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.

The agreement will support the preparation and implementation of joint initiatives funded by national, European, and international programmes, while also contributing to the establishment of a sustainable environment for the exchange of knowledge, infrastructure, and expertise.

During the signing ceremony, Minister of Innovation and Growth Irena Mladenova emphasized that this partnership opens up new opportunities for Bulgarian innovators, researchers, startups, and companies. She highlighted innovation in defence and technology transfer as key priorities, as well as Bulgaria’s potential to position itself as a hub for the rapid deployment of dual-use innovations.

“Strengthening the link between academia and companies in the sector creates new prospects for economic development,” Mladenova noted.

“No single institution can independently complete the journey from idea to implementation. This is precisely why today’s partnership is so important—it lays the foundation for more targeted and practically oriented cooperation,” said Prof. Silvia Ilieva, Director of the GATE Institute.

Through its participation in the agreement, the GATE Institute reaffirms its commitment to advancing research and innovation in Bulgaria and to contributing to the development of a modern and competitive technological ecosystem.

Through the National Cancer Mission Hub, this partnership will be structured as a national platform for the implementation of evidence-based oncology policies, with a focus on early prevention, education, research, digitalisation, and social equity.

As host and partner, the GATE Institute supports the development of a sustainable national platform that brings together scientific research, innovation, public health policies, and active stakeholder engagement.

Through the ECHoS project, Bulgaria joins a European network of more than 30 countries working to build sustainable national ecosystems in the fight against cancer. The shared European goal is to improve the lives of more than three million people in Europe by 2030.

More than 80 organisations and institutions are already part of Bulgaria’s Cancer Mission ecosystem, united within the Joint Oncology National Network (JONN). Supported by the European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, the network is working to foster collaboration and dialogue aimed at implementing systemic solutions and policies related to health literacy and prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and improving the quality of life of patients and their families. Bulgaria is among the five pilot countries where National Cancer Mission Hubs are being established, together with Poland, the Netherlands, Greece, and Malta.

Official ceremony for the establishment of the National Cancer Mission Hub in Bulgaria

📅 11 March 2026
🕑 14:00 – 17:30
📍 GATE Institute, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
5 James Bourchier Blvd., Sofia

The programme can be viewed here.

The question of how responsibility is allocated between users and providers of AI systems was also raised, including in cases where outputs are inaccurate. Examples from the practices of major AI platforms were discussed, where terms of service often shift responsibility onto the user.

Another topic addressed was when an AI system can be considered “defective,” as well as who bears responsibility for changes after deployment – for example, through self-learning or software updates by third parties. The discussion also touched on AI in regulatory sandboxes, where new technologies are tested in a controlled environment.

At the end of the discussion, emphasis was placed on the “accountability by design” approach, whereby responsibility requirements are embedded from the very creation and deployment of AI systems.

The visit of the team from imec –  KU Leuven –  CiTiP is part of a broader strategic collaboration between the GATE Institute and CiTiP at KU Leuven – a leading European center in the field of technology law and intellectual property. The partnership aims to foster the development of joint interdisciplinary research across artificial intelligence, computer science, and law.

Particular interest was sparked by the topic of so-called AI agents – orchestrated language models that operate jointly and can change their behavior within days.

“The system you deploy on Monday may not be the system operating on Friday,” emphasized lecturer Ivo Emanuelov, Head of the Experimental Regulation Lab at the GATE Institute.

This has direct implications for businesses: compliance is not a one-time check, but a continuous process. Participants discussed how organizations can build internal mechanisms for monitoring, adaptation, and risk management throughout the entire lifecycle of AI systems – from design and deployment to updates and real-world use.

The question was also raised as to whether placing AI systems within the product safety framework adequately reflects the reality of software development – a process that is significantly faster and more dynamic than that of physical products. Here, one of the key benefits for participants became clear: a deeper understanding of the regulatory logic and the ability to apply it flexibly within the context of their own technological solutions.

