Join Us for an Exclusive Bulgaria–Japan Innovation Dialogue!
Date and Venue / Program Day1, Day2 / Registration
Outlines:
In the spirit of strengthened bilateral cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan, these two interconnected events convene leading voices from government, academia, and industry to explore shared opportunities at the intersection of Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and Data Spaces.
The events build upon the positive momentum of the Joint Statement on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Bulgaria and Japan, signed on 20th May 2025 in Tokyo by President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and Prime Minister of Japan Shigeru Ishiba. This high-level agreement highlights a mutual commitment to deepen digital cooperation and celebrates the strategic academic partnership between the GATE Institute (Bulgaria) and the Center for Computational Sciences (CCS), University of Tsukuba (Japan), as a key pillar of this vision.
Together, the two-day programme will strengthen institutional ties, promote co-creation, and advance collaborative agendas for sustainable, digital, and resilient urban futures.
Date and Venue
Day 1: 29 August 2025 | 13:00–18:30 JST, 7:00–12:30 EEST
International Conference Hall, University of Tsukuba
Day 2: 30 August 2025 | 9:30–12:30 JST
Bulgarian Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka
Program
Day1
“Digital Synergies: Bulgaria–Japan Dialogue on Digital Twins, AI, Data Spaces & Urban Futures”
A high-level academic and policy forum focused on technological cooperation in smart cities and digital innovation.
Language: English
|
Time (JST) |
Activity |
Details / Highlights |
Person in Charge / Speaker |
|
13:00 –13:05 |
Opening & Welcome |
Introductory remarks by organisers and diplomatic representatives |
Prof. OHNEDA Osamu, Vice President, the University of Tsukuba |
|
Opening & Welcome |
Introductory remarks by organisers and diplomatic representatives |
Prof. Sylvia Ilieva, Director of the GATE Institute |
|
|
Opening & Welcome |
Introductory remarks by organisers and diplomatic representatives |
H. E. Ms. Marieta Arabadjieva, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Japan |
|
|
13:05 –13:20 |
Presentation |
Introduction of the CCS and the University of Tsukuba |
Prof. SHIGETA Yasuteru, Director of the Center for Computational Sciences (CCS), the University of Tsukuba |
|
13:20 –13:35 |
Presentation |
Introduction of the GATE Institute |
Prof. Dessislava Petrova-Antonova, Lead of Future Cities Group, GATE Institute |
|
13:35 –13:50 |
Presentation |
To be decided |
Mila Nenova, Executive Director, Invest Bulgaria Agency |
|
13:50 –14:05 |
Presentation |
Bulgaria as a leading innovation hub in Europe |
H. E. Ms. Marieta Arabadjieva, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Japan |
|
14:05 –14:20 |
Presentation |
To be decided |
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism |
|
14:20 –14:35 |
Presentation |
To be decided |
Mr. Akira Kawachi, Chief Director of JETRO Ibaraki |
|
14:35 –14:50 |
Presentation |
To be decided |
Bulgarian government |
|
14:50 –15:05 |
Presentation |
To be decided |
Prof. SUZUKI Kenji, Provost of the Institute of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, Japan (online) |
|
15:05 –15:15 |
Break |
|
|
|
15:15 –15:30 |
Presentation |
Urban Digital Twins for a Sustainable Future |
Prof. Mila Koeva, Vice Dean Research, ITC Faculty Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente (online) |
|
15:30 –15:45 |
Presentation |
(To be decided) |
(business side) |
|
15:45 –16:00 |
Presentation |
(To be decided) |
(business side) |
|
16:00 –16:30 |
Live Demonstrations: Urban Digital Twin Solutions |
Showcase of digital twin applications for urban planning, climate, and mobility |
Session chairs from CCS and GATE |
|
16:30 –16:50 |
Expert Panel Discussion |
Synergising Academia, Government & Business for Digital Urban Futures |
Session chairs from CCS and GATE |
|
16:50 –17:00 |
Closing Remarks & Summary |
Key takeaways and next steps for collaboration |
|
|
17:00 –18:30 |
Networking & Bilateral Dialogue Sessions |
Structured networking and bilateral cooperation discussions |
Organising Committees (GATE & CCS) |
Organisers & Hosts
- GATE Institute, Bulgaria
- Center for Computational Sciences (CCS), University of Tsukuba, Japan
- Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tokyo
Supporting organisations
- Ministry of Education and Science, Bulgaria
- Ministry of Innovation and Growth, Bulgaria
- Ministry of Economy and Industry, Bulgaria
Day2
“Academic Days of the GATE Institute”
Language: English
The Academic Days will spotlight the cutting-edge research and technological leadership of the GATE Institute, Bulgaria and the Center for Computational Sciences (CCS), Japan, showcasing their pivotal roles in shaping the future of AI, Data Spaces, Big Data and Urban Digital Twins. This dynamic event aims to catalyse cross-sector collaboration among academic, governmental, and industry stakeholders from Europe, Japan, and beyond.
Program Highlights:
- Immersive Introductory Movie – Discover GATE’s core missions and innovation roadmaps
- Interactive Exhibition and Discussion – GATE’s and CCS’s focus areas and highlights global collaboration, with emphasis on the strong Bulgarian-Japanese partnership
- Visual show of the Bulgarian Pavilion
|
Time (JST) |
Activity |
Details / Highlights |
Person in charge |
|
09:30 – 11:30 |
Academic Day 2 session |
The details for each session are shown below (total sessions: 8 sessions x 15 min) |
All |
|
6 min |
Visual show |
Visual show of the Bulgarian pavilion |
Mr. Kostov, Manager of the Bulgarian pavilion Dr. Lidia Vitanova, GATE Institute |
|
1 min |
Welcome & Opening Remarks |
Brief welcome and introduction |
Prof. Dessislava Petrova-Antonova, GATE Institute |
|
1 min |
Welcome & Opening Remarks |
Brief welcome and introduction |
Prof. Shigeta Yasuteru, Director of the Center for Computational Sciences (CCS), the University of Tsukuba |
|
3 min |
Interactive Movie and Presentation |
Interactive Movie and Introduction of the GATE Institute and the CCS, University of Tsukuba |
Prof. Dessislava Petrova-Antonova, GATE Institute Dr. Lidia Vitanova, GATE Institute |
|
4 min |
Exhibition Walkthrough |
Showcasing projects and activities between the GATE Institute and the CCS, University of Tsukuba |
Rotation between: Prof. Shigeta, CCS |
|
11:30 – 11:40 |
Photo Spot / Group Picture |
Official group photo |
All (Closed) |
|
11:40 – 12:20 |
Networking (Lunch) |
Networking at the round table 2F at the Bulgarian pavilion |
All (Closed) |
|
12:20 – 12:30 |
Closing & Next Steps |
Summary of outcomes and invitation to follow-up engagements |
All (Closed) |
Registration
Please complete your participation registration via the link below.
Register by August 10 for on-site participation, and by August 27 for online participation.
*Registration is free, and the fee for the reception on August 29 will be 7,000 JPY.
*Please prepare your own Expo admission ticket for participation on August 30.
>> Registration