About The Forum
The third GATE Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Forum (BDAIF2023) aims to present GATE’s achievements in the context of the recent developments in these cutting-edge technologies in Europe and worldwide. The focus of this year’s event are data spaces and how they support research innovations in GATE targeted application domains: Future Cities, Digital Health and Intelligent Government. Combined with the opening of the GATE’s new building, the forum will demonstrate how modern infrastructure enables technology development and innovation.
Organized jointly by GATE Institute, Bulgaria and Chalmers University of Technology and Chalmers Industriteknik, Sweden, this year’s edition of BDAIF will take place on the 5th and 6th of December 2023, in Sofia. It will bring together the GATE ecosystem offering opportunities for exchange of ideas and networking, and encouraging future collaborations.
Where
5 James Bourchier Blvd., Sofia
When
Tuesday to Wednesday
5-6 December
Keynotes and Panel Speakers
Here are our keynotes and speakers
Sylvia Ilieva
Director, GATE Institute
Stefan Weiers
DG RTD, EC
Gergana Grozdanova
Ministry of Innovation and Growth
Edward Curry
Vice President, BDVA
Golaleh Ebrahimpur
CEO Chalmers Industriteknik
Jan Bosch
Professor, Chalmers University of Technology
Jeroen Borst
Research lead, Mobility and Built Environment Unit of TNO
Paolo Cesarini
Program Director EDMO and EMIF, EUI
Paula Gori
Secretary-General and Coordinator, EDMO
Richard Stevens
Associate Vice President, IDC
Anders Logg
Professor, Chalmers University
Dessislava Petrova-Antonova
Professor, GATE Institute
Bernd Ketzler
Scientific coordinator, DTCC
Dimitrios G. Katehakis
Head of FORTH and Director of HDHC
Jonathan Converse
Project Leader, Chalmers Industriteknik
Graham Kemp
Professor, Chalmers University
Mila Koeva
Associate Professor, The Unievrsity of Twente
Irena Pavlova
Manager, GATE Institute
Jordan Kane
Principal, BioCommercialisation Services
Fredrik Florberger
Founder & CEO, Viable Solutions
Deeph Chana
Managing Director, NATO DIANA
Velizar Shalamanov
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Vladimir Petkov
Chief Data Officer at Updata One, CEO at Identrics
Todor Breshkov
LAUNCHub Ventures
Kostadin Lazarov
NATO CoE for Crisis Management and Disaster Response
Borislav Genov
Defence Institute of Bulgaria
Ahmed Ouaddani
Manager, mobilityXlab
Karel Kral
CEO, Electrohold Group Bulgaria
Georgi Petkov
Digital Health Lead, GATE Institute
Todor Galev
Director of Research, CSD
Kalina Bontcheva
Professor, University of Sheffield
Madalina Botan
Associate Professor, SNSPA
Maria Miteva
Executive producer, BNT
Keith Peter Kiely
Experienced Researcher, GATE Institute
Urban digital twins cook stories for sustainable cities
Here are our speakers of the workshop
Vasilis Naserentin
Lead software architect, DTCC, Chalmers University
Lidia Vitanova
Experienced Researcher, GATE Institute
Mariya Pantusheva
Experienced Researcher, GATE Institute
Peter Hristov
Experienced Researcher, GATE Institute
Viktor Sowinski-Mydlarz
Research fellow, London Metropolitan University
Pawel Gasiorowski
Research fellow, London Metropolitan University
Kiril Angelov
Technical Lead, Fluid Codes
Kaloyan Karamitov
City Living Lab Manager, GATE Institute
Radostin Mitkov
Junior Researcher, GATE Institute
Emil Hristov
Junior Researcher, GATE Institute
Stefan Peev
Junior Researcher, GATE Institute
Angel Spasov
Junior Researcher, GATE Institute
Simeon Malinov
Junior Researcher, GATE Institute
Stanimira Nikolova
Junior Researcher, GATE Institute
Event Schedule
The Urban Digital Twin workshop will be held on the 6th of December in parallel with Sessions 2, 3 and 4.
The program is subject of change.
