Thematic Seminar on the National Scientific Programme - Security and Defence

First Thematic Workshop under WP /Work Package/ 2.2 Standards and Innovations of the National Scientific Programme - Security and Defence was held at the UNWE on 9 May 2023.

The Programme is approved by a Decision of the Council of Ministers on 21 October 2021 and it is in implementation of the National Strategy for the Scientific Research Development 2017-2030 aiming to enhance the national scientific capacity in the field of security and defence.

UNWE is a partner of the Programme which is implemented jointly with Prof. Tsvetan Lazarov Institute of Defence, University of Library Studies and Information Technologies, G. S. Rakovsky Military Academy, Centre for National Security and Defence Studies at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Academy of the Ministry of Interior, N. Y. Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Vasil Levsky National Military University and G. Benkovsky Military Air Force Academy.

The Head of WP 2.2 Standards and Innovations is the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and the event was attended by representatives of all partners of the Programme.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noncho Dimitrov, Vice Dean for Quality and International Cooperation of the Economics of Infrastructure Faculty and Scientific Secretary of the National and Regional Security Department, welcomed the attendees on behalf of the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, outlining: "The objective of the National Scientific Programme - Security and Defence is to establish fundamental research in the field of security and cybersecurity that will support both professors and PhD students in the field of security. The programme will lead to increased publication activity, the creation of advanced management and operational models and the development of active relations between the research organizations and the state universities". Higher education institutions and scientific organizations will be able to jointly train PhD students and do interdisciplinary research, said Assoc. Prof. Dimitrov. He reported that the interest of the business in the Programme is very high and the development of modern systems and technologies for information protection as well as a more secure environment for virtual communication is foreseen.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noncho Dimitrov and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgy Pavlov, lecturer at the National and Regional Security Department /in the middle from the left to the right/

The workshop continued with presentation of the results achieved under the WP 2.2 Standards and Innovation tasks. The event was held in hybrid format, some of the participants joined online.

In the frameworks of the Programme Prof. Dr. Tsonka Baycheva from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences /BAS/ presented the results of Task 2.2.1 Modern Information Protection Techniques, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgy Pavlov from the National and Regional Security Department presented the progress on Tasks 2.2.2 and 2.2.3 on the topics: Creation of a Prototype of a User Authentication System for Secure Information Systems Based on a Brain-Computer Interface / Design and Prototype of an Innovative Hybrid Cyber Security and Cyber Defence System with Innovative Monitoring, Prevention and Detection Functions for Data Flow in Digital Configurations which will start in the 13^th month of the Programme but the preparations for their activities have started.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolay Mitev from the University of Library Studies and Information Technology presented the progress on Task 2.2.4 Analysis of Standards and Design of a Classification Model and Taxonomy of Modern Cyberattacks and Cyber Incidents and Task 2.2.6 Analysis and Development of Standardized Procedures, Methods, Technologies and Techniques for Cyber Intelligence".

Chief expert Lilia Simeonova from the Academy of the Ministry of Interior presented the Task 2.2.5 Analysis of Innovative Models and Algorithms for the Use of Large Data Sets /Big Data/ in Digital Forensics for the Prevention and Avoidance of High-Tech Criminal Attacks on the Security of the State".

The workshop provided an opportunity for the participants in the Tasks included in WP 2.2 Standards and Innovations to summarise the achievements at the end of the first phase of the National Scientific Programme - Security and Defence. The results obtained are extremely useful for business and will create a relation between the scientific environment and business.