This initiative builds on the Joint Statement on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Bulgaria and Japan, signed in May 2025 by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. As one of the first academic milestones following the declaration, the seminar reflects a shared commitment to advancing digital transformation, research collaboration, and innovation diplomacy.

The two-day exchange across borders and disciplines includes:

Day 1 – August 29, 2025

International Conference Hall, University of Tsukuba

Participants will explore the intersection of emerging digital technologies and urban development. The programme includes:

• Opening remarks by H.E. Ms. Marieta Arabadjieva, Ambassador of Bulgaria to Japan
• Welcome addresses by Prof. Shigeta Yasuteru (CCS) and Prof. Sylvia Ilieva (GATE)
• A live Digital Twin demonstration showcasing applications in climate, mobility, and planning
• A high-level panel discussion on collaboration between academia, government, and business
• Structured bilateral sessions for future cooperation and knowledge exchange

Day 2 – August 30, 2025

Bulgarian Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka

The second day, titled “Academic Days of the GATE Institute,” will spotlight Bulgaria’s scientific contribution to global challenges. Highlights include:

• An introduction to GATE’s mission and impact
• An interactive exhibition featuring research projects from both GATE and CCS
• A visual showcase of Bulgaria’s participation in Expo 2025

The seminar marks a key moment in the long-term collaboration between GATE and CCS, established under a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding. It also positions both institutions as leaders in applied research in AI, Data Spaces, Smart Cities, and Digital Twins.

Together, GATE and CCS aim to foster new forms of cooperation that support sustainable urban development, ethical AI, and cross-border innovation ecosystems—not just between Bulgaria and Japan, but across Europe and Asia.

Registration is now open. Participants may attend in person (registration deadline: August 10) or online (August 27).

For more details and to register, click HERE.

Full Program of Day 1

The three-month program offers a unique opportunity for hands-on experience in a dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment. Participants will engage in real-world projects across four key domains: Future Cities, Smart Industry, Intelligent Government, and Digital Health, working in close collaboration with leading researchers from GATE Institute. 

A major highlight this year is the international exchange with Japan. As part of the strategic partnership between GATE Institute and the Center for Computational Sciences at the University of Tsukuba, three exceptionally talented Japanese students have joined the internship program. 

This partnership not only enriches the global scientific ecosystem – of which GATE is a part – but also opens the door to deeper collaboration between the innovation communities of Bulgaria and Japan. 

The official start of the program was marked by a welcome address from Prof. Sylvia Ilieva, who greeted the participants with the following words: 

“This internship program is an invitation to become part of an interdisciplinary international community of thinkers, doers, and changemakers. If you are curious, bold, and committed, this summer can be your launchpad toward a long-term scientific and professional career.”

The participants were warmly welcomed by the research teams from all GATE domains, who introduced them to ongoing projects and upcoming challenges. In a hybrid work environment, with access to high-tech infrastructure and mentorship support, the young interns will gain valuable practical experience in solving real-world problems through innovative technological solutions. 

GATE’s Summer Internship Program is open to students from diverse academic backgrounds – from STEM fields to social sciences and the humanities – because, as Prof. Ilieva emphasized, it is precisely the blend of different perspectives and expertise that drives innovation. 

“From Intern to Innovator” is an opportunity for young talents to become architects of the future, where knowledge, technology, and human potential come together to create sustainable solutions for a better world. At GATE, they are in for a transformative summer filled with science, technology, international exchange, and inspiration. 

“Our partnership with the Center for Computational Sciences of the University of Tsukuba opens up wide opportunities for knowledge exchange and joint research in the field of big data and smart technologies, which are key to the development of a sustainable and innovative society,” notes the Director of the GATE Institute, Prof. Silvia Ilieva, who, together with the leading researcher and climatologist Dr. Lidia Vitanova actively participated in the Bulgarian National Days at the Bulgarian Pavilion at the EXPO 2025 Osaka, as well as in the international dialogue related to the development of innovations, scientific exchange and joint efforts for a sustainable future.

“GATE Institute is committed to continuing its active role in strengthening these international ties and contributing to the development of the high-tech sector and strengthening Bulgaria’s place on the world scientific map,” notes Prof. Ilieva.

