Dear partners and colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to participate in the 2025 ExcellCity Winter School, which will take place from 27 to 31 October 2025 at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT), Sofia, Shipchenski prohod Blvd. 69A, Room 210.

The theme of the Winter School is “Big Data, Agentic AI & Microservices for Smart and Secure City Environment”, introducing participants to the concepts of big data, agentic and autonomous intelligent systems, and the creation of microservices for sustainable and secure urban environments.

Keynote speakers and lecturers include leading experts and researchers from:

University of Murcia (Spain)

• Prof. Dr. Antonio Skarmeta

• Prof. Dr. Miguel Zamora

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Juan Martinez

• PhD student Juan Sánchez

University of Messina (Italy)

• Prof. Dr. Massimo Villari

• Prof. Dr. Maria Fazio

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Antonio Celesti

Programme highlights:

• Agentic AI – agent-based and autonomous systems for managing urban resources;

• Big Data Analytics – OLAP, Data Warehouse and Kubernetes in cloud and edge infrastructures;

• Microservices and FIWARE – IoT integration, security and interoperability for smart cities;

• Edge & Cloud Continuum – architectures for efficient data processing in distributed systems.

Hands-on sessions:

• FIWARE and FogFlow – practical IoT agent and sensor integration;

• Eclipse Ditto – creating digital twins of urban assets;

• Kubernetes – open platform for container management and microservice-based applications.

PhD Panel and Research Meetings

The Winter School provides an opportunity for informal discussions and exchange of ideas for joint research activities and projects.

📎 The full programme of the event is attached below.
📝 Please register your participation by filling out the short registration form here.

We look forward to welcoming you!

📎 View the full programme (PDF)

On September 29, 2025, the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT) hosted the international conference QED’25: Designing Education Ecosystems for the Future: The Role of Digital Technologies, held under the patronage of the Bulgarian National Commission for UNESCO.

The event brought together representatives of the three active Bulgarian UNESCO Chairs – at ULSIT, UNWE, and Burgas Free University – as well as researchers and experts from various countries. The aim was to discuss future education ecosystems in the context of digital technologies and to disseminate the key messages from the global forum EDUsummIT’25, held in June in Dublin.

📌 In the afternoon session, dedicated to project initiatives, special attention was given to ExcellCity. The team presented the project’s main activities and achievements related to the development of innovative urban solutions and their integration into educational and research processes. The significance of ExcellCity was emphasized as a model for uniting academia, local communities, and international partners in the pursuit of sustainable development and “smart” ecosystems.

🔹 The project’s participation in QED’25 provided an excellent opportunity to share experiences, establish new connections, and explore perspectives for future cooperation. Its inclusion in such a prestigious platform reaffirms ExcellCity’s role as an important contribution to the discussions on the future of digital technologies and their application for the benefit of society.

• 29.09.2025

Between 9 and 15 September 2025, lecturers, PhD students, and undergraduate students from the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (UNIBIT) participated in a short-term academic mobility at the University of Messina (Italy) under the project ExcellCity – Strengthening the Scientific Excellence and Innovation Capacity in the Area of Smart City through Twinning (BG-RRP-2.005-0003), funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of Bulgaria.

The mobility focused on the themes “Intelligent Cloud Continuum” and “AI Agents & Edge Continuum”, emphasizing the development of intelligent and scalable infrastructures for smart cities.

The program was conducted under the supervision of Prof. Massimo Villari, Prof. Maria Fazio, and Prof. Antonio Celesti, with the active participation of seven additional researchers, PhD candidates, and experts from the FCRLab, who presented innovative projects in cloud computing, IoT integration, Cloud–Fog–Edge continuum architectures, and AI-based automation systems for urban environments.

The week included lectures, hands-on sessions, and demonstrations of real-world solutions, covering:

• the design of intelligent systems and infrastructures for smart cities;

• FIWARE architectures for interoperability and IoT connectivity;

• deployment of Big Data Warehouse and OLAP solutions in cloud environments;

• application of Agentic AI models for autonomous decision-making;

• Edge–Cloud Continuum scenarios optimizing computation and energy efficiency.

During the program, participants took part in practical exercises at the Papardo campus, including simulations of smart city systems, management of IoT data streams via FogFlow, and implementation of digital twins using Eclipse Ditto.
They also visited the FCRLab Control Laboratory for the Intelligent Campus, where integrated solutions for energy efficiency management, sensor networks, and AI-based environmental control were demonstrated.

A key highlight of the program was the PhD Research and Project Panel, where doctoral students from the University of Messina presented their research topics and discussed methodological approaches and potential collaboration and idea exchange with PhD students from UNIBIT.

The mobility strengthened the scientific and educational collaboration between UNIBIT and the University of Messina, contributing to:

• deepening expertise in AI-based architectures and Cloud–Edge integrations;

• developing joint research initiatives in FIWARE, Big Data Analytics, and Intelligent City Infrastructures;

• preparing participants for the upcoming ExcellCity Winter School 2025, which will expand on these topics through practical demonstrations and a dedicated PhD panel in Sofia.

