Bulgaria Towards Leadership in Europe's Technological Transformation: Ambitious Goals for AI and the Space Sector

Bulgaria possesses the necessary capacity, skilled workforce, and entrepreneurial spirit to become a key player in the European technological ecosystem. This ambitious goal was presented by the Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation, Ivan Vasilev, during the annual conference with the diplomatic corps.

According to the Minister, the main strategic task is the transition to an economic model based on high-value-added industries. By 2030, the state aims to become the most attractive place in Europe for starting and scaling high-tech companies.

AI in Administration and the "Council of Robots"
Vasilev emphasized that digitalization is not just a goal, but a tool that is already being applied. The Ministry is actively implementing solutions based on artificial intelligence to optimize work processes. One of the interesting initiatives is the creation of an advisory "Council of Robots" that assists in decision-making. The Minister emphasized that technology is a tool for efficiency, not a threat, as final control always remains in human hands.

Space Technologies and Open Source
During the discussion, important steps toward international recognition were shared: Bulgaria is actively working on joining the European Space Agency as an associate member. As part of this strategy, the "Dobroslavtsi" business zone is being developed, which will function as a center for companies in the space sector.

Another important focus is the promotion of open-source software. An example of this is the "Sigma" public expenditure transparency system, whose program code is accessible to the public for future upgrades.

Human Capital as a Foundation
The Minister pointed to the successes of Bulgarian students in international olympiads in mathematics, informatics, and computational linguistics as proof of the country's enormous potential. He called on diplomats to use these opportunities to attract investment and promote Bulgaria as a technological leader.