IT industry in Eastern Europe is becoming an important player on the world map of software and IT services, software development. Competitiveness and excellence are key priorities for companies, national policies and the whole region. The initiated regional “SEE IT” brand is based on organized multi-national capacity, industry maturity, innovations and quality. For the last 3 years ESI Center Bulgaria facilitated the regional cooperation and competitiveness through process improvement programs executed at company and national level.

The developed generic “pyramid” methodology consists of: Awareness and professional qualification; Initiation of process improvement, focus on SMEs; Implementation in pilot cluster of companies; Monitoring improvements by intermediate assessments; Validation by certification in CMMI®, ITMark; Creating leadership by higher maturity levels.

The model was tailored for Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Moldova and Armenia. Other countries from the region (Croatia, Serbia, Western Balkans, Ukraine) follow. The program received strong support from donor and business support programs in Eastern Europe such as USAID, World Bank, EBRD/BAS, GTZ, local funds. ESI Center Bulgaria provided services for combined co-financing through national and regional programs (like USAID RCI and GTZ). The successful model was – higher external support to “lower” levels of the pyramid model (up to 100% for initial awareness), and higher industry engagement at higher level (targeting 1-1-1 model shared by the companies, local program, regional program). This helps more than 20 SMEs to obtain recognized quality certifications at affordable prices, compete with large organizations and to participate the SEE IT brand. A survey on benefits aspects is included.