In the lab, young people aged 15 to 29 will learn how to be innovators and entrepreneurs. The Sofia Innovation Lab was established with the cooperation of the Sofia City Library, which provided space in the centre of Sofia, and with the financial and logistic support of Sofia Development Association.

“I believe that the laboratory will become a dynamic place for ideas that we will implement and will make Sofia a better place to live, said Mayor Fandakova during the official opening. Modern technology develops so fast that lifelong learning becomes an integral part of our future. In this lab you will be able to improve your knowledge and skills, meet and interact with managers of global companies, attend lectures, discuss ideas with other young people or just to work in a pleasant environment for a couple of hours", added the Mayor of Sofia and emphasized that she believed in the young people and awaits their ideas.

The lab was established within the project “Unlocking the potentials for business and social innovation in the Danube Region by improving the knowledge and skills of young people” (NewGenerationSkills), co-funded under the Danube 2014-2020 Programme. A network of Innovation Labs in the partner cities will be put in place as a part of this project, for sharing experience, contacts and conducting joint training for youths.

The main activity of the laboratory is to build a platform among local authorities, youth organizations, educational institutions and businesses to develop young people's skills for innovation and entrepreneurship.

The first training will be conducted jointly with the Faculty of Economics of the Sofia University.

Immediately after the formal part, the first meeting of the Advisory Council on Youth Policy at the Mayor of Sofia was held, where Yordanka Fandakova talked with the young people on the topic of Transport - when there will be bike rental, how will the subway develop and will there be more environmental friendly public transport to Vitosha - were just some of the questions that interested young people.

The Deputy Mayor, Doncho Barbalov, the director of Sofia Development Association, Svetlana Lomeva, the director of the Sofia City Library, Yulia Tsinzova and municipal councillors attended the official opening.