explores how the ‘blue economy’ can become a driver of resilience and growth in CEE.

Shaping the Workforce of the Future

Human capital lies at the heart of future competitiveness. We’ll assess how EU strategies and sustainability imperatives are reshaping education, the labor market, and the jobs of tomorrow.

Lead the Global Sustainability Agenda

• • Join dialogues with senior officials, CEOs, and leading experts from over 28 countries.
  • Be part of the policy-making process that propels green innovation.
  • Forge strategic partnerships with 2,000+ high-level business leaders from across CEE.
  • Participate in exclusive VIP gatherings — from business breakfasts to evening receptions.
  • Connect with over 4,500 stakeholders from both the private and public sectors in a dynamic, collaborative setting.

Prof. Daron Acemoglu Exclusive Public Lecture

Who Will Own the Future?

On June 17, 2025, world-renowned economist and Nobel Laureate in Economics Prof. Daron Acemoglu will visit Bulgaria at the invitation of the Green Transition Forum and Dir.BG, to deliver one of the country’s most significant public lectures ever hosted.

This event is a rare opportunity to hear live from one of the most influential thinkers in modern economics — MIT professor, bestselling author, and one of the world’s most cited economists.

Why shouldn’t you miss this lecture?

In times when technology, artificial intelligence, and innovation are fundamentally transforming economies and societies, Prof. Acemoglu will raise the essential questions shaping our collective future:

• • How is technological progress affecting social inequality?
  • Why are institutional reforms critical to ensure the fair distribution of the benefits of innovation?
  • What will the labor market and society look like tomorrow?

The lecture, titled “Who Will Own the Future?”, offers a provocative perspective on how technology can be a powerful driver of prosperity—but also a source of new divides if not guided by strong institutions and sound policies.

Professor Daron Acemoglu is the co-author of the landmark books “Why Nations Fail” and “Power and Progress”, both offering deep insights into how institutions and technological change shape the world we live in.

Seats are limited—secure yours today and be part of this pivotal conversation on the future of technology, economics, and our societies!