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

Speaker 1

Sylvia Ilieva

Director, GATE Institute

Speaker 1

Stefan Weiers

DG RTD, EC

Speaker 1

Gergana Grozdanova

Ministry of Innovation and Growth

Speaker 4

Edward Curry

Vice President, BDVA

Speaker 4

Golaleh Ebrahimpur

CEO Chalmers Industriteknik

Speaker 4

Jan Bosch

Professor, Chalmers University of Technology

Speaker 4

Jeroen Borst

Research lead, Mobility and Built Environment Unit of TNO

Speaker 9

Paolo Cesarini

Program Director EDMO and EMIF, EUI

Speaker 9

Paula Gori

Secretary-General and Coordinator, EDMO

Speaker 3

Richard Stevens

Associate Vice President, IDC

Speaker 3

Anders Logg

Professor, Chalmers University

Speaker 5

Dessislava Petrova-Antonova

Professor, GATE Institute

Speaker 4

Bernd Ketzler

Scientific coordinator, DTCC

Speaker 4

Dimitrios G. Katehakis

Head of FORTH and Director of HDHC

Speaker 4

Jonathan Converse

Project Leader, Chalmers Industriteknik

Speaker 6

Graham Kemp

Professor, Chalmers University

Speaker 7

Mila Koeva

Associate Professor, The Unievrsity of Twente

Speaker 2

Irena Pavlova

Manager, GATE Institute

Speaker 2

Jordan Kane

Principal, BioCommercialisation Services

Speaker 2

Fredrik Florberger

Founder & CEO, Viable Solutions

Speaker 2

Deeph Chana

Managing Director, NATO DIANA

Speaker 2

Velizar Shalamanov

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Speaker 2

Vladimir Petkov

Chief Data Officer at Updata One, CEO at Identrics

Speaker 2

Todor Breshkov

LAUNCHub Ventures

Speaker 2

Kostadin Lazarov

NATO CoE for Crisis Management and Disaster Response

Speaker 2

Borislav Genov

Defence Institute of Bulgaria

Speaker 2

Ahmed Ouaddani

Manager, mobilityXlab

Speaker 2

Karel Kral

CEO, Electrohold Group Bulgaria

Speaker 2

Georgi Petkov

Digital Health Lead, GATE Institute

Speaker 8

Todor Galev

Director of Research, CSD

Speaker 9

Kalina Bontcheva

Professor, University of Sheffield

Speaker 9

Madalina Botan

Associate Professor, SNSPA

Speaker 9

Maria Miteva

Executive producer, BNT

Speaker 9

Keith Peter Kiely

Experienced Researcher, GATE Institute

Urban digital twins cook stories for sustainable cities

Here are our speakers of the workshop

Speaker 9

Vasilis Naserentin

Lead software architect, DTCC, Chalmers University

Speaker 9

Lidia Vitanova

Experienced Researcher, GATE Institute

Speaker 9

Mariya Pantusheva

Experienced Researcher, GATE Institute

Speaker 9

Peter Hristov

Experienced Researcher, GATE Institute

Speaker 9

Viktor Sowinski-Mydlarz

Research fellow, London Metropolitan University

Speaker 9

Pawel Gasiorowski

Research fellow, London Metropolitan University

Speaker 9

Kiril Angelov

Technical Lead, Fluid Codes

Speaker 9

Kaloyan Karamitov

City Living Lab Manager, GATE Institute

Speaker 9

Radostin Mitkov

Junior Researcher, GATE Institute

Speaker 9

Emil Hristov

Junior Researcher, GATE Institute

Speaker 9

Stefan Peev

Junior Researcher, GATE Institute

Speaker 9

Angel Spasov

Junior Researcher, GATE Institute

Speaker 9

Simeon Malinov

Junior Researcher, GATE Institute

Speaker 9

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.
  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Hotels

Here are some recomended hotels

Hotel 1

Grand Hotel Sofia

2.4 kilometers from the Venue