The Rector Signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Institute of Robotics at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences for Collaboration in the Field of Security and Defence

The Centre of Competence - Digitizing the Economy in a Big Data Environment will also participate in this collaboration. UNWE and IR-BAS will partner with joint activities and projects in the field of scientific surveys focused on security and defence, research and development, including in the field of cybersecurity.

Acad. Chavdar Rumenin, the Rector Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov and Prof. Siya Lozanova /from the left to the right/

The Rector Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov pointed out that the artificial intelligence development has led to big changes for universities, he outlined that "in today's world everything is interdisciplinary and common actions are necessary not only at national level but also beyond the state borders, including for European projects and programmes". He gave examples of the connectivity required by the changes taking place and pointed out that in the European alliance ENGAGE.EU, whose member is also the UNWE together with other economic universities, the themes of digitalization, artificial intelligence, virtual campus, concepts that go beyond pure economics are covered because the borders expand.

The Rector said that the humanoid robot, which is available at the UNWE, was very useful for the prospective student campaign, giving feedback to thousands of high school graduates. "This collaboration will help develop innovative solutions which are essential for today's challenges to the information society."

Prof. Dimitrov added that the UNWE is also a member of the National Competence Centre within EuroHPC JU Phase 2. The EuroCC2 project objectives include developing in the most efficient way a network of national competence centres within all European countries in the field of HPC+ and artificial intelligence technologies. The ambitious objective at European level is to build up a capacity of technologies and competences to be made available as up-to-date services to support business, public administration and academia.

Prof. Dimitrov expressed his conviction that this Memorandum would expand the cooperation between the institutions precisely for the benefit of the development of opportunities for research and development of applied solutions.

"The Memorandum of Cooperation is a step in the right direction", said the Deputy Director of the Institute of Robotics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences /IR-BAS/ Prof. Dr. Siya Lozanova. "The agreement is within the framework of the integration of your university and the Institute of Robotics at BAS. It is a natural pattern for academic structures. On the one hand, we will use the databases of the European Union and it will increase the benefits of this contract. On the other hand, the collaboration and integration of our two units, linked to laboratories and universities in Europe, is a good approach for solving specific problems in the country as well. I am convinced that this memorandum of cooperation will give beneficial results very soon", added Prof. Siya Lozanova.

"I would like to thank you and your team for responding to a common desire to bring your and our potential to new dimensions", said Acad. Chavdar Rumenin, Director of QUASAR Center. "The Center of Competence - Digitizing the Economy in a Big Data Environment is much more flexible than other structures where there are also supercomputers but with you they are differentiated and can solve more tasks in less time. Our center is focused mostly on communication and protecting data from cyberattacks. You are the specialists in producing, storing and sending the relevant data where it should go - ministries, medical structures and others. This collaboration will help to develop innovative solutions which are essential for today's information society challenges."

The event was attended by the Head of the DIGD project Prof. D.Sc. /Econ./ Kiril Stoychev, Assistant Rector, Prof. D.Sc. /Econ./ Valentin Kisimov, Deputy Head and Chief Coordinator of the DIGD project, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lachezar Georgiev, Scientific Head of QUASAR and National Coordinator of the EuroQCI initiative and Mr. Vladimir Raynov from the Enterprise Communications Group.

Mr. Vladimir Raynov, Acad. Chavdar Rumenin, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lachezar Georgiev, the Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Prof. Dr. Siya Lozanova, Prof. D.Sc. /Econ./ Prof. Valentin Kisimov, Prof. D.Sc. /Econ./ Kiril Stoychev /from the left to the right/

Both centers of competence will collaborate within the European EuroQCI initiative which is coordinated in Bulgaria by the Institute of Robotics at BAS. A network will be established between several ministries in Bulgaria - the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Transport which will be secured with quantum cryptography. On the other hand, the UNWE will develop market analyses in relation to the economic risks and consequences of potential cyberattacks. This strategic collaboration will help develop innovative solutions and contributions in the field of cyber security.