Prof. Desislava Petrova-Antonova, Research lead of the Future Cities application domain at GATE Institute, was the keynote speaker at the Future Cities Forum Bulgaria X City forum, dedicated to innovations and technologies that transform the urban environment. The prestigious event, organized by Internet Media Group, brought together over 50 municipalities, business representatives and experts in the field of sustainable development.
During the two-day conference, held on 28 – 29 November 2024 in Plovdiv, the participants discussed the latest trends and successful practices for building smart and sustainable cities. Special attention was paid to the financing opportunities for municipalities, and the FLAG Fund was also presented.
In her presentation about the global trends for implementing the Future Cities, Prof. Petrova-Antonova shared her vision for the future of cities, focusing on two key global trends—city digital twins and data spaces. She presented the GATE Institute’s experience in developing modern technological solutions that support sustainable urban development and the creation of new business models. The examples included innovative approaches that transform cities into better places to live.
The Future Cities Forum Bulgaria X City once again proved the importance of the partnership between local authorities, business and the academic community for the construction of modern, sustainable and smart cities in Bulgaria.