REGISTRATION
OPENING UNVEILING OF THE NEW BUILDING
Welcome Speech
- Prof. Sylvia Ilieva, Director of GATE Institute
Dignitaries Addressing
- Prof. Nikolai D. Denkov, Ph.D., D.Sc., Prime Minister of Bulgaria
- Mariya Gabriel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
- Konstantin Pavlov, Mayor of District Lozenets, Sofia Municipality
- Prof. Georgi Valchev, Rector of Sofia University
- Prof. Anastas Gerdjikov, Chairman of GATE Executive Board
- Stefan Weiers, Deputy Head of Unit Directorate General for Research and Innovation, EC
- Marina Kirova, Deputy Head of European Commission Representation in Bulgaria and European Semester Officer
- Prof. Georgi Vayssilov, Executive Director of Executive Agency "Programme Education"
- Golaleh Ebrahimpur, CEO. Chalmers Industriteknik
GATE NEW BUILDING OPENING CEREMONY
GATE NEW BUILDING TOUR
COCKTAIL
INSPIRATIONAL SPEECHES DATA, AI AND DATA SPACES
Speakers:
- Prof. Edward Curry, Vice President of the Big Data Value Association
- Gergana Grozdanova, Ministry of Innovation and Growth
- Sylvia Ilieva, Director of GATE Institute
- Jan Bosch, Professor at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
- Richard Stevens, Associate Vice President and director of the Government Consulting unit at IDC
- Paolo Cesarini, Program Director EDMO and EMIF at EUI
BREAK
PANEL SESSION UNLOCKING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: HARNESSING THE POWER OF DATA AND AI TO ENABLE SMARTER INDUSTRY
Moderator: Jonathan Converse, Chalmers Industriteknik, Sweden
- Jordan Kane, Genomic & Precision Medicine, Principal at BioCommercialisation Services
- Fredrik Florberger, Founder & CEO, Viable Solutions, Sweden
- Ahmed Ouaddani, Sustainable Mobility Innovation Manager @ mobilityXlab
- Karel Kral, CEO Electrohold Group Bulgaria
CLOSING
REMARKS AND WRAP-UP
SESSION 1 SHAPING THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE CITIES WITH URBAN DIGITAL TWINS AND AI
Keynote: Jeroen Borst, Mobility and Built Environment of TNO, The Netherlands
Moderator: Bernd Ketzler, Chalmers Industriteknik & DTCC, Sweden
Speakers:
- Dessislava Petrova-Antonova, GATE Institute, Bulgaria
- Mila Koeva, University of Twente, The Netherlands
- Anders Logg, Chalmers University of Technology & DTCC, Sweden
BREAK
SESSION 2 THE DATA & INNOVATION POWER FOR LONG-LIFE HEALTHY LIVING!
Moderator: Graham Kemp, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
Speakers:
- Dimitrios G. Katehakis, Head, Center for eHealth Applications and Services, Institute of Computer Science, FORTH & Director, Hellenic Digital Health Cluster
- Jordan Kane, Genomic & Precision Medicine, Principal at BioCommercialisation Services
- Irena Pavlova, GATE Institute, Bulgaria
- George Petkov, GATE Institute, Bulgaria
LUNCH
SESSION 3 EVALUATING THE CODE OF PRACTICE (COP) ON DISINFORMATION IN BULGARIA AND ROMANIA - MEASURING COMPLIANCE, MAPPING CHALLENGES AND SETTING EXPECTATIONS
Keynote: Paolo Cesarini, Programme Director for EDMO and EMIF
Moderator: Keith Kiely, GATE Institute
Speakers:
- Kalina Bontcheva, GATE Institute, Bulgaria & University of Sheffield, UK
- Paula Gori, EDMO, Italy
- Todor Galev, Center for the Study of Democracy, Bulgaria
- Madalina Botan, SNSPA, Romania
- Maria Koleva, BNT, Bulgaria
BREAK
SESSION 4 TAKING ADVANTAGE OF DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DEFENCE AND RESILIENCE
Keynote: Professor Deeph Chana, Managing Director, NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA)
Moderator: Velizar Shalamanov, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Speakers:
- Col. Borislav Genov, PhD, Defence Institute of Bulgaria
- Vladimir Petkov, Chief Data Officer at Updata One, CEO at Identrics
- Todor Breshkov, LAUNCHub Ventures
- Col. Kostadin Lazarov, NATO Centre of Excellence for Crisis Management and Disaster Response
- Fredrik Florberger, Founder & CEO, Viable Solutions, Sweden
CLOSING
REMARKS AND WRAP-UP
TRACK 1 Digital Twins for Urban Sustainability and Resilience
Moderator: Simeon Malinov, GATE Institute, Bulgaria
Speakers:
- Peter O. Hristov, Spatial-Temporal Air Quality Analysis, GATE Institute, Bulgaria
- Lidia Vitanova, Urban Heat Islands: A case study of Sofia city, GATE Institute, Bulgaria
- Mariya Pantusheva and Radostin Mitkov, Urban Dynamics Unleashed: Exploring CFD Applications for Smart Cities, GATE Institute, Bulgaria
- Viktor Sowinski-Mydlarz, Air Quality Visualization Using Cesium Ion, London Metropolitan University
LUNCH
TRACK 2 AI-enabled Urban Digital Twins
Moderator: Vasilis Naserentin, Chalmers University of Technology & DTCC, Sweden
