During the discussion, inspired by the report “Much More Than a Market,” participants exchanged views on the challenges and opportunities facing the European Union amid accelerating technological, economic, and geopolitical changes.

Among the key topics highlighted were the need for deeper integration of the Single Market, the reduction of administrative and regulatory barriers to innovation, and the creation of conditions that foster sustainable economic growth.

The event also marked the official launch of the “Sofia Initiative – From Fragmentation to Scale – Accelerating EU Competitiveness.” The initiative represents a joint call by more than 100 Bulgarian leaders to accelerate economic integration, reduce barriers within the internal market, and strengthen the competitiveness of the European Union.

The document emphasizes the need for stronger connectivity between industrial ecosystems, the development of common European standards, and the creation of a more favorable environment for innovation and investment.

For the GATE Institute, participation in such strategic forums is a natural extension of its mission to advance research and innovation in the fields of data science, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence.

The Institute underlines the importance of collaboration among academia, industry, and public institutions as a key factor in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and accelerating digital transformation.

GATE’s participation begins on the first day of the conference with the presentation “DataTwin Project – EU Best Practices to Turn Data into Strategic Business Value” by Radoslav Rizov, European Projects Manager. The session will demonstrate how European organizations and companies are transforming data into a strategic asset through the implementation of digital twins, modern data infrastructures, and innovative decision-making approaches.

Later that day, Radoslav Rizov and Dr. Iva Krasteva will present “Healthcare Data Spaces – Unlocking the Potential of Health Data,” focusing on the development of health data spaces and their role in advancing personalized medicine and digital healthcare. As a practical example, they will demonstrate the added value of the VELES project, an international initiative coordinated by GATE that develops solutions for the secure exchange and effective use of health data in alignment with European policies and initiatives, including the European Health Data Space (EHDS).

Through these presentations, the GATE Institute will demonstrate how modern data management and analytics technologies can accelerate scientific discoveries, improve the quality of healthcare services, and create new opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship.

On June 12, Ivan Draganov from GATE’s Business Development team will take the stage at Spinoff EUROPA Conference 2026 with the presentation “Work After Agents: What Changes When AI Stops Waiting for Instructions,” dedicated to the next stage in the evolution of artificial intelligence-agentic AI systems.

Ivan Draganov will explore how organizations in Bulgaria and around the world are integrating AI agents into real business processes, the practical outcomes of their implementation, and why high-quality, accessible data is becoming a strategic resource for every organization. Particular emphasis will be placed on the changes that agentic AI brings to workflows, organizational structures, and the role of people in environments where software systems are increasingly capable of independently performing tasks and making decisions. In this context, he will also present the services GATE offers to support businesses in their digital transformation and data-driven decision-making processes.

The participation of the GATE Institute in Spinoff EUROPA Conference 2026 is a natural extension of the institute’s mission to connect scientific research with real-world applications, facilitate technology transfer, and foster the development of innovative solutions with societal impact.

As part of European initiatives and projects in the fields of big data, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation, GATE actively contributes to building a competitive and sustainable European innovation ecosystem in which scientific achievements are transformed into solutions with tangible impact on society and the economy.

Spinoff EUROPA Conference 2026 provides exactly such a platform – a place where science, technology, entrepreneurship, and investment come together to shape the future of European innovation.

 

“NEXT GATE TALENTS 2026 is an opportunity for young people to get involved in developing innovative solutions at the very beginning of their professional journey. Working on real projects in the field of artificial intelligence and big data, in a team with leading scientists and experts, provides invaluable practical experience and confidence for future development. We are glad to support the next generation of specialists who will shape the technological future of Bulgaria and Europe,” notes Prof. Dr. Silvia Ilieva, Director of the GATE Institute.

The program is primarily aimed at third- and fourth-year university students, master’s students, and recent graduates in STEM fields. Applicants can choose among five tracks:

• Reliable Computational Modelling – development of frameworks for thermo-fluid simulations and work on projects with business partners;
• Machine Learning and AI – tasks related to energy efficiency, large language models, and graph neural networks;
• “Cities of the Future” – participation in internal and European projects focused on smart and sustainable urban solutions;
• Big Data Engineering – work with technologies for processing and managing large data sets;
• “Information Environment Analysis” – projects in natural language processing, large language model security, and analysis of public information.

Interns will receive mentorship from researchers and experts, as well as the opportunity to participate in international and national projects. Successfully performing participants will have the opportunity for long-term professional development at GATE.

