Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov explained that public and private projects like INSAIT have the potential to instigate major change , Source: Krasimir Svrakov/ Economic.bg
INSAIT is supposed to turn Bulgaria into a tech paradise and rival the likes of MIT
The official ceremony launching INSAIT (Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology) was held today in the Bulgarian National Palace of Culture, located in the capital of Sofia. The institute will be part of the Sofia University 'St Kliment Ohridski' and was created in partnership with ETH Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL).
Furthermore, the project will enjoy the financial support of both the Bulgarian government and the tech giants in the industry – Google and Amazon. Apart from the funding, these companies will also help to provide knowledge support.
The main agenda of INSAIT, according to its founder and ideologue Martin Vechev, is to create a world-class tech institute, that has the resources and talent to compete with the likes of Stanford and MIT.
At the same time, Vachev has also said that it can help stop the massive brain drain from Bulgaria. In a recent interview with Capital, he explained that Bulgaria will have a chance to become a leader in the field, especially now when it has the infrastructure to retain its most talented people.
According to the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Kiril Petkov, who attended the ceremony, INSAIT aims to turn Bulgaria into a top location for computer sciences and artificial intelligence in the world.
He went a step further, by saying that the government wants to attract the biggest tech companies to invest in the country, by constructing regional centres. Petkov also explained that the government will fund the institute with 90 million euros, or 9 million every year for a period of 10 years.
Apparently, the tech giants also see the potential in INSAIT, with Google and DeepMind offering up around 3 million euros for the next three years and Amazon Web Services offering 3,5 million. Bulgarian tech companies have also decided to join in, offering substantial funding for the Institute.
Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Innovation also attended the launch ceremony. She praised the project for its practicality and robust structure, as well as its potential to redefine the tech sector in Eastern Europe. She went a step further by wishing the institute becomes a platform for Nobel laureates in the region.
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass
Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape
The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU, national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality.
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region
Despite its church-y name, the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital