BDES 2018 - Sofia, 14-15 May 2018
The ESSnet Big Data organises BDES 2018 (Big Data for European Statistics) in Sofia (BG) on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 May 2018 to present the results of its second and final project round (SGA-2).
If you need additional information, please send a mail to BDES2018-Sofia@nsi.bg.
Contents
Objectives
The first objective of BDES 2018 is to share and discuss the results of the project's various workpackages and particularly of the second specific grant agreement (SGA-2) with all participants and with stakeholders from non-participating ESS Member States, Eurostat and the rest of the European Commission, international organisations, private companies owning or processing big data, and academia. SGA-2 started on 1 January 2017 and runs for 17 months until the end of May 2018, also the end of the ESSnet Big Data project (following on SGA-1 from February 2016 until July 2017).
Additionally, discussions will be broadened to the impact on official statistics and to the next stages in implementing them in statistical production processes.
Programme
BDES 2018 opens for registration at 08:30 on Monday 14 May 2018 and will finish by 17:30 on Tuesday 15 May 2018. The present state of the programma, which will continue to evolve, can be viewed here.
Registration
Participation is free but limited.
If you wish to attend, please send the completed registration form (click to download as doc file) with your name, function, country, organisation and contact information to BDES2018-Sofia@nsi.bg; or send this information directly via mail. You will receive a confirmation of your attendance as soon as possible.
Practical information
Venue
BDES 2018 takes place in Sofia Hotel Balkan, 5 Sveta Nedelya Square, Sofia, 1000, Bulgaria, in the Sredetz Ballroom.
Hotel reservations
A quota of 40 hotel rooms (single €75.56 and double €86.12 per night, breakfast included) has been set aside for participants of BDES 2018 at the Best Western Plus City Hotel, at a 14 minutes' walking distance from the conference venue (see downloadable file 'How to get to the Sofia Hotel Balkan').
If you want to reserve one of these rooms, please complete the hotel registration form and send it to reservations@sofiacityhotel.com (hotel reservation and payment are at the responsibility of individual participants).
The quota of 40 rooms will be available on a first-come first-served basis until 31 March 2018.
For more hotels recommended by organisers, see 'Further background information' below, downloadable folder 'Information and Travel Guide for Sofia, Bulgaria'. It is of course possible to book a room individually at the Sofia Balkan Hotel where BDES 2018 takes place, at a rate however of €180 per night.
Transportation
- How to get from Sofia Airport to the hotels (PDF, 664 kB)
- How to get to the Sofia Hotel Balkan (PDF, 495 kB)
Buffet lunches 14 and 15 May 2018
A free buffet lunch will be offered to participants on 14 and 15 May at noon in the Banquet Lobby / Art Gallery of the Sofia Hotel Balkan.
Social dinner 14 May 2017
Mr. Sergey Tzvetarsky, President of the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute (BNSI), kindly invites BDES 2018 participants to a social dinner offered by BNSI at the Crystal Palace Restaurant and Garden on Monday 14 May 2018 at 19:30.
Participants are requested to confirm their attendance at the social dinner during the registration and welcome session at the beginning of the conference.
For more information, see the website of Crystal Palace Restaurant and Garden. A route description from Sofia Hotel Balkan and from City Hotel to the restaurant can be downloaded here.
Further background information
- Information and Travel Guide for Sofia, Bulgaria (PDF, 516 kB)
- Sofia (Wikitravel)
- Visitsofia (official tourist information website)