The training also highlighted the active role of the Experimental Regulation Lab as a bridge between law, technology, and innovation. The Lab develops practical compliance tools and methodologies, tests regulatory approaches in real-world environments, and supports public institutions and business organizations in implementing new requirements.

This experimental and interdisciplinary approach enables companies to move beyond formal legal compliance and transform regulation into a managerial tool for improved risk management, greater trust from clients and partners, and sustainable positioning on the European market.

The training demonstrated that the Artificial Intelligence Act can be viewed not only as a legal obligation, but also as an opportunity to build trust, reduce legal and reputational risk, implement innovation in a more structured and responsible manner, and exercise strategic leadership in the era of AI.

In a world where technology evolves faster than legislation, awareness, adaptability, and expert preparedness are key. With this first training, the GATE Institute reaffirmed its role as a platform for in-depth and practice-oriented dialogue on the future of artificial intelligence – where regulation is not a barrier, but a tool for sustainable development and growth.

The financial support provided by the program amounts to USD 25,000 and covers tuition fees, living expenses, academic travel, participation in scientific conferences, as well as access to mentorship and specialized resources.

Plamena Ilieva is a graduate of the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering. She is currently continuing her studies in the master’s program in Artificial Intelligence. Her professional background includes internships at international technology companies, and she currently works as a software engineer with active involvement in the development of AI-based solutions.

“For me, this scholarship is an opportunity to further develop my knowledge, receive mentorship from leading experts, and gain a clearer direction in a rapidly evolving field. I believe that artificial intelligence should be developed responsibly and with society in mind,” shared Plamena Ilieva.

The Google DeepMind AI Scholarship Program is part of the company’s global commitment to promoting diversity and access to high-quality education in artificial intelligence by supporting students with strong motivation and potential for impactful academic and societal development.

The mapping carried out within FINEX shows that Bulgaria hosts a varied set of facilities relevant to experimentation in cleantech-related domains. These include research laboratories, university testing environments, prototyping spaces, digital innovation facilities and urban living lab–type settings. Together, they support activities in fields such as sustainable mobility, energy efficiency, circular economy practices, environmental monitoring, urban development, digital public services and more.

As part of the research aimed at understanding Bulgaria’s cleantech landscape more broadly, several organisations emerged as important contributors to the country’s innovation capacity. Sofia Tech Park offers access to laboratory infrastructure and development services across multiple domains. Resonator provides prototyping and product development facilities for applied engineering. Cleantech Bulgaria plays a central role in promoting green innovation and supporting sustainability-focused entrepreneurship. Invest Sofia offers guidance for businesses establishing or expanding operations in the capital. The Southeast Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) in Burgas supports digital transformation activities, while Trakia Economic Zone provides industrial environments suitable for applied testing. The Discoverer supercomputer adds high-performance computing capabilities that can support modelling, simulation and data-intensive research.

While these facilities differ in purpose and maturity, together they illustrate the range of experimentation and development opportunities currently present in Bulgaria. Their inclusion in the FINEX mapping offers a more complete picture of the national ecosystem and highlights the types of support available for testing and validating cleantech solutions.

Challenges and growing interest in experimentation

The analysis also reveals challenges that influence how quickly new technologies can be trialled and adopted. Fragmented data systems, limited specialised testing environments outside major cities and regulatory procedures that are not always well-suited to early-stage experimentation can slow down the development process. Access to funding for pilot and demonstration activities remains a particular difficulty for smaller companies and municipalities, which often lack the resources needed to undertake real-world tests.

Despite these constraints, the interest in cleantech experimentation in Bulgaria continues to increase. Municipalities are exploring digital tools to address issues in mobility, energy use, waste management and environmental quality. Research institutions are enhancing their technical capacities, and innovation hubs are becoming more active in supporting applied research and prototype development. Startups and SMEs are showing greater willingness to engage in testing activities, especially in areas connected to sustainability, climate adaptation and urban innovation.