This mobility was part of the strategic actions aimed at enhancing research capacity and fostering international collaboration in the field of intelligent and sustainable urban systems.

From June 2 to 6, 2025, the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT) in Sofia hosted the ExcellCity Summer School 2025 on the theme “Intelligent Cloud Continuum.” The event was organized within the framework of the ExcellCity project (BG-RRP-2.005-0003), funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and gathered leading researchers, lecturers, and young scientists from Bulgaria, Spain, and Italy.

The summer school focused on innovative concepts of continuous computing environments, combining cloud technologies, edge computing, and artificial intelligence. The program included lectures and hands-on sessions on topics such as:

• Digital Twins in Action using Eclipse Ditto and smart campus applications;

• Cloud-to-Edge Architectures for scalable and adaptive data processing;

• IoT Agents with a Mission for event-driven smart infrastructures;

• FogFlow for dynamic cloud-edge computation orchestration;

• FIWARE solutions for smart cities and industries;

• Big Data and Microservices with Docker and Hadoop.

Distinguished speakers included experts from the University of Murcia (Spain) – Prof. Antonio Skarmeta, Prof. Miguel Zamora, Assoc. Prof. Juan Sánchez, and Assoc. Prof. Juan Martinez – and from the University of Messina (Italy) – Prof. Massimo Villari, Assoc. Prof. Maria Fazio, and Assoc. Prof. Antonio Celesti.

The program also fostered valuable discussions and networking opportunities, paving the way for future research collaborations. The event contributed to strengthening international cooperation in the field of intelligent cloud and edge technologies.

• 02.06.2025 - 06.06.2025

ExcellCity is pleased to invite you to the 2025 Summer School, taking place from June 2–6, 2025 at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT) in Sofia, Bulgaria (69A Shipchenski Prohod Blvd., Room 210).

This year’s theme is “Intelligent Cloud Continuum” – a cutting-edge exploration of cloud computing, edge technologies, and artificial intelligence. The program will feature hands-on sessions and expert talks on:

• Digital Twins in Action with Eclipse Ditto and smart campus applications;

• Cloud-to-Edge Deployments for scalable, adaptive data processing;

• IoT Agents with a Mission for event-driven smart infrastructures;

• FogFlow for dynamic cloud-edge computation orchestration;

• FIWARE solutions for smart cities and industries;

• Big Data & Microservices with Docker and Hadoop.

Distinguished speakers from the University of Murcia (Spain) and the University of Messina (Italy) will share the latest innovations and research findings.

The school will also foster informal networking and opportunities for future collaboration between academic and industry teams.

📌 Register now: Participation form
📧 For more information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We look forward to seeing you in Sofia this June!

 Download Full Agenda (PDF)

On May 22, 2025, the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT) hosted the first in-person module of the summer scientific seminar “Open Science,” organized as part of the project ExcellCity: Enhancing Scientific and Innovation Capacity in the Smart City through Twinning Partnerships (BG-RRP-2.005-0003), funded by the European Union through Bulgaria’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The seminar was officially opened by Prof. Dr. Evgenia Kovacheva – Project Leader and Director of Scientific Policies at ULSIT. Participants were introduced to the foundations of open science, its policies, and its importance for modern scientific collaboration. Key speakers included Prof. Dr. Rumen Nikolov, Prof. Dr. Elena Shoikova, and Prof. Dr. Evgenia Kovacheva.

The seminar aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of researchers, educators, PhD students, students, and citizen scientists in applying the principles of open science. The training focused on topics such as open data, open code, and open research outputs, as well as the development of a data management plan.

The online modules of the program will continue from May 23 to September 28, 2025, and the final in-person session will take place on September 29, 2025, at ULSIT. All participants who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate.

More information and registration: https://projects.unibit.bg/course/view.php?id=89

• 22.05.2025

The University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT) is pleased to invite you to participate in the Open Summer Scientific Seminar, organized within the framework of the project EXCELLCITY: Enhancing Scientific and Innovation Capacity in the Smart City through Twinning (BG-RRP-2.005-0003).

📅 Date: May 22, 2025, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Sofia, Tsarigradsko shose 119, Room 106
💻 Online platform: https://projects.unibit.bg/course/view.php?id=89 (access with ULSIT email)
🎓 Format: Hybrid — in-person modules and online self-paced learning

🔍 Seminar Topic:
“Open Science: New Horizons for Collaboration and Impact”

Participants will explore the principles and tools of open science, gain skills in open data management, develop open science plans, and apply culturally responsive teaching and research practices.

🎙 Key speakers include:

• Prof. Teresa Trencheva

• Prof. Elena Shoikova

• Prof. Evgenia Kovacheva

📜 Successful completion of all five modules and the final assessment grants an Official Certificate in Open Science.

Register now and join us on the path toward advancing open, collaborative, and impactful research!
👉 Register and access the course

  Download Full Agenda (PDF)