Speakers:
- Pawel Gasiorovski, Towards building structural analysis by leveraging LIDAR data processing for progressive 3D model reconstruction, London Metropolitan University, UK
- Angel Spasov, Deep Learning Models for Building Rooftop Classification
- Stefan Peev, AI-based Satellite Monitoring and Control of Critical Infrastructure, GATE Institute, Bulgaria
BREAK
TRACK 3 Designing Liveable Urban Spaces with Digital Twins
Moderator: Emil Hristov, GATE Institute, Bulgaria
Speakers:
- Kiril Angelov, Simulation based Digital Twins by ANSYS, Fluid Codes, Bulgaria
- Kaloyan Karamitov, Supply-Demand Analysis of Socia Amenities, GATE Institute, Bulgaria
- Stanimira Nikolova, 15-Min Walkable Cities, GATE Institute, Bulgaria
CLOSING
REMARKS AND WRAP-UP
ABOUT PANEL SESSIONS AND WORKSHOP
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INSPIRATIONAL SPEECHES: DATA, AI AND DATA SPACES
The value of data and artificial intelligence (AI) for Europe and the world is immense and fosters new realms of collaboration. Through inspirational speeches this panel aims to demonstrate how Data and Data Spaces in particular are a catalyst for digital transformation that drives innovation, economic growth, and societal progress. From enhancing healthcare and environmental sustainability to improving urban decision-making and mobility, and preventing disinformation, they are fostering social impact with far-reaching effect. Additionally, our renewed speakers will reveal how the infusion of empowered by data AI unlocks immerse possibilities for innovative digital features and advanced services, reshaping industries and contributing to jobs creation and skills. Emphasis will be put also on how by sharing knowledge, best practices, and standards, the global and EU community can collectively address ethical, legal, and societal implications, fostering responsible AI development.
Embracing data and AI enables nations and regions, particularly Europe, to gain a competitive edge, positioning themselves as leaders in the digital era.
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PANEL SESSION: UNLOCKING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: HARNESSING THE POWER OF DATA AND AI TO ENABLE SMARTER INDUSTRY
The panel explores the transformative impact of data and artificial intelligence on industrial sectors. The discussion encompasses leveraging these technologies for informed decision-making, operational efficiency, innovation, customer experience enhancement, supply chain optimization, and navigating challenges such as ethical considerations and regulatory compliance. The exploration also extends to analyzing the evolving competitive landscape, emphasizing the role of data and AI in shaping smarter, more agile industries positioned for future success.
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PANEL SESSION: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE CITIES WITH URBAN DIGITAL TWINS AND AI
In the quest for sustainable and smart urban development, the fusion of Urban Digital Twins (UDTs) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a game-changing paradigm. This panel session invites you to embark on a journey into the future of cities, where UDTs are central to creating smarter, more resilient, and environmentally conscious urban surroundings. It delves into the dynamic interplay between UDTs and AI, exploring how these innovative technologies revolutionise planning, designing, and managing our cities.
Key Discussion Points:
- UDTs: Bridging the Physical and Digital Worlds: Understand the concept of Urban Digital Twins and how they create digital replicas of cities, reflecting real-time data from sensors, infrastructure, and citizens.
- AI-Driven Insights for Urban Governance: Discover how AI-powered analytics can extract actionable insights from UDT data. Discuss case studies where AI has optimised urban governance, e.g., traffic management, energy consumption, and urban planning.
- Scaling UDTs Globally: Examine how UDTs can be scaled to different cities worldwide. Discuss challenges related to data standards, interoperability, and adapting UDTs to varying urban contexts.
- Public-Private Collaboration: Highlight the importance of collaboration between governments, private sectors, academia, and citizens in harnessing the full potential of UDTs. Discuss successful models of partnership.
- Future Directions: Envision the future of urban development with UDTs and AI at its core. Explore their hidden potential in fostering better urban planning and decision-making.
