GATE Institute was awarded the prestigious Silver i-Space Label award for the development of an innovation space, awarded by the European Big Data Value Association (BDVA).
The award was officially presented to the GATE Institute Director at a special ceremony at the BDVA European Forum in Budapest on October 2, 2024. It reinforces GATE’s role as a key enabler in the development and promotion of innovation in big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies at both national and European level.
With this award, BDVA honors hubs that support data-driven innovation and AI development across Europe. Each year, candidate hubs are evaluated based on criteria such as provision of high-tech infrastructure, scope and innovation of the services offered, participation in international projects, including coordination, and overall impact on the data ecosystem. Hubs are classified into five categories — start-up, bronze, silver, gold and platinum — depending on their degree of maturity and potential to drive innovation.
“The Silver i-Space award is a recognition of quality and trust that establishes GATE as a leading center for research excellence and innovation. It highlights our commitment to using data to solve complex problems and support informed decision-making in various application areas,” said Prof. Silvia Ilieva, Director of the Institute. “For us, this distinction is not only an achievement, it is a responsibility. We believe that the GATE Innovation Space (GATE i-Space) will support the implementation of projects with high social and economic impact that are aimed at addressing global societal challenges, support smart industries and contribute to sustainable development,” she added.
“Although GATE is a young organization, with your first application you have already achieved the medium, silver level of development of the Innovation Space. Continue to build on your achievements, we are waiting for you in the gold and platinum level,” emphasized Thomas Hahn, the president of the BDVA, when presenting the award.
GATE i-Space was created to support the development and implementation of high-tech solutions based on big data and artificial intelligence, and to provide resources and services to external users and third parties. It enables easy and rapid prototyping, validation and experimentation in real-world environments, demonstrating the value of technology and data in a variety of scenarios. It supports SMEs from traditional sectors for experimentation and demonstration, as well as innovative start-ups that use the data space for their development and pre-investment activities. The main services of GATE i-Space are based on a high-tech infrastructure, integrating a palette of software tools and a data platform that cover the entire life cycle of data (collection and structuring, processing, analysis and visualization) and three innovation laboratories – a city living laboratory, digital twins lab and visualization lab. Among the additional services are training programs to increase competence and expertise in the field of data, technical support and consulting for the development of new business models and data management, as well as initiatives for joint projects with business and public administration.
GATE i-Space aims to promote data-driven innovation in Bulgaria and Europe. It is also a major driving force in national and international initiatives related to the creation of data spaces in the field of mobility, healthcare and urban development.
With its Silver i-Space status, GATE i-Space cements its key role in realizing Europe’s data-driven digital future.