The Big Data for Smart Society Institute (GATE) is a purpose-build institute established in 2019 as a structure of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
GATE is the heart of the fastest-growing Big Data ecosystem in Europe.
GATE is complementary to and equal among the top Big Data centres in Europe.
The mission of GATE is to conduct Big Data and AI applied research, to develop innovations and provide education in collaboration with government, industry and entrepreneurs. Based on this, it will generate well educated professionals, new business opportunities and societal impact in Bulgaria and Europe.
We develop advanced research with minimum constraints and maximum initiative, integrated and interoperable with strategic national and EU infrastructures.
We seek to meet the need for ecological, social and economic sustainability in a committed, innovative and pioneering way.
We enhance the innovation potential of the Institute through University-Government-Industry-Society collaboration based on trust between the stakeholders.
We address and work on issues of societal importance.
We are committed to open science and open access to knowledge and research.
We aim to become a global competitive ecosystem for Big Data and Artificial Intelligence research and innovation.
We strengthen the human potential of scientists and technology developers in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence.
The ultimate goal of the Institute is to create a European ecosystem that will serve as a bridge between the scientific community and industry.
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. At the same time, the Institute builds sustainable stakeholder relationships, focusing on technological collaboration between government, industry, academia and non-governmental organizations towards Artificial Intelligence and smart decision-making models.
GATE is a joint initiative between Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden – a European institution with broad experience in research, education and innovation in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Chalmers Industrial Technology, Sweden – a leader in innovation management, university-industry collaboration and technology transfer. The Swedish institutions are leading organizations in strategic initiatives such as AI Sweden, AI Research Centre, AI Innovation of Sweden and the Digital Twin Cities Centre.
Our strategic partners that committed resources to GATE are SAP Labs – Bulgaria, Bosch, Ontotext and Rila Solutions. Joint projects will be developed and implemented in collaboration with Sofia Municipality, Sofproect, Ministry of Education and Science, and other stakeholders.
“The last 10 years have been about building a world that is mobile-first. But in the next 10 years, we will shift to a world that is AI-first”(Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google)
GATE performs research and innovation within an area of substantial business interest and investments.
GATE research and innovation is organized into four strategic application areas – Future Cities, Intelligent Government, Smart Industry and Digital Health. These are listed in the Smart Specialization Strategy of Bulgaria as socially significant sectors in which Big Data and Artificial Intelligence combine the efforts of researchers, entrepreneurs, politicians, business organizations and citizens to build a knowledge-based economy and society.
GATE’s research includes four major cutting edge technology focuses on Artificial Intelligence and smart data-driven decision-making models – Data Visualization, Data Analysis and Data Management as well as Engineering of Big Data-Based Systems.