“Digital sustainability is no longer just a technological issue – it is a matter of trust, security, and the ability of society to function confidently in the world of artificial intelligence and data. For us, this award is a recognition that science and innovation can have a real impact on society and the economy,” said GATE Director of Business Development Georgi Randelov during the InfoSec SEE 2026 ceremony.

GATE’s mission is to conduct applied research, develop innovation, and provide education in the field of big data and artificial intelligence in collaboration with government, industry, entrepreneurs, and startups.

InfoSec SEE 2026 brought together information security experts, system architects, engineers, auditors, and technology companies from across the region. This year’s edition was held in a hybrid format and focused on the theme “Securing the Digital Tomorrow.”

The project “European Citiverses Uniting for Inclusiveness” aims to develop new approaches for the use of artificial intelligence, digital twins, and virtual and augmented reality technologies for improved urban planning and management, with a strong focus on accessibility and inclusiveness.

By providing technological tools for testing and visualizing accessibility, cities can identify barriers earlier and make more informed decisions in urban planning, event management, and citizen services.

“Cities across Europe are using digital twins as tools for planning and decision-making. With this project, we want to demonstrate how the same technology can help create more inclusive, connected, and human-centered cities,” says project manager Anna Wenblad.

The first prototype is being developed based on the digital twin of the Swedish city of Gothenburg — “Virtual Gothenburg.” Through it, users can virtually explore the urban environment, including entrances, seating areas, lighting, noise conditions, and the occupancy of public spaces, using a computer, tablet, or mobile phone.

The project is also aimed at facilitating planning for families of children with disabilities, for whom the accessibility of the urban environment is often a key factor in participating in public and cultural events.

“The possibility of exploring a place in advance within a virtual environment can change the way people plan their participation in urban life,” the project team notes.

The European Citiverses Uniting for Inclusiveness project is implemented by a consortium of 12 partners from across Europe, including public institutions, universities, research organizations, technology companies, and civil society organizations.

The project brings together 12 partners from different European countries — including public institutions, universities, research centers, technology companies, and civic organizations. The lead partner is the City of Gothenburg.

In the long term, the ambition is for digital twins to become practical tools for creating more inclusive, connected, and human-centered cities across Europe.

The first demonstration prototype is expected to be presented at Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona in November 2026.

The developed projects covered a wide range of topics related to disinformation and public communication, including the use of patriotic narratives on social media, local cases of media distrust, interpretations of electoral processes, “us vs. them” narratives, and the role of artificial intelligence in the creation and dissemination of misleading content.

The event was attended by representatives of institutions and the academic community, who highlighted the importance of critical thinking, scientific approaches, and inter-institutional cooperation in countering disinformation.

“The age of fast information is complex, and therefore the skills you are developing here are extremely important – they foster critical thinking and narrow the gap between true information and disinformation,” noted Prof. Dr. Georgi Valchev, Rector of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Nadezhda Neynsky, “disinformation is not fought only with technology, but with critical thinking, knowledge, and the courage to ask questions.”

Irina Mladenova, Minister of Innovation and Growth, emphasized the importance of the format as a long-term process that builds responsibility for the content that is created and shared.

The Minister of e-Government, Georgi Sharkov, highlighted the need for coordinated efforts to achieve situational awareness and early warning in disinformation campaigns.

The Director of the GATE Institute, Prof. Sylvia Ilieva, noted that the initiative creates a bridge between theory and practice by engaging participants with real societal challenges.

“We live in a time of constant disinformation – it is not a crisis that passes, but a persistent challenge. DisInfoHack shows how an abstract threat is transformed into work on real societal problems, where collaboration and expertise help build a sustainable model for understanding and countering disinformation,” she added.

The initiative leader, Asst. Prof. Dr. Maria Yurokova, emphasized that DisInfoHack aims to build a sustainable community of young people working on long-term solutions in the field of the information environment.

The Chair of the jury, Prof. Nelly Ognyanova, highlighted information literacy as a key factor in society’s ability to make informed decisions.

