The ExcellCity team is pleased to announce that the final programme of the XIV National Seminar with international participation has been officially published. The event is held under the theme:

“Intellectual Property: An Ecosystem of Knowledge, Innovation and Identity”

📅 Date: April 23, 2026
🕙 Start: 10:00 AM
📍 Venue: ULSIT, Ceremonial Hall, Sofia
💻 Online participation: meet.google.com/vdw-asat-otz

The seminar features a comprehensive and dynamic programme, including:

• official opening with representatives of academic institutions and public authorities;
• a scientific forum addressing key topics such as copyright, access to knowledge, and intellectual property in contemporary society;
• a practical panel on “Business and Intellectual Property”;
• thematic sessions focused on:
  • intellectual property in science and the arts;
  • challenges of artificial intelligence;
  • books and reading in the digital age;
  • youth and future innovations;
• short presentations and contributions from international participants.

The programme brings together a diverse community of researchers, academics, PhD students, and business representatives, fostering dialogue and exchange of ideas in the field of intellectual property and innovation.

👉 Join Us!

We warmly invite all researchers, lecturers, students, business representatives, and professionals, as well as anyone interested in the topic, to take part in the seminar – either on-site or online.

📌 Participation offers an excellent opportunity for:

• knowledge exchange and networking;
• establishing new collaborations;
• engaging in discussions on the role of intellectual property in the digital era.

The full and final programme of the seminar is available below: https://excellcity.unibit.bg/images/PROGRAM-IP-day-23.04.2026.pdf

We look forward to welcoming you!

On 23 April 2026, the ExcellCity Project will participate as a partner in the scientific seminar organized by the State University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT) in celebration of International Book Day and World Intellectual Property Day.

This year’s event will be held under the theme: “Intellectual Property: Ecosystem of Knowledge, Innovation and Identity”

The seminar aims to foster discussion on the role of intellectual property as a driving force for the development of knowledge, innovation processes, and the preservation of cultural identity in contemporary society.

In 2026, the event is organized in partnership with:

• State University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT)
• Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts “Prof. Assen Diamandiev” – Plovdiv
• South-West University “Neofit Rilski” – Blagoevgrad
• King Stanisław Leszczyński Higher School of Humanities – Leszno, Poland
• ExcellCity Project

📍 Date and Venue:

• 23 April 2026
  
• 10:00 AM
  
• Ceremonial Hall, ULSIT, 119 Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd., Sofia, Bulgaria

💻 Online participation will also be available.

The ExcellCity Project supports initiatives that encourage scientific dialogue, the exchange of best practices, and the creation of a sustainable environment for innovation and knowledge development.

We look forward to being part of this meaningful discussion on the future of knowledge, innovation, and cultural identity.

From April 7 to 9, 2026, representatives of the EXCELLCITY project team took part in the Eurasia Higher Education Summit (EURIE 2026), one of the leading international forums dedicated to higher education, academic cooperation, and institutional development. This year’s edition marked the 10th anniversary of the summit, bringing together universities, research institutions, policymakers, and academic leaders from around the world.

Participation in EURIE 2026 was organized as part of the ongoing implementation of the EXCELLCITY project – “Enhancing Scientific and Innovation Capacity in Smart Cities through Twinning” (No. BG-RRP-2.005-0003), which aims to strengthen research excellence, foster innovation, and expand international cooperation in the field of smart cities.

The project was represented by:

• Prof. Tereza Trencheva, PhD – Vice Rector for Research and International Affairs and Institutional Erasmus+ Coordinator
• Assoc. Prof. Plamen Teodosiev, PhD – Lecturer in the Department of National and International Security

During the summit, the EXCELLCITY team held a series of productive meetings with representatives of the Eurasian Universities Union (EURAS), the main organizer of EURIE, as well as with delegates from universities and academic institutions across the Eurasian region, including Türkiye, Albania, Romania, Indonesia, and other partner countries.

These meetings created valuable opportunities for:

• establishing new academic and research partnerships;
• exploring opportunities for future international cooperation and joint initiatives;
• exchanging expertise and best practices in research and innovation;
• promoting collaboration in the area of Smart Cities and sustainable urban development.

Participation in international events such as EURIE is an essential part of the EXCELLCITY project’s mission to enhance visibility, strengthen networking, and facilitate the exchange of knowledge with leading academic institutions worldwide.

Through its active international engagement, EXCELLCITY continues to build strategic partnerships and contribute to the advancement of scientific excellence and innovation capacity in support of the smart cities of the future.