Applications are open until June 20, 2026. Applicants are required to send a CV and a short motivation letter to career@gate-ai.eu. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview.

The program is designed for motivated young people who want to actively contribute to the development of science and technology and to further enhance their knowledge in a professional research environment.

The visit focused on presenting GATE’s research activities within the framework of the collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg and discussing opportunities for future cooperation between Bulgaria and Sweden in research and innovation.

Prof. Sylvia Ilieva, Director of GATE, introduced the Institute’s main research areas, EU projects, and international partnerships. Prof. Desislava Petrova-Antonova, Research Lead of the Future Cities application domain, presented GATE’s Urban Digital Twin concept and its development stages, followed by a demonstration of Sofia’s 3D city model, which sparked an engaging discussion on several simulation scenarios.

H.E. Mr. Pontus Melander expressed his appreciation for GATE’s achievements and emphasized the importance of strong collaboration between academia, government, and industry, supported by continued investment in innovation.  “Even in challenging times, we need to continue funding universities, especially their research and development activities,” he noted.

The visit concluded with a productive discussion on future collaboration opportunities, building on the successful partnership already established through the GATE project.

The young future legal professional was welcomed by the institute’s director, Prof. Sylvia Ilieva, who introduced him to the history of GATE – from the visionary idea of three women in science to its establishment as a high-tech research hub with the spirit of a fast-growing startup and the ambition to become a driver of innovation in Bulgaria and Europe.

“For us at GATE, it is extremely important that young people have the opportunity to get close to the real environment of science, innovation, and technological leadership. Vladimir demonstrated curiosity, analytical thinking, and a strong interest in artificial intelligence, data, and regulation – areas that will be decisive for the development of society and business in the coming years. I believe that initiatives like this build a bridge between education, science, and practice and inspire the next generation of leaders,” noted Prof. Sylvia Ilieva.

During his working day, Vladimir immersed himself in the dynamics of GATE’s multidisciplinary team, which develops innovative scientific and applied projects in the fields of “Future Cities,” digital healthcare, and smart governance. He met leading experts and researchers who develop solutions with real societal impact – supporting business, the public sector, and the digital sustainability of society.

Particular interest was drawn by the work on the Digital Twin of Sofia, developed by the “Future Cities” department under the leadership of Prof. Desislava Petrova-Antonova in collaboration with Sofia Municipality. Vladimir became closely acquainted with how artificial intelligence, big data, and 3D modelling are used to analyze air quality, mobility, energy efficiency, and the city’s infrastructure.

A key highlight of the day was also a meeting with Ivo Emanuilov, head of the only Regulatory Experimentation Laboratory in Bulgaria and one of the few in Europe. He joined remotely from Brussels and presented GATE’s role in creating an ethical, secure, and responsible AI ecosystem. Ivo Emanuilov spoke about the institute’s involvement in developing European policies and mechanisms for AI regulation, as well as the need for technologies to evolve in alignment with public interest and ethical principles.

As part of the program, Vladimir also spoke with Ioana Koleva, AI & Data Strategy Manager and Data Protection Officer (DPO), about the key role of data in business and societal development, as well as with Georgi Randelov, Director of Business Development, about opportunities in innovation and technological entrepreneurship.

“One day at the GATE Institute was truly inspiring, giving me the opportunity to observe closely how data can reveal the future of a city, and how information can be used to build sustainable solutions for the development not only of the urban environment but also of society. The meetings with the GATE team opened up for me the world of the Digital Twin of Sofia—a space where noise, temperature, and the dynamics of our surrounding environment are transformed into the basis for precise analyses and important decision-making. I am grateful for the inspiring conversations, the shared experience, and the opportunity to get closer to a vision that turns innovation into reality,” said Vladimir Nedev.

His participation in “CEO for a Day” demonstrated in an impressive way how education, science, technology, and leadership can come together in an inspiring environment that provides a real glimpse into the professions of the future.

The “CEO for a Day” initiative is being held for the second consecutive year and brought together 21 students from prestigious universities with leaders of leading companies and organizations in Bulgaria. The goal is for young people to gain practical experience, mentorship, and direct access to the real business and management environment. Among the mentors in this year’s edition are representatives of leading companies, organizations, and academic institutions, and the GATE Institute is among the active partners investing in the development of the next generation of leaders and innovators.

The visit took place within the framework of the already established strategic cooperation between GATE Institute, the University of Tsukuba, and the Center for Computational Sciences (CCS), specifically highlighted in the 2025 Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Bulgaria and Japan.