During a special event, the team of GATE Institute, together with Prof. Nikolay Denkov, Minister of Education and Science, Prof. Anastas Gerdjikov, Rector of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski ” and Mr Konstantin Pavlov, Mayor of Lozenets district laid the foundations of the new building of the institute. A special live address to the event was made by Dr Manuel Aleixo from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation.
The building is designed with energy efficiency in mind achieved through passive and active measures. Passives are highly effective enclosing elements – glass and insulation. The active ones are energy-efficient heating and cooling system. The building will house innovative laboratories, presentation halls and open spaces for meetings and discussions. It will be located on an area of over 600 square meters, will be on four floors and equipped with modern technological solutions that allow mobility and versatility during operation.
The building will be located on the campus of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski ”between the faculties of Mathematics and Informatics (FMI), Physics (FP) and Chemistry and Pharmacy (FCP), and two other centres funded by the Operational Program “Science and Education for Smart Growth”. This is the most suitable place for the creation of a Science Park at Sofia University, believes Prof. Silvia Ilieva, director of the GATE Institute.
In addition to GATE researchers, the new building will be open to students and partners for demonstrations, experimentation and testing of new technologies and solutions, as well as for seminars and events.
Since its founding, the GATE Institute has managed to attract funding from national and international projects, which exceeds the planned more than twice. Attracted researchers are 15% above the set and the institute has launched two significant pilot projects of major public importance – in the application areas “Future cities” (“City digital twin”) and “Digital Health” (“Digital twin modelling of patients with cognitive disorders“). All this contributes to the prestige of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski ”, as well as for the entire scientific activity in Bulgaria.
As part of the official ceremony, the guests had the opportunity to address their wishes to the institute and place them in a special time capsule to be opened in 10 years.