Visit of Marcin Wasilewski, Executive Director of Inno Energy for Central Europe at the Technical University – Sofia

On April 24, 2023, a delegation led by Marcin Wasilewski, Executive Director of Inno Energy for Central Europe, visited the Technical University – Sofia. The visit took place after Marcin Wasilewski and Bogdan Bogdanov, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Investment Agency, in the presence of President Rumen Radev and European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Maria Gabriel, signed a declaration on Bulgaria's accession to the European Battery Alliance at "Sofia Tech Park".

Marcin Wasilewski was welcomed by Prof. Ivan Králov, Rector of TU – Sofia, and by Prof. Georgi Todorov, Dean of the Faculty of Industrial Technologies and Chairman of the General Assembly of TU – Sofia. The guest toured the newly established National Center for Mechatronics and Clean Technologies, the "Student City" campus, which houses 16 research laboratories, and was highly impressed by the modern scientific infrastructure that will ensure our country's full participation in the European Research Area. This infrastructure promotes high-quality research activities, the creation and transfer of technologies and innovative solutions to business, industry, and regions. Highly qualified and experienced researchers and young scientists work at the Center, and international cooperation is encouraged. The guest was thoroughly briefed on the Center's work plans, the implementation of which will contribute to the accelerated economic and social development of the country and Europe.

Prof. Králov thoroughly acquainted the guest with the structure and activities of TU – Sofia, highlighting that the university prepares specialists in the most modern fields – intelligent systems and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analysis, information and communication technologies, robotics, mechatronics, aviation, green energy, etc.

Prof. Králov emphasized the importance of research activities carried out in close collaboration with business. The leading technical university in the country and the region participates in three newly established Centers of Excellence, one of which is the National Center for Mechatronics and Clean Technologies, and in two Competence Centers, which are mainly funded by the European Operational Program "Science and Education for Intelligent Growth". Their task is to contribute to the development of applied research and development, their implementation in industrial production, and especially to transforming them into market products with high added value.

The international cooperation of TU – Sofia is highly developed, and a huge number of international scientific research projects are implemented, added Prof. Králov. In this regard, the participation of the Technical University – Sofia in the European Technological University EUt+, an alliance of eight universities from different European countries, which aims to develop science, innovation, technology, and engineering education in the context of building a future modern, green, and digital Europe, is of particular importance.  

Marcin Wasilewski presented the European Battery Alliance, created by the European Commission with the aim of bringing key production back to Europe. Currently, the alliance unites over 800 organizations, industrial partners, technology companies, financial institutions, and research centers, building bridges between them in pursuit of the common goal of building an innovative, competitive, and sustainable European battery industry. The alliance supports scientific research and development, innovative startups, and emphasizes the training of personnel needed for this rapidly developing industry, and here opportunities for cooperation with universities, such as TU – Sofia, open up, stated Marcin Wasilewski.

The meeting concluded with mutual wishes to maintain an active dialogue and cooperation between the Technical University – Sofia and the European Battery Alliance.