The GATE Institute at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” was among the key partners of the second international conference “Innovation. Investment. Inspiration.”, organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria and BOYANOV & Co., with the support of the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, and Innovation Norway.
The forum, dedicated to the future of innovation and investment in Bulgaria and Europe, took place on October 16, 2025, at the Hilton Sofia Hotel and brought together more than 200 representatives from institutions, business, and academia from Bulgaria, Norway, Hungary, and Malta.
During the first panel, “Smart Governance for Smart Growth,” the Director of the GATE Institute, Prof. Sylvia Ilieva, shared the Institute’s vision for the role of research organizations in building an innovation ecosystem that fosters entrepreneurship and technology transfer.
Prof. Ilieva presented GATE’s work on developing a regulatory sandbox designed to help companies adapt to European regulations, including the AI Act. She emphasized that such initiatives can significantly accelerate the development of startups and enhance collaboration between businesses, researchers, and regulatory authorities.
“At GATE, we operate with a startup-oriented mindset. By creating a regulatory sandbox, we enable businesses to test innovations in real-world environments and better navigate the complex requirements of European legislation. This model can speed up the adoption of new technologies and strengthen Bulgaria’s competitiveness in the field of artificial intelligence,” noted Prof. Ilieva.
She also highlighted GATE’s work as a NATO test center.
“We also propose to partner with any interested party in order to support Bulgarian startups that reach the final stages of DIANA’s competition but are not successful in securing funding; We can offer expertise, insights of NATO’s innovation processes, and advanced infrastructure, which startups can use to scale their products and compete at the Euro-Atlantic level”, Prof. Ilieva added.
During the event, speakers and participants outlined the key role of innovation in driving economic growth and retaining talent in the country. Across four discussion panels, topics included smart governance for growth, mobilizing public and private capital, the role of venture capital, and the future of startups towards 2030.
As a conference partner, the GATE Institute continues its mission to advance science and technology in support of society and the economy. GATE’s participation in international forums such as this one reflects the Institute’s commitment to fostering collaboration between academia, business, and public institutions.