Collaborative projects are driven by scientific interest and prospects for innovations and are funded by a national or EU programmes. The projects are executed jointly by GATE and other collaborating organizations. The results are shared by GATE and the participating organizations.

Contract research is carried out in commercial R&D projects for developing new technologies. The projects, including any results and IP, are funded and owned by a GATE member or another stakeholder and are carried out jointly with the GATE Institute. GATE also offers on a consultancy basis projects for developing Big Data business value.

GATE creates unique multidisciplinary curricula for Data scientist and professionals, coupling research and domain knowledge.

GATE builds an international ecosystem of collaborators and stakeholders mainly in Bulgaria and EU. GATE aims to create a steadily expanding research network based on long-term framework agreements with top research institutions worldwide, complementarity and competitive collaboration with EU strategic initiatives and integration with advanced EU infrastructures. The stakeholders reflect the opportunities and potential impact of Big Data technology and GATE research and innovation focus. GATE 3-tier membership scheme supports the development and functioning of the ecosystem through packaging combinations of services and activities. It allows stakeholders to participate in the GATE activities and to have privileged access to the Labs, GATE Data Hub and Factory.

GATE aims to create spin-outs as part of the commercialization process, by pursuing two routes: startups specialized in certain technological area and legally/financially connected to the Institute, and joint ventures as a result from a specific joint project, with the profit to be shared with a third party.