• EURIE 2026

We are pleased to invite you to the final conference of the EXCELLCITY project – “Enhancing Scientific and Innovation Capacity in Smart Cities through Twinning” (BG-RRP-2.005-0003).

The event will present the key results achieved within the project, highlight good practices, and showcase innovative approaches in the field of smart cities, as well as opportunities for future collaboration between academia, industry, and public institutions.

📅 Date: 11.05.2026
🕙 Start time: 10:00 AM
📍 Venue: “Sofia” Hall, Metropolitan Hotel

During the conference, participants will have the opportunity to learn about:

• 👉the main outcomes and achievements of the EXCELLCITY project;
• 👉innovative approaches to smart city development;
• 👉opportunities for international cooperation and knowledge exchange;
• 👉best practices from partner organizations.

The event is intended for representatives of the academic community, researchers, experts, students, and all stakeholders interested in smart city development and innovation.

📌 Please register HERE: https://forms.gle/aybxsAaoPBqNMSx59

Find the Agenda HERE: Coming Soon!

We look forward to welcoming you!

Between 11 and 16 January 2026, the team of project BG-RRP-2.005-0003 ExcellCity is carrying out a short-term mobility visit to the University of Murcia (Spain) as part of the activities under Work Package 2. The mobility is organized in accordance with the official project implementation plan and approved project activities.

As of 14 January 2026, the visit is in its active phase and includes intensive research, academic, and coordination activities aimed at strengthening international cooperation and supporting the development of innovative solutions for smart and sustainable urban environments.

Main activities and highlights

During the mobility, the project team is involved in a wide range of professional and scientific activities, including:

• 👉 conducting joint scientific research and preparing academic publications in cooperation with researchers from the University of Murcia;

• 👉 presentations of ongoing research and innovation projects by PhD students of the host university;

• 👉 discussions and preparation of future joint project proposals within European and international funding programs;

• 👉 demonstrations of smart solutions in the agricultural sector, including experimental implementations within the GreenHouse initiative;

• 👉 participation in the Semiconductor Security Forum, focused on current challenges and good practices in the field of semiconductor technologies and cybersecurity.

The mobility contributes significantly to the exchange of knowledge and best practices, the establishment of sustainable academic partnerships, and the advancement of the scientific and innovation capacity of the ExcellCity project consortium.

The project team expresses its sincere appreciation to the University of Murcia for the warm hospitality, excellent organization, and productive collaboration.

• 12.01.2026 - 18.01.2026

On 19 December 2025, during an official ceremony held at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT), the EXCELLCITY project (BG-RRP-2.005-0003) was honored with the prestigious “Project of the Year” award.

The distinction was granted in recognition of the project’s leadership in innovation and its significant contribution to the strategic development of the university, highlighting the team’s consistent efforts, clear vision, and sustainable results.

The award was jointly accepted by Prof. Roumen Nikolov, PhD and Prof. Eugenia Kovatcheva, PhD, who expressed their sincere gratitude to the entire project team for their professionalism, dedication, and excellent collaborative work.

The EXCELLCITY team regards this recognition as an acknowledgment of the achievements made so far and as strong motivation to continue working toward innovation, quality, and sustainable development.

Congratulations to the entire EXCELLCITY team!

• 19.12.2025

From 15 to 17 December 2025, the ExcellCity project organized and implemented the “Open Doors Week” at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT). The event was carried out as an official project activity and presented the project’s objectives, research focus, and expected results to a broad audience of students, teachers, and representatives of the educational community.

The initiative was conducted entirely within the framework of the ExcellCity project, with the project team acting as the main organizer and executor – responsible for the development of the program agenda, logistical coordination, thematic sessions, demonstrations, and guided visits to the university’s specialized laboratories.

The “Open Doors Week” welcomed hundreds of students and teachers from secondary schools and vocational high schools across the country – partner institutions of ULSIT under signed cooperation agreements. A key focus was placed on presenting ExcellCity as a research and innovation hub in the field of smart and climate-neutral cities, digital transformation, and the use of modern open-source technological platforms, including FIWARE.

According to the approved project schedule, the three-day program included thematic sessions dedicated to:

• smart cities and sustainable urban development;

• digital technologies and open data platforms;

• cybersecurity and information systems protection;

• innovation management and research infrastructure;

• the application of artificial intelligence in urban and educational ecosystems.

During these sessions, the ExcellCity project team presented the core mission of the project – to enhance the scientific and innovation capacity of ULSIT and its partner organizations, to build advanced research infrastructure, and to establish a sustainable environment for cooperation between universities, research institutions, public authorities, and industry.

