27 November, 2025

5 James Bourchier Blvd., Sofia

New Horizons

What to expect

UpToGATE 2025: New Horizons – a forward-looking journey through the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence, data, policy, and human-centered innovation.

In an age of rapid regulatory transformation and technological acceleration, “New Horizons” is both a theme and a call to action. It reflects a new stage of maturity in AI and data-driven ecosystems—from experimentation and ethics to implementation, impact, and scale.

The global conversation has shifted. The European Union is actively shaping the future of trustworthy AI with the rollout of the AI Act and the concept of the “AI continent.” Data spaces are moving from concept to operation. And businesses are urgently seeking pathways to integrate digital innovation without compromising human values or legal compliance.

GATE Institute enters this moment as a pioneer in applied AI and Big Data, with a mission to shape a resilient, inclusive, and innovation-driven society. Since 2019, we’ve grown from vision to infrastructure to implementation—building platforms, testbeds, and knowledge that turn research into opportunity and real-world solutions.

UpToGATE 2025 is our flagship event to bring these efforts into dialogue with our partners—across Europe and beyond.

This year’s event is structured as a deliberate arc, guiding participants through the stages of innovation in the data-AI ecosystem:

Inspire – Future-first thinking

We open with a keynote that sets the future-driven and technological tone.

Frame – AI-Empowered Innovation: Shaping Policy, Society, and Implementation

A high-level panel exploring Europe’s vision for AI through the lens of innovation policy. The discussion will go beyond the headlines to address how ambitious European frameworks can translate into real-world innovation and societal benefit. It will examine the path from research to market, the interplay between major EU initiatives such as the European Innovation Act, and what evidence-based regulation means for building a competitive and trustworthy AI ecosystem that supports human flourishing.

Apply – Human-Centric Research at GATE

Panel 2 puts the spotlight on GATE’s domain leads through TED-style presentations, illustrating how applied research is being translated into usable, ethical solutions in Future Cities, Digital Health, and Intelligent Government.

Scale – Business-Driven Innovation

Panel 4 brings in the private sector—startups, corporates, and investors—to explore how data and AI readiness is being commercialized. How can companies benefit from data-sharing frameworks? What role do standards and testbeds play in adoption? What does “compliance-ready” innovation look like?

Connect – Data Sharing as a Catalyst

Panel 3 addresses Europe’s data-driven transformation. Data spaces are no longer pilot concepts—they are operational frameworks with legal, organizational, and technical layers. We examine how GATE contributes to this ecosystem, and why sovereign, trusted data exchange is the next frontier of innovation.

Key Themes

AI in Practice

How the AI Act is shaping innovation, compliance, and trust.

Power of Data Spaces

Trusted, sovereign data sharing as a driver of cross-sector innovation.

Human-Centered Solutions

Applied research in Future Cities, Digital Health, and Intelligent Government.

From Lab to Market

Scaling AI and data innovation through business adoption and investment.

Reasons to attend

Policy Insights

Hear directly from EU and national leaders on the future of AI in Europe.

Real-World Examples

See GATE’s research turning into practical, impactful solutions.

High-Value Networking

Connect with policymakers, researchers, startups, corporates, and investors.

Growth Opportunities

Discover how compliance-ready AI and data strategies can fuel your business.

Speakers

prof. Desislava Petrova-Antonova

Leader, Future Cities, GATE Institute

Keith Peter Kiely

Leader, Intelligent Government, GATE Institute

George Petkov

Leader, Digital Health, GATE Institute

Ivo Emanuilov

Head of Experimental Regulation and Digital Policy Lab, GATE Institute

Yordanka Ivanova

AI Regulation and Compliance, AI Office, European Commission

Michela Magas

European Woman Innovator of the Year & Innovation Advisor to the European Commission, Chair of Industry Commons Foundation (Sweden)

Cristina Boca

Intellectual Property & Business Intelligence, imec (Belgium)

Marcin Olender

Director of Public Policy, AI Chamber CEE (Poland), formerly Public Policy & Government Relations Manager CEE region at Google

Antoine Garnier

Senior Project Manager at International Data Spaces Association

Olaf-Gerd Gemein

Business Architect GreenEarthX Innovation Agent, Funding Expert

Ivan Goychev

Deputy Mayor Digitalization and Innovation of Sofia city

Deyan Georgiev

Deputy CEO of Vestitel

Nikolay Lazarov, Ph.D. EMBA

Head of Marketing Communications and Analytics – Bulgaria, Borica

Lyubomir Filipov

Director Strategic Parnerships and Regulation,Veolia Bulgaria/ Sofiyska voda

Diana Aladzhova

Partner at Silverline Capital & Founder at CFO Insights

Yoana Koleva

Business Development Consultant, GATE Institute

Agenda

09:00-09:30

Registration

09:30 - 10:00

Opening & Welcome

Welcome remarks from VIP guests
Address by Prof. Sylvia Ilieva, Director, GATE Institute

10:00 - 11:00

Keynote: "Urbanetics: Toward the Emergence of Environmental Intelligence through AI and Data in the City”

Prof. Noboru Koshizuka is a leading researcher in ubiquitous computing, IoT, and smart city systems at The University of Tokyo. His work bridges technology, data, and society, advancing innovation in digital transformation, dataspaces, and urban intelligence.