GATE Institute is also the only Bulgarian organization that will be represented for three days at the Bulgarian Pavilion at the EXPO 2025 Osaka. This will happen on June 14, August 30 and October 4, 2025, when GATE will demonstrate cutting-edge solutions, among which research addressing climate challenges and achieving urban sustainability through the use of the data-driven Digital Twin. Researchers from the institute are also preparing an “Academic Exhibition” with information panels and interactive visualizations, the aim of which is to demonstrate in an accessible and engaging way to the audience how each of us can also contribute to the development of science and innovation and their proximity and benefit to people.

Full text of the Joint Statement on the Establishment of the Strategic Partnership between Japan and the Republic of Bulgaria:  https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/100848628.pdf

The seminar, held online, brought together researchers and students from both sides, showcasing cutting-edge work in atmospheric informatics, urban climate studies, and AI-driven environmental analysis.

The event began with opening remarks from Prof. Doan of CCS and Dr. Vitanova from GATE, followed by introductions of the participating teams. Prof. Doan introduced the work of the Atmospheric Informatics Lab at the University of Tsukuba, while Dr. Vitanova presented GATE’s Future Cities and Urban Climate Group, emphasizing the shared vision of addressing critical environmental challenges through advanced computational and data-driven approaches.

Two insightful presentations were the highlight of the seminar. Diana Markova from GATE showcased research on land surface temperature variations in Sofia, integrating machine learning and remote sensing to explore the interplay between environmental and socioeconomic factors. From CCS, Koki Nakamura presented a cutting-edge study on the potential of convolutional neural networks for AI climate downscaling, underscoring the power of AI in tackling climate challenges.

This seminar serves as a launchpad for further collaboration, paving the way for joint projects, knowledge exchange, and innovative solutions to global challenges in climate, urban environments, and computational sciences.

In addition to the GATE Institute, FMI, the Faculty of Physics and the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy at SU “St. Kliment Ohridski”, the “Lozenets” campus is also home to the Centre of Excellence “Universities of Science, Informatics and Technologies in the e-Society” (UNITe), the Centre of Competence “Clean Technologies for a Sustainable Environment – Water, Waste, Energy for circular economy” – Clean&Circle, as well as one of the laboratory complexes of the Centre of Excellence in Mechatronics and Clean Technologies.

A jury of representatives of all research structures and faculties on the Lozenets campus will nominate the three best conceptual solutions, which will receive awards from GATE.

The initiative aims to involve young talents in Ladshaft architecture in a real case study in which they can demonstrate their skills. At the same time, the result of their work will be of real benefit to the improvement of this emblematic place for science – to make it greener, more beautiful, and inspiring.

The webinar was opened by the ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria in Japan, H.E. Marieta Arabadzhieva, the director of the GATE Institute, Prof. Silvia Ilieva and Prof. Taisuke Boku, director of the Center for Computational Sciences of the University of Tsukuba.

Six lecturers from three continents presented topics related to the latest advancements in technologies for urban heat reduction , tackling urban heat islands, and climate change in cities.

Dr. Rafiq Hamdi of the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium presented the key findings of the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an eight-year undertaking by the world’s most authoritative scientific body on climate change.

Prof.  Matamio Simwanda from Copperbelt University, Zambia introduced the audience to urban heat island problems in 4 fast-growing African cities, and the representative of the University of Perdeniya in Sri Lanka talked about a study of urban climate with neighborhood characteristics and land use.

Climate approaches to improve the resolution of models to identify the causes and consequences of climate change were explored by prof. dr. Quang-Van Doan, University of Tsukuba’s Center for Computational Science.

Dr. Ansar Khan of the University of Calcutta, India, presented the latest advances in urban heat reduction technology.

Dr. Lidiya Vitanova, researcher from the GATE Institute presented applications for Urban Heat Islands: Integrating Data to Address Environmental Thermal Dynamics at a Neighborhood Scale, presenting her research on the city of Sofia.

To register for the webinar, please fill out the registration form. Attendance is free, but we encourage you to secure your spot early. After registration, you will receive a link to join the webinar.

More info: http://forum.gate-ai.eu/uhi/