04.09.2023
Bulgaria is the first country in Eastern Europe to join the ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems) – the state of the art AI development network. The first point of the top network in the region – „ELLIS Unit Sofia“ – was established via the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT) and the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov officially launched the partnership together with the “architect” of INSAIT Prof. Martin Vechev and the Rector of the Sofia University Prof. Anastas Gerdjikov.
The establishment of the Institute and the country’s accession to the European network are to be attributed to the systematic efforts of several governments in a row to recover Bulgaria’s glory in the field of science, the Prime Minister stressed. The launch of the first Operational Program “Science and Education for Smart Growth” (SESG) funded by the European institutions, the establishment of Centers of Excellence (CoE) and Centers of Competence (CoC), the regular financing of the National Roadmap for Scientific Infrastructure through which INSAIT receives support, inter alia, the establishment of the first research universities in 2021 are just some of the examples that enable the ideas of the Bulgarian scientists to materialize.
“We have successfully generated such preconditions in the field of Artificial Intelligence. We must continue in all other sectors so that we become a normal and well-ordered European country,” the Prime Minister said.
A key role for the success of INSAIT is played by the government’s Swiss partners, viz. the Bulgarian-Swiss Research Program (BSRP) and two of the world’s leading universities: the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich (ETN Zürich/Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL/École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne). “Probably we would not have achieved that had it not been for their strong support and expertise,” Acad. Nikolai Denkov said.
The country’s accession to the European network is a recognition of Bulgaria’s leading role in the development of Artificial Intelligence throughout the region. Only research organizations that have demonstrated results at a global level in the field of AI and that employ scientists with a proven contribution are members of ELLIS. Currently, there are only 39 European participants in the network. “As INSAIT joins ELLIS, Bulgaria becomes part of the Champions League of Artificial Intelligence. Bulgaria clearly declares to the world that it will be a place where future technologies are invented and created and not where they are just implemented or used,” Prof. Vechev said.
INSAIT is the first institute of this kind in Eastern Europe. It was established in partnership between the University of Sofia and the ETN Zürich and EPFL. The government will invest in INSAIT some BGN 170 million within ten years.
