How can Artificial Intelligence strengthen diplomacy, national resilience, and evidence-based policymaking?
These were among the central questions explored at the Annual Conference of the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs with Bulgaria’s Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives that took place on 20-21 July 2026 in Sofia.
The event brought together representatives of government, the diplomatic service, academia and international organisations to discuss the role of Artificial Intelligence, innovation and digital diplomacy in addressing today’s global challenges.
GATE Institute was honoured to contribute to the panel “Building Resilience: Artificial Intelligence, Innovation, and the Role of Digital Diplomacy”, represented by its Director, Prof. Sylvia Ilieva.
Opening the discussion, Ivan Vasilev, Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation, reaffirmed the government’s ambition to position Bulgaria as a trusted partner in innovation and high technologies. Emphasising that “the future will be dominated by technology, but led by people,” he outlined the vision for Bulgaria to become one of Europe’s leading destinations for business and technology by 2030.
In her presentation, Prof. Sylvia Ilieva highlighted the growing importance of science diplomacy as a bridge between research, innovation, and policymaking. Drawing on GATE’s international collaborations, she demonstrated how scientific excellence and cross-border partnerships can strengthen institutions, support evidence-based decision-making, and enhance societal resilience.
Prof. Ilieva also underlined the strategic value of Open Science, describing it as not only a driver of scientific progress but also a catalyst for economic development, innovation, and competitiveness. She emphasised that research organisations have an important role in supporting public institutions with trusted expertise and strategic advice for the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence and data-driven technologies.
The panel also featured Bálint Pataki, Director of Policy at Arq Foundation (Brussels), and Alexey Andreev, Ambassador-at-Large for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Diplomacy. The discussion was moderated by Maria Spasova, Ambassador-at-Large for Resilience.
GATE’s participation in this high-level forum reflects the Institute’s growing role in shaping strategic discussions on trustworthy AI, digital transformation, and evidence-based policymaking. As a Centre of Excellence in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, GATE continues to work closely with national and international partners to advance responsible AI, support innovation, and contribute scientific expertise to the development of effective public policies.