The GATE Institute also contributed to the initiative with two mentors from the “Information Environment Analysis” track. Dr. Ruslana Margova mentored the team “The Seven Samurai” from the Naval Academy in Varna on the topic “Landing amidst speculation: how disinformation turned Bulgaria into a participant in the war in Iran”. Iglika Ivanova mentored the team “Fact Flash” on the case “Elections – one year later: is Constitutional Court decision No. 1 of 2025 still relevant?”

The “Information Environment Analysis” unit at the GATE Institute develops and tests tools designed to help citizens and institutions navigate today’s polluted information environment more safely. Its work combines social science research on democracy and propaganda with advanced artificial intelligence systems capable of detecting manipulation, mapping harmful narratives, and supporting fact-checkers, journalists, and citizens in understanding online content. In parallel, the team develops practical media literacy resources and policy recommendations for schools, newsrooms, and public institutions.

DisInfoHack 2026 is part of the CoDE project, which brings together academic institutions, research organizations, and business partners in efforts to strengthen information resilience in Bulgaria.

A special address was delivered by Andriana Sukova, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. In her remarks, she emphasised the role of European policies in supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, and access to finance.

As host of the event, GATE Director Prof. Silvia Ilieva highlighted the institute’s commitment to developing entrepreneurial skills. She noted that GATE is actively involved in projects under the Horizon Europe programme, which create practical opportunities for young innovators through training, international initiatives, and support for entering European markets.

During a panel discussion on the skills of the entrepreneur of the future, Ivan Draganov from GATE’s Business Development team presented the institute’s perspective on the role of technology and data in shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs. Participants emphasised the need for interdisciplinary knowledge and adaptability in a dynamic business environment.

The program of Next Gen Entrepreneurs Day followed the full journey of an entrepreneurial idea—from its initial concept and validation to securing funding and building a sustainable business model. The panels addressed key topics such as access to investment, skills development, and the challenges entrepreneurs face in the context of rapid technological advancement and the rise of artificial intelligence.

She noted that digital twins enable a shift from reactive to proactive governance through simulation, forecasting, and data-driven decision-making. In this direction, the GATE Institute is actively developing the Digital Twin of Sofia as a key platform for sustainable urban planning and development.

The event also highlighted the growing importance of interconnected ecosystems, where academia, business, and the public sector collaborate to deliver sustainable and measurable solutions in the AI era.

The organizers — Norwegian-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, Bulgarian AI Cluster, Sofia Tech Park, Cluster for Applied AI Norway, BASSCOM, and BAIT — brought together leading stakeholders for an inspiring exchange of ideas and best practices aimed at accelerating growth through AI.

On the first day, Prof. Desislava Petrova-Antonova from the GATE Institute participated in a panel discussion dedicated to digital twins and climate resilience. She highlighted how, through the integration of data and models, cities can better understand and respond to challenges such as heatwaves, floods, and complex interdependencies within urban systems. Special emphasis was placed on the role of digital twins as a tool for simulation and informed decision-making in areas such as energy, mobility, and urban planning.

As part of the official programme, international delegates visited the GATE Institute, where they gained first-hand insight into the institute’s applied research activities and its contribution to the development of smart cities. The visit included presentations of GATE’s work in the fields of data spaces and digital twins, as well as European projects focused on the urban environment in which the institute is involved. Examples included the application of the Common European Mobility Data Space (deployEMDS) through use cases for Sofia, as well as the InnovationAmp project, which supports Bulgarian municipalities in their digital transformation.

The demonstration session provided participants with the opportunity to see GATE’s technologies in action. In the Visualization Lab, an interactive 3D city model was presented, enabling the simulation of various urban scenarios—from traffic and air pollution to energy efficiency. Delegates also observed a demonstration of a data space for positive energy districts (DS4PED), as well as a projection mapping of a physical city model, visualising the impact of different policy decisions in a real-world environment.

GATE’s approach was highly praised by the international audience as an innovative model for collaboration between academia, industry, and regulators.

During the forum, the first practical handbook for establishing regulatory sandboxes in the context of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act was also presented. It was developed by Katerina Yordanova, Senior Expert at imec.