The new building of the Big Data for Smart Society (GATE) Institute at the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia was inaugurated at a ceremony in Sofia, attended by Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel. The building is located on the Sofia University campus on James Bourchier boulevard.
Denkov said GATE is a successful model that will collaborate with the world's best and create fundamental science with a variety of applications that will benefit everyone. He added that it is gratifying Bulgaria has GATE, INSAIT and a supercomputer, as well, creating a wonderful competition and cooperation environment.
Gabriel noted that GATE is an example of sustainable cooperation in the transfer of technological knowledge and expertise. According to her, the institute has made a key contribution to establishing Bulgaria as a regional leader in scientific and technological advancement.
Sofia University Rector Prof. Georgi Valchev said that the event is significant because it shows Bulgaria’s political will to stand in the "forefront of the modern processes that are taking place in the 21st century". "The most important thing yet to come is to show how science and technology can work in favour of society and benefit our students," Valchev emphasized.
GATE Board Chairperson Prof. Anastas Gerdzhikov said that the campus will become a serious research and technology centre and it will give birth to many new ideas and products. He pointed out that Sofia University has managed to increase its scientific results by 50% in two years, which, in his words, is a huge leap forward.