Special emphasis was placed on:

• the development of interdisciplinary research in the area of smart city solutions;

• opportunities for student involvement in real research and innovation activities within the project;

• the acquisition of practical skills related to digital platforms, data analysis, and intelligent systems.

One of the highlights of the program was the guided visits, organized by the ExcellCity team, to ULSIT’s specialized facilities – the VR & AI Lab, IBM Lab, SoftLab, and the UNESCO Chair – where participants explored examples of applied research, simulation environments, and technological solutions related to the concept of intelligent and sustainable cities.

The implementation of the “Open Doors Week” within the ExcellCity project contributed to:

• promoting the research activities of ULSIT;

• increasing young people’s interest in engineering, information technologies, and interdisciplinary study fields;

• establishing early connections between secondary school students, the academic environment, and innovative research projects;

• strengthening the position of ExcellCity as a platform for the development of smart and sustainable urban solutions.

The event concluded with an official closing session and the presentation of key information regarding admission to ULSIT. Participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with the organization, content, and practical orientation of the program, highlighting in particular the active role and professionalism of the ExcellCity project team in delivering the initiative.

• 15.12.2025 - 17.12.2025

On December 9–10, 2025, the ExcellCity project organized and hosted the two-day seminar “FIWARE Practitioner’s Guide – Training, Applying & Advancing Competencies for Smart Urban Solutions.” The event took place in Hall 103 at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT) and brought together experts, lecturers, students, and members of the technology community.

The seminar was officially opened by ULSIT’s academic leadership -  Prof. Georgi Dimitrov, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Information Sciences, and Prof. Eugenia Kovatcheva, PhD, Manager of the ExcellCity Project. They welcomed the participants and highlighted FIWARE’s role as a key framework for building sustainable, interconnected, and intelligent urban environments.

Leading lecturers from the FIWARE Foundation — Jose Luis Benitez Moreno, Ilari Mikkonen, and Vincent Maurice Demortier -  presented the latest trends, tools, and practical applications in IoT, smart city development, and robotics. The program included:

• an introduction to the Practical Guide and CI/CD principles;
• hands-on work with core FIWARE components such as IoT Agents, Scorpio, Draco, and others;
• deployment of the security layer using Keycloak and APISix;
• real-world demonstrations and robotic integrations;
• an overview of Model Context Protocol (MCP) with Google Gemini CLI, GitHub, and the FIWARE MCP server;
• practical use of no-code/low-code tools including Google Opal and N8N;
• applications of Robotics & ROS-2 within the FIWARE ecosystem;
• strategic directions and upcoming FIWARE initiatives.

The seminar featured interactive discussions, practical demonstrations, and in-depth knowledge exchange, fostering advanced competencies for developing modern smart urban solutions. The sessions were moderated by Chief Assist. Prof. Lyubomir Gotsev, PhD, and Assist. Prof. Genadiy Gospodinov.

ExcellCity continues to advance initiatives supporting the digital transformation of urban environments by cultivating sustainable partnerships and promoting the adoption of open standards and innovative technologies.

• 09.12.2025 - 10.12.2025

The ExcellCity project will hold a two-day intensive training program, FIWARE Practitioner’s Guide: Training, Applying & Advancing Competencies for Smart Urban Solutions, on 9–10 December 2025 at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT), Hall 103, 69A Shipchenski Prohod Blvd., Sofia.

The event aims to develop practical competencies for designing intelligent and sustainable urban solutions. It introduces the pilot practical handbook FIWARE Practitioner’s Guide by ExcellCity through a combination of lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on workshops.

Guest Lecturers from FIWARE Foundation

The training will feature three international experts from the FIWARE Foundation:

• Jose Luis Benitez Moreno

• Vincent Maurice Demortier

• Ilari Mikkonen

Program Highlights

9 December 2025 – Practical Guide I–III

• Introduction to the Practical Guide: goals, structure, and principles

• Workshop: IoT Agents, Scorpio, Draco, and other FIWARE Generic Enablers

• Deployment of the Security Layer (Keycloak / API Six)

• Real-world examples and interactions with robots

10 December 2025 – Advanced FIWARE

• MCPs and FIWARE: modularity, interoperability, and integration models

• Integration with Google Opal and N8N for low-code automation

• Robotics in FIWARE – demonstrations and emerging capabilities

• The seminar also provides opportunities for networking, discussion, and exploring potential future collaborations among project partners.
  

Registration

Participation is confirmed through a short online registration form included in the official invitation.
For additional questions:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Find the Agenda HERE!