site.btaBAIT Chair: Digital Detox Is Luxury

The information technology sector is the fastest-growing, and there is no area of business or people’s lives where IT is absent, Irina Radeva, Chair of the Managing Board of the Bulgarian Association of Information Technologies (BAIT), said in an interview with BTA.

The year 2025 is a milestone for BAIT, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary this evening.

“When the Association was founded, the mobile phone was the biggest luxury, and now we have Industry 5.0, AI factories are being built, and smart cities are being developed,” she added.

Regarding the increasing presence of artificial intelligence in people's daily lives, the expert said that it is very important to strike a balance between necessary regulations and measures that could hinder development. In this regard, a BAIT working group is involved in drafting a bill.

Irina Radeva also said that there is demand in the IT sector for experienced professionals, while a decline is being observed among young specialists. Salaries continue to grow, although the increase is more moderate.

Here follows the full Interview:

Q: The Bulgarian Association of Information Technologies (BAIT) is celebrating its 30th anniversary. How has the sector changed over the years?

A: This is the fastest-developing industry in our time. When the Association was founded, the mobile phone was the biggest luxury and was the size of allowed hand luggage on a low-cost airline. There was no Internet. And now we have Industry 5.0, AI factories are being established, smart cities are being developed. There is no longer any sphere of business or human life where information technologies are absent. Nowadays, it’s become a luxury to afford a few days of "digital detox"!

Q: With the rise of AI, the question of regulation and development scenarios is increasingly being raised. What is the Association’s view on this major topic?

A: BAIT has established a working group on AI. Our colleagues are actively participating in the discussions on regulations. A draft law on the Use and Development of Artificial Intelligence was recently published — such a law is necessary. There is a directive in the European Union, the so-called AI Act, which Bulgaria is required to transpose into national legislation. It is very important to find a balance between necessary regulation and restrictions that may hinder development. Our working group is very active in the drafting process, and we expect some of our proposals to be reflected in the final version.

Q: What is the current situation on the labor market for ICT specialists in terms of demand for talent? Do we, as a country, need to "import" such professionals?

A: There will always be demand for professionals. The state's policy should support, on one hand, the development of talent - starting from the school bench - and on the other hand, flexibly respond to the needs of business by easing measures to attract talent from abroad and creating welcoming conditions for their families as well. The IT sector is evolving so rapidly that new professions are emerging, for which there are no trained professionals yet. In this context, BAIT is very active—it makes proposals to the Ministry of Education and Science and participates in public discussions. For example, our working group on cybersecurity prepared a well-reasoned proposal to the MES for the introduction of a subject, and later a specialty, called "Cybersecurity" in secondary education.

Q: It’s well known that the IT sector has some of the highest salaries in Bulgaria. Based on your observations, is there still room for further growth, both in salaries and generally in the sector?

A: Yes, salaries continue to grow, although some moderation is now visible. There is demand for professionals who already have solid experience, while there is a decline in demand for young specialists who are still entering the field.

Q: What challenges does the sector face today?

A: Right now, the trending topic is artificial intelligence. It is crucial for everyone to look at their business through the lens of the opportunities AI provides and to quickly "adjust" their activities accordingly. As Alice says in Alice in Wonderland: "You have to run as fast as you can just to stay in the same place!" And what we need to do if we want to move forward is clear!