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PANEL SESSION: TAKING ADVANTAGE OF DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DEFENCE AND RESILIENCE
The panel will engage in a comprehensive exploration of the technological disruptions across all established domains of operations as well as the physical, virtual, and cognitive dimensions. The discussion will highlight the importance of identifying and assessing the role of disruptive innovation not just as a threat but also as a catalyst for improved defence and resilience posture.
The panel will focus on how to take advantage of emerging and disruptive technologies and their potential for supporting secure information-sharing, enhancing energy resilience, boosting human health and decision-making, providing better surveillance of critical infrastructure, etc.
The panel members are invited to provide different viewpoints on the subject, i.e. from the point of view of a defence expert; industry leader representative; an investor and an entrepreneur; etc.
The panel will also discuss the challenges, associated with taking advantage of new dual-use disruptive technologies by providing example initiatives at the national, NATO and EU levels, including but not limited to DIANA. The panel members are encouraged to outline concrete steps for further cross-sectoral cooperation to sharpen the Euro-Atlantic defence and resilience.
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PANEL SESSION: EVALUATING THE CODE OF PRACTICE (COP) ON DISINFORMATION IN BULGARIA AND ROMANIA - MEASURING COMPLIANCE, MAPPING CHALLENGES AND SETTING EXPECTATIONS
The panel engages in a comprehensive exploration of the important efforts at evaluating VLOSE and VLOPs efforts to comply with the Code of Practice on Disinformation. Beginning with two original pieces of work done by GATE and the Bulgarian Romanian Observatory on Digital Media (BROD) in evaluating compliance with the Code. Speakers from GATE and the BROD team will present their findings. Further, the panel will consider the wider European context with experts from the EC and EDMO highlighting the current and evolving practices for evaluating the implementation of the CoP, including developing methodologies. This panel also discusses the challenges and benefits associated with implementing the code, on both local and European levels, and how this relates to the Digital Services Act. Panellists will offer a snapshot of the future direction of evaluating compliance with the code and discussing the importance of EDMO hub collaboration and dialogue with policymakers and platforms to address this issue effectively.
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PANEL SESSION: THE DATA & INNOVATION POWER FOR LONG-LIFE HEALTHY LIVING
A major challenge to the healthcare sector, including policy-making is the insufficient sources of digitized data for customised, evidence-based policy planning and healthcare provision. Better data and statistics help track progress, strengthen accountability and support evidence-based decisions. A data revolution is needed in order to draw on existing and new sources of data to fully integrate these into quality healthcare and decision making — to promote open access to, and use of, data and ensure increased support from all involved stakeholders.
The holistic vision for healthcare data driven digital transformation calls for active involvement of all stakeholders - clinicians, researchers, innovators and policy makers. In the panel we will engage representatives of these to discuss how data and data sharing transforms the healthcare by leading on one hand to new in-depth knowledge about the mechanisms of diseases and their treatment options, and providing for on the other hand, the creation of innovative and secure digital solutions that underpin the delivery of sustainable healthcare services. And allof these enabled by supportive polices, regulations and investment mechanisms at national, regional and EU level.
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WORKSHOP: URBAN DIGITAL TWINS COOK STORIES FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES
Urban Digital Twins (UDTs) have emerged as powerful tools in pursuing sustainable urban development. This engaging workshop provides a deep dive into the world of Urban Digital Twins (UDTs), a revolutionary technology that promises to reshape the future of our cities. It unveils their incredible potential through a lens of real-world use cases inspired by rapid urbanisation, climate change and resource management. Participants included urban planners, architects, data scientists, and technology enthusiasts, all united by a common goal: to explore and harness the power of UDTs to overcome the challenges faced by the cities of tomorrow.
Key Discussion Points:
- Understanding Urban Digital Twins: Explore the fundamentals of UDTs and how they create virtual representations of physical cities. Learn how these dynamic digital twins continuously evolve and mirror real-world changes.
- Sustainability at the Core: Discuss how UDTs are pivotal in achieving city sustainable goals. Explore their role in reducing air pollution and fostering an eco-friendly urban environment.
- Designing Liveable Urban Spaces: Explore how UDTs aid in designing cities prioritising quality of life. Discuss the creation of 15-minute walkable cities and pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods.
- Climate Resilience: Examine how UDTs contribute to climate resilience. Learn how they enable cities to simulate and prepare for climate change impacts, such as extreme weather events and rising temperatures.
Media Partners
Event Venue
Event venue location info
GATE Institute, Sofia
The forum will be held in the new building of GATE Institute located in the heart of Sofia city, close to the Vitosha mountain.
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