He also serves as Chair of the Data Society Alliance and as a member of Japan’s Digital Agency Council, contributing to national and international digital policy and research.

11:00 - 11:30

Coffee & Demo Zone

Networking break with first opportunity to explore demo areas.

11:30 - 12:30

Panel 1 – From lab to market: how can AI regulation support AI?

A high-level panel exploring Europe’s vision for AI through the lens of innovation policy — moving beyond headlines to discuss how ambitious strategies translate into real-world impact. The discussion will tackle the shift from research to market, the interplay of EU legislative initiatives, and how evidence-based regulation can foster a competitive and trustworthy AI ecosystem that enables human flourishing.

SPEAKERS

Moderator: Ivo Emanuilov, Head of Experimental Regulation and Digital Policy Lab, GATE Institute

Yordanka Ivanova, AI Regulation and Compliance, AI Office, European Commission
Michela Magas, European Woman Innovator of the Year & Innovation Advisor to the European Commission, Chair of Industry Commons Foundation (Sweden)
Cristina Boca, Intellectual Property & Business Intelligence, imec (Belgium)
Marcin Olender, Director of Public Policy, AI Chamber CEE (Poland), formerly Public Policy & Government Relations Manager CEE region at Google

12:30 - 13:30

Panel 2 – Human-Centric Research: GATE in Action

Presentations from GATE domain leaders in Future Cities, Digital Health, and Intelligent Government. Fast-paced, inspirational stories of how applied research is delivering ethical, real-world solutions.

SPEAKERS

prof. Desislava Petrova-Antonova, Research Lead Future Cities Domain, GATE Institute
George Petkov, Research Lead Digital Health Domain, GATE Institute
Keith Peter Kiely, Research Leader, Intelligent Government Domain, GATE Institute

13:30 - 15:00

Networking Lunch & Demo Zone

Extended lunch with time to visit demo areas and booths.

15:00 - 16:00

Panel 3 – Data Sharing as an Engine for Innovation

Exploring operational data spaces, sovereignty, and trust as enablers of AI and cross-sector collaboration.

SPEAKERS

Prof. Sylvia Ilieva, Director GATE Institute
Antoine Garnier, Senior Project Manager at International Data Spaces Association

Olaf-Gerd Gemein, Business Architect GreenEarthX, Innovation Agent, Funding Expert
Prof. Noboru Koshizuka, University of Tokyo
Ivan Goychev, Deputy Mayor Digitalization and Innovation of Sofia city
Deyan Georgiev, Deputy CEO of Vestitel

16:10 - 17:10

Panel 4 – Business-Driven Innovation: From Data to Market Impact

Special Keynote by Stefan Dobrev, Chairperson of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Governing Board & Executive Committee -”The Role of the Collaborative Innovation in Competitiveness”

Panel Discussion – How businesses can harness data ecosystems, compliance-ready innovation, and applied research for growth. Featuring corporate partners, startups, investors, and success stories from GATE’s EU projects.

SPEAKERS

Moderator: Yoana Koleva, Business Development Consultant, GATE Institute

Nikolay Lazarov, Ph.D. EMBA, Head of Marketing Communications and Analytics – Bulgaria, Borica
Lyubomir Filipov, Director Strategic Parnerships and Regulation,Veolia
Diana Aladzhova, Partner at Silverline Capital & Founder at CFO Insights

17:15 - 17:30

Closing

Closing remarks by Prof. Sylvia Ilieva

17:30 - 19:30

Cocktail & Demo Zone

Media partners

Register here

UpToGATE 2025: New Horizons is the flagship event of the GATE Institute at Sofia University. This year’s event is a forward-looking journey through the evolving intersection of big data, artificial intelligence, policy, and human-centered innovation.

27 November, 2025

5 James Bourchier Blvd., Sofia

GATE develops research capacity and potential in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, cultivating the next generation of leading scientists by expanding the existing research network and establishing long-term agreements with leading global organizations.

5 James Bourchier Blvd.

1164 Sofia, Bulgaria

contact@gate-ai.eu

Funding

The Project “Big Data for Smart Society” (GATE) is funded by Horizon 2020 Teaming programme and Operational Programme “Research, Innovation and Digitalisation for Intelligent Transformation“ 2021-2027 y., co-funded by the European Union

New Horizons

What to expect

Inspire – Future-first thinking

Frame – AI-Empowered Innovation: Shaping Policy, Society, and Implementation

Apply – Human-Centric Research at GATE

Scale – Business-Driven Innovation

Connect – Data Sharing as a Catalyst

Key Themes

Reasons to attend

Speakers

prof. Noboru Koshizuka

Stefan Dobrev

prof. Sylvia Ilieva

prof. Desislava Petrova-Antonova

Keith Peter Kiely

George Petkov

Ivo Emanuilov

Yordanka Ivanova

Michela Magas

Cristina Boca

Marcin Olender

Antoine Garnier

Olaf-Gerd Gemein

Ivan Goychev

Deyan Georgiev

Nikolay Lazarov, Ph.D. EMBA

Lyubomir Filipov

Diana Aladzhova

Yoana Koleva

Agenda

Special Keynote by Stefan Dobrev, Chairperson of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Governing Board & Executive Committee -”The Role of the Collaborative Innovation in Competitiveness”

Media partners

Register here