This new accompaniyng event took place from 6th to 8th June 2024 under the general patronage of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Bulgaria and was dedicated to the 155-th anniversary of the establishment of BAS and 15-th anniversary of the establishment of the Defense Institute.
The scientific forum was jointly organized by the Defense Institute - Ministry of Defense and the Center for National Security and Defense Research at the BAS (CNSDR-BAS). The following thematic events were included: International Scientific Conference "Research, Innovation and Industrial Cooperation - A Paradigm for Adequate Defense", Seminar on: "Using Satellite Data for Disaster Risk Management", Seminar on: "Space for a Sustainable Future " and the Hackathon "Cosmos for a green, sustainable and secure Europe".
The main focus of the opening and plenary session was on the theme of 'Space for Security and Defence'. In his address, the Minister of Defense emphasized the strategic importance of research and innovation and the contribution of space technologies to guarantee security and defense. Addresses were also made by The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Republic of Bulgaria, and the Honorary Senator and President of EURISY.
The following plenary session was attended by experts and representatives of key organizations - the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense, the Director of the European Space Program Agency (EUSPA), representatives of the Directorate General "Defense Industry and Space" ( DG DEFIS ) of the European Commission.
The main accents of the Twelfth International Scientific Conference were development on technologies and capabilities for raising on defensive capabilities of the Armed Forces, security and defense innovation and experience from the war in Ukraine, the normative base for scientific research, the existing financial tools for implementation of defense innovations, etc.
Participation in the conference also took representatives from corporations and companies, such as Leonardo, Rheinmetall, Konigsberg, IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries), etc. Favorable conditions for facilitating new contacts and interaction between representatives, exchange of experience and for future cooperation were created.
On the event were present over 180 delegates and guests from the country and abroad - from Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Economy and Industry, Defence Staff, Joint command on the forces, Service Commanders, the academic community, representatives of Bulgarian and foreign companies and organizations and from the defensive industry . On the conference were presented over 100 scientific reports.
The workshop "Using satellite data for disaster risk management" was jointly organized by EUSPA and EURISY, with a focus on EU space capabilities and their application at national level throughout the disaster risk management cycle. The session was opened by Mr Mathieu Bataille from the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI). Ms. Christina Gianopapa, Head of the Office of the Executive Director of EUSPA, Mr. Gabriel Lazazzara from ALSO Space, as well as Ms. Dinka Dinkova, from DG DEFIS, also participated.
The workshop "Space for a sustainable future" was opened by the Mayor of the Municipality of Plovdiv - Mr. Kostadin Dimitrov, who emphasized on the importance of space information for dealing with the impact of climate change on regional development. The session "Civil Security from Space" started with Dr. Christopher Topping from the European Space Agency (ESA). Mr. Martin Taslakov - project manager at the European Innovation Council (ECI) also took part.
The second session was devoted to the use of space technologies for the purpose of the transition to a green future. Speakers were Dr. Tan-Tam Le from Climate - KIC at the European Institute for Innovation and Technology - EIT, Mrs. Bogdana Tsonevska from EKA, Prof. Ekaterina Bachvarova - director of the Institute for Climate, Atmosphere and Water Research at the BAS. Katya Dimitrova participated on behalf of the "Risk-Space-Transfer" Technology Transfer Office - BAS. Mrs. Michaela Ivanova presented the activities and projects of the Municipality of Gabrovo aimed at achieving climate neutrality.
The second day ended with a plenary session in which Ms. Cristina Gianopappa, Head of the EUSPA Executive Director's Office, Dr. Christopher Topping from ESA, Honorary Senator Ms. Dominique Tillmans , President of EURISY and Ms. Dinka Dinkova, Deputy Head of Department "Innovations and New Space - Space Defense", DG DEFIS, EC discussed the role of Space as a key factor for climate adaptation.
The HEMUS Innovation Hackathon: "Space for a green, sustainable and secure Europe" was held with the support of the National Science Program "Security and Defense".
The teams, using digital technologies and data from remote sensing of the Earth, proposed their solutions to current problems and new ideas for a more sustainable, safer and greener future for Europe. Eight teams participated in the competition - 5 from our military educational institutions and 3 from civilians.
The jury ranked the team of the Technical University - Sofia in first place, the team from the Agricultural University - Plovdiv took the 2-nd place, the team of the Military Academy "Georgi S. Rakovski" took the 3-rd place.
Special awards were given to the teams from the Technical University - Sofia, Plovdiv branch, as well as the team from the Vasil Levski National Military University.
Industry Forum.
The meeting of the industrial forum was on the topic "Opportunities for the Bulgarian defense industry in view of the increased efforts to promote European and Euro-Atlantic cooperation in the field of armaments". The forum attracted the participation of a wide range of representatives of the Bulgarian and European institutions, as well as representatives of the Bulgarian and foreign defense industry, scientific institutes and organizations.
Main highlights of the program were the activities of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA); presentation of the current European initiatives and programs in support of the defense industry - the new "European Strategy for the Defense Industry", the draft regulation for the creation of a European Program for the Defense Industry, etc. The forum was opened by the Deputy Minister of Defense. The Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry and the Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth also addressed the participants with greetings and wishes for fruitful work.
In the discussions took part Stacey Cummings, General Manager of NSPA, a representative of the Directorate-General for Defense Industry and Space of the EC, representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Industry, the Institute of Defense and the Ministry of Defence.