Strengthening European connections through FINEX

By incorporating Bulgaria’s mapped facilities into a shared European portfolio, FINEX helps make these opportunities more visible both nationally and internationally. Innovators, researchers and public organisations from Bulgaria can now more easily identify suitable environments for experimentation in other regions, while foreign organisations can explore the capabilities available in Bulgaria.

As the project continues , Bulgaria is focusing on supporting experimentation, promoting regulatory dialogue and sharing knowledge between regions. The insights gathered during the mapping phase form a useful foundation for future planning and can help guide discussions about strengthening national collaboration, improving access to data, expanding testing infrastructure and supporting early-stage cleantech development. While the ecosystem is still evolving, Bulgaria’s involvement in FINEX contributes to the wider European effort to create more practical and coordinated pathways for testing technologies that address environmental and societal challenges.

More information about the FINEX project and how to get involved is available at the FINEX Helpdesk

FINEX LinkedIn
FINEX Homepage

Through FINEX, project partners, including GATE, work to improve knowledge exchange, strengthen links between innovation actors and identify ways to support the development of solutions in fields such as sustainable mobility, energy systems, circular economy and urban development. The project also promotes dialogue between innovators, public authorities, research institutions and investors, acknowledging that experimentation requires coordinated efforts across different parts of the ecosystem.

Experimentation spaces and testing opportunities

One of the major outcomes in the first phase of FINEX has been the creation of a cross-regional overview of experimentation and testing facilities in the six participating ecosystems. This mapping exercise includes laboratories, innovation hubs, urban test environments, living labs, and digital platforms that support piloting and validation of new technologies.

The purpose of this work is to provide innovators and public authorities with a clearer understanding of what types of testing environments exist, how they can be accessed, and how they can support the development of cleantech solutions. This also helps highlight the importance of experimentation spaces in bridging the gap between research, policy development, and practical implementation.

Complete information on experimentation spaces in Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Cyprus is available HERE.

Current activities and next steps

In addition to the mapping, FINEX has already carried out a series of cross-regional activities designed to connect innovation actors and exchange experiences between ecosystems. These included thematic workshops, meetings with stakeholders, discussions on regulatory challenges and sessions dedicated to experimentation practices.

The project is now entering a stage focused on analysing the insights gathered so far, refining the identified needs in each ecosystem and preparing recommendations for how experimentation and testing conditions can be strengthened across regions. The results will support ongoing dialogue on improving regulatory frameworks, enhancing cooperation between innovation actors and encouraging more systematic use of testing environments.

By contributing to this process, GATE supports the broader European effort to create favourable conditions for developing and validating technologies that address environmental and societal challenges.

More information about the FINEX project and how to get involved is available at the FINEX Helpdesk

FINEX LinkedIn
FINEX Homepage

“Each year GATE establishes itself as one of the key platforms for discussing the future of artificial intelligence—a future that is no longer a question of ‘if’, but of ‘how’: how to use it responsibly, ethically, and with real impact on society,” noted Deputy Minister Academician Vitanov. He emphasized that Bulgaria needs centers that not only adopt but also create innovation – such as the GATE Institute.

Sofia’s Deputy Mayor Ivan Goychev highlighted GATE’s important role for the capital city through its work on the Digital Twin of Sofia – the first digital model of a Bulgarian city, designed to support more sustainable, open, and intelligent urban development.

Yordanka Chobanova underscored GATE’s strategic importance for the EU. “The GATE Institute is a trusted partner and a friend of the European Commission. Thanks to its work, Bulgaria already has a visible place on the European AI map,” she said. Chobanova outlined the European vision for the future of AI – from building gigafactories and supercomputing infrastructures to investing in talent, deploying AI in industry, and developing joint European data spaces.

Academician Spasov emphasized the strong connection between the institute and the scientific ecosystem of Sofia University, noting that GATE is among the country’s leading centers of excellence.

Prof. Anastas Gerdzhikov, Chair of GATE’s Board of Directors, highlighted the Institute’s achievements over the past year: participation in 20 European projects, more than 150 scientific publications, and partnerships with over 500 organizations worldwide. “GATE shows what is possible when leading scientists inspire ambitious young researchers,” he stated.

The Institute’s Director, Prof. Silvia Ilieva, emphasized the human-centered scientific approach: “The most advanced system we can build remains the human mind,” she said, stressing that GATE’s mission is to transform knowledge into opportunities, data into insights, and innovation into progress for Bulgaria, Europe, and the world. “Everything we achieve, we achieve because of our researchers—the people who push the boundaries of science every day,” she added.

The forum traced the path from inspiration to real-world impact through artificial intelligence and data.

In his special lecture “Urbanetics: Building Ecological Intelligence in the City through AI and Data”, world-renowned Japanese scientist Prof. Noboru Koshizuka demonstrated how AI and data analytics can transform urban environments by creating intelligent and sustainable cities where technologies support the harmonious interaction between people, infrastructure, and nature. He also emphasized EU–Japan collaboration in developing open platforms for smart cities, showing how data exchange between countries, institutions, and industries can drive sustainable development, innovation, and digital transformation.

International experts in the panel dedicated to AI regulation highlighted the need for experimental frameworks that support prototyping, testing, and developing new and emerging technologies. Best-practice examples from global giants such as IKEA, Google, and imec illustrated the need to create conditions that allow innovators to experiment and develop new products, services, and business models in environments that encourage rapid prototyping and idea testing.

The Up To GATE 2025: New Horizons program continued with presentations of the Institute’s achievements in its main research and applied areas: Future Cities, Digital Healthcare, and Intelligent Governance. A dedicated panel explored data sharing as a driver of innovation, with international experts highlighting the need for standardization in data spaces to achieve interoperability, trust, and regulatory compliance.

The role of research as a foundation for innovation and economic growth was the focus of the business-oriented panel, with special guest speaker Stefan Dobrev, Chair of the Board of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. The discussion brought together representatives from the European innovation ecosystem, fintech sector, industry, venture capital, and social entrepreneurship. Concrete examples and working models for collaboration between research organizations, startups, corporations, and investors were presented.

In special demonstration sessions, GATE researchers showcased the latest developments in the City Digital Twin, as well as tools created for use by industry, institutions, and citizens.

The two institutions will foster collaboration through joint publications, trainings, seminars, and educational programs. Their commitment also includes active cooperation in attracting external resources and facilitating knowledge and technology transfer. Activities will be coordinated by Prof. Silvia Ilieva (GATE) and Prof. Noboru Koshizuka (University of Tokyo) – a clear sign of the strategic priority that both institutions’ leadership assign to the partnership.

Signing the memorandum on the eve of UpToGATE 2025: New Horizons carries symbolic significance as well. It marks the opening of a new horizon in GATE’s international development. As the forum prepares to bring together leading researchers, policymakers, companies, and innovators from around the world, this partnership with the University of Tokyo sends a strong message about GATE’s growing global role and its ambition to connect Europe and Asia in the advancement of AI, data, and digital transformation.

Prof. Noboru Koshizuka – one of Japan’s foremost scientists in the fields of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), open data, and smart cities – will also be a keynote speaker at Up To GATE 2025: New Horizons, organized by the GATE Institute on 27 November 2025. The world-renowned researcher will demonstrate how AI and data analytics can transform urban environments. He will discuss the creation of intelligent and sustainable cities, where technologies support harmonious interaction between people, infrastructure, and the environment, creating a new type of ecological intelligence.

The forum will be opened at 9:30 a.m. on 27 November by Deputy Minister of Education Acad. Nikolay Vitanov, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev, and Yordanka Chobanova – Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria.