AGP Executive Report

AI in Bulgarian education: INSAIT at Sofia University launched Mamay AI Chat for Ukrainian speakers, letting users ask questions and work with documents, images and audio using MamayLM v2.0 on a sovereign platform also used for BgGPT. EU tech governance: The European Parliament moved to shield Bulgarian Renew Europe MEP Nikola Minchev (and others) from Belgian Huawei-related corruption probes by keeping immunity in place, escalating the clash between EU lawmakers and national prosecutors. Defense & industry in Bulgaria: Hemus 2026 opened in Plovdiv with major international participation, including F-16 Block 70 flyovers, and a focus on new inventions and EU defense production gaps. Energy & circular economy: Bulgaria’s minister said circular economy is a long-term national priority, including a nationwide deposit return system, while OECD ministers backed targeted industrial policies alongside open trade. EV infrastructure: The EIB will advise Ireland on a nationwide public EV charging rollout, aiming for access in every community. Underwater tech & heritage: Burgas hosts a forum on Black Sea shipwrecks and underwater archaeology using modern survey tech, robots and remote exploration.

AI for Languages: INSAIT at Sofia University launched Mamay AI Chat for Ukrainian speakers, letting users query in Ukrainian and work with documents, images and audio on a sovereign platform built for local control. EV Infrastructure: The European Investment Bank is partnering with Ireland to speed up a nationwide public EV charging network, using templates and financial models for local authorities. Circular Economy & Climate Policy: Bulgaria’s Minister Rositsa Karamfilova framed circular economy as a long-term national priority, pushing resource management, clean tech and a nationwide deposit return system. EU Politics & Tech Oversight: EU lawmakers voted to keep immunity for four MEPs tied to a Huawei corruption probe, blocking Belgian prosecutors from questioning them. Underwater Tech & Heritage: Burgas hosts a forum on underwater archaeology, highlighting modern survey tools like geophysics, underwater robots and remote exploration in the Black Sea. Defense & Industry: HEMUS 2026 opened in Plovdiv, with F-16 Block 70 flyovers and a focus on new inventions, production security and EU defense coordination. Mining in Bulgaria: DPM Metals reported a new high-grade gold-copper porphyry discovery near Chelopech, expanding drilling plans for 2026.

HEMUS 2026 Defence Tech: Bulgaria’s 17th International Defence Equipment and Services Exhibition opened in Plovdiv, running until June 6, with F-16 Block 70 jets flying over the fair and a programme on defence capabilities and industrial capacity. EU Economic Roadmap: The European Commission adopted the 2026 European Semester Spring Package, pushing reforms tied to competitiveness, innovation, decarbonisation, skills, housing and fiscal discipline. Green Transition Forum 6.0: Day three in Sofia focused on turning EU priorities into action, with talks on cohesion funding, fair sharing of the EU budget burden, and business capacity for sustainable management. F-16 Industrial Cooperation: Bulgaria signed Amendment No. 1 with Lockheed Martin under the F-16 Block 70 industrial cooperation programme, aiming to build local maintenance capabilities for generators. AI in Agriculture: Smart Farm Robotix (Bulgaria) is developing AI-powered autonomous weeding for organic farms, targeting reduced labour and herbicide-free weed control. Mining Update: DPM Metals reported a new high-grade gold-copper porphyry discovery near Chelopech, with drilling continuing to expand the target. Culture & Heritage: Bulgaria’s Pseudonature project from the Venice Architecture Biennale is set to be presented in Sofia before its Plovdiv museum run.

Bulgaria–Argentina Business Links: At a Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce forum, officials said both countries can expand cooperation in energy, high-tech manufacturing, infrastructure, agriculture, chemicals, innovation and tourism, with hopes that an EU–Mercosur deal will lift trade and narrow Bulgaria’s deficit. F-16 Industrial Cooperation: Bulgaria signed Amendment No. 1 with Lockheed Martin under the F-16 Block 70 industrial programme, aiming to build new maintenance capability in Bulgaria, including repairs for Block 70 generators. Defence Tech Showcase: HEMUS 2026 opens in Plovdiv with F-16 Block 70 flyovers and a focus on defence capabilities and industrial capacity across the European ecosystem. AI in Agriculture: Bulgaria-based Smart Farm Robotix is pushing an affordable autonomous weeding robot using computer vision and AI to cut manual labour and avoid herbicides. Mining Update: DPM Metals announced a new high-grade gold-copper porphyry discovery near Chelopech, with drilling continuing to expand the target. Cybercrime Alert: A Bulgarian suspect in the Bahamas ATM-skimming case may be linked to a wider fraud network, with warnings that other banks could be at risk. Energy Security Watch: Analysis highlights how the Hormuz crisis is reshaping southeast Europe’s energy strategy, pushing cross-border electricity and resilience planning. Tech & Culture: Pseudonature 2.0, blending solar power and artificial snow, is set to open in Sofia before its Plovdiv run.

Green Transition Forum 6.0: Day two in Sofia put the spotlight on how Bulgaria can turn EU priorities into action, with talks ranging from labour-market forecasting to energy and digital policy. Sustainable Business Skills: BICA says enterprises struggle most with low awareness of responsible practices and a shortage of sustainable management specialists, based on a BAS-backed survey across 17 sectors. Bulgaria–China Trade: Deputy PM Alexander Poulev pledged stronger cooperation with China at a trade and investment roundtable, aiming for more direct investment and a predictable environment for investors. AI in Agriculture: Smart Farm Robotix CEO Rossen Kolev explains an AI-powered weeding robot designed for Bulgaria’s hilly, uneven terrain and chemical-free standards. Economy Outlook: BAS economists outline three scenarios to 2028, with baseline growth easing to 1.6% in 2026 and inflation gradually falling. Energy Security Shock: Analysis warns the Hormuz crisis is deepening economic divides in southeast Europe by threatening energy stability and industrial competitiveness. Open Hardware DIY: Olimex founder Tsvetan Usunov shows how to repurpose an ESP32-POE board into a low-cost single-wire Wi‑Fi gateway. Euro & Digital Money: BNB deputy governor Karina Karaivanova argues the digital euro, AI and automation must be handled together to protect trust and stability. Local Tech & Transport: Ports are being pushed toward intermodal logistics, while a major repair will temporarily restrict traffic on the Ruse–Giurgiu Danube Bridge on June 4.

Cybersecurity & Patch Watch: Palo Alto warned that a PAN-OS/Prisma Access authentication bypass (CVE-2026-0257) is being exploited in the wild, tied to GlobalProtect setups—so admins should check configurations and patch plans fast. Open Hardware in Bulgaria: Olimex founder Tsvetan Usunov turned an ESP32-POE board into a low-cost single-wire Wi‑Fi gateway, using Arduino-based routing/NAT ideas for compact PoE-powered networking. Eurozone Tech & Money: BNB Deputy Governor Karina Karaivanova said Bulgaria’s euro adoption must boost trust, competitiveness and resilience, linking the digital euro with AI and automation under one stability goal. Energy Policy & Transport: Sofia hosted Green Transition Forum 6.0, with a push to modernize ports into intermodal logistics hubs and accelerate EU structural reforms. Infrastructure in Bulgaria: The Ruse–Giurgiu Danube Bridge will see major repair-related traffic suspensions on June 4–5. Health Research: A hydrolyzed whey-based formula mixed with breastfeeding lowered allergy risk in high-risk infants up to age 5, per a randomized trial. EV Charging Innovation: An Australian firm unveiled a direct EV-to-EV fast charger concept for stranded drivers, now entering field trials.

Spot-Fixing Watch: The Athletic reports World Cup integrity fears are rising as hundreds of events show suspicious betting patterns, with at least two players flagged by integrity experts for possible spot fixing. Energy Anxiety in Bulgaria: A national survey finds nearly 94% of Bulgarians worry about rising energy prices; many plan energy-efficiency upgrades, while most say the state isn’t doing enough. Green & Transport Tech in Sofia: Green Transition Forum 6.0 kicked off with a push to speed EU reforms; Bulgaria’s deputy transport minister says ports should become intermodal logistics hubs and highlights high-tech maritime traffic management. Disaster Response & Science Links: Sofia hosted the 14th Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence conference, stressing tighter ties between science, innovation, and field-ready solutions. Infrastructure Update: The Danube Bridge between Ruse and Giurgiu will see major repair-related traffic suspensions on June 4–5. Cybersecurity Brief: Palo Alto Networks warns a PAN-OS GlobalProtect authentication bypass is being exploited in the wild. Space & Security Skills: Bulgaria’s innovation deputy says EU space value chains need more SME and research participation, while EU-iNSPIRE targets cybersecurity workforce upskilling. Agritech Showcase: BATA AGRO 2026 opens in Stara Zagora with drones, irrigation, precision farming and test-drive demos.

EU Space Policy & Security: Bulgaria’s Deputy Innovation Minister Mira Yosifova pushed for simpler rules and stronger supply-chain resilience at an EU Competitiveness Council meeting, flagging Galileo/EGNOS/Copernicus and other programs as strategic assets. Agri-Tech on the Ground: BATA AGRO 2026 opened in Stara Zagora with 214 companies showing drones, irrigation, precision farming and precision tech—plus live demos for farmers. Cybersecurity Skills: The EU-iNSPIRE project aims to close Europe’s cybersecurity workforce gap by building a multi-disciplinary education ecosystem for AI and cyber insurance. Digital Signatures in Practice: A legal explainer in Cyprus highlights how eIDAS treats digital signatures as binding, not just “electronic” paperwork. Industry Modernization: GoodMills Bulgaria plans a €5m upgrade of milling lines, boosting efficiency and supporting higher-quality flour for pastries and baking. Defence Tech Showcase: HEMUS 2026 in Plovdiv grows Bulgarian participation to 107 exhibitors and spotlights drones, counter-drone tech, cybersecurity and AI. Energy Transition Debate: Analysis says Europe is still not moving fast enough on corporate EV adoption, with limited tax incentives across member states.

Astronomy & Public Science: Rozhen Observatory held a Pentecost open day, letting families tour the two-metre telescope and hear how Bulgaria’s biggest Southeast Europe astronomy complex works. Education & National Memory: In Vratsa, ministers and BTA leaders marked the 150th anniversary of Hristo Botev’s detachment and the April Uprising, with the National Tourist March drawing 1,400+ students. Defence Tech & Industry: HEMUS 2026 in Plovdiv (June 3–6) boosts Bulgarian participation by ~34%, with a focus on unmanned systems, counter-drone tech, cybersecurity, AI and civil protection. Energy Transition Watch: Analysis argues Europe still depends heavily on fossil fuels despite “energy diplomacy,” pushing the need for critical raw materials and new value chains. Food Prices Reality Check: Eurostat and OECD data show food costs keep rising even as inflation cools, with wages and supply-chain labour pressures still feeding the “price mountain.” Careers & Innovation: Sofia’s “Bulgaria Across Five Oceans” forum spotlighted longevity science, alumni networks, and AI-driven labour market change, alongside BTA’s internship push. Smart Marine Tech: ECO.BG plans to turn the decommissioned vessel Atanas Dimitrov into Bulgaria’s first smart artificial reef with real-time environmental monitoring sensors.

HEMUS 2026 Defence Tech: Plovdiv’s HEMUS exhibition (June 3–6) will feature 107 Bulgarian exhibitors, up ~34% from 2024, with a bigger net area and a focus on drones, counter-drone tech, cybersecurity, AI and civil protection. AI & Media Access: A new AI-assisted push aims to translate the TV series “The Chosen” into hundreds of languages, including hundreds of minority languages, using AI to speed localization. Bulgaria Across Five Oceans Careers: Sofia hosted panels on innovation, education and entrepreneurship, plus discussions on longevity, alumni networks and how AI is reshaping the labour market. National Cybershield: Bulgaria and Google Cloud launched an AI-powered national cyber protection initiative. Forensics & Standards: Bulgaria hosted the International Association of Forensic Sciences meeting, with talks on modernizing forensic frameworks and evidence collection. Child Safety Online: EU hotline data shows a surge in reports of illegal child sexual content, with Bulgaria flagged as the worst EU host for criminal webpages. Smart Ocean Tech: ECO.BG plans to sink the decommissioned vessel Atanas Dimitrov as Bulgaria’s first smart artificial reef with real-time environmental sensors.

Forensic Modernisation in Bulgaria’s Spotlight: India’s 2022 Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act is modernising forensics beyond the 1920 colonial framework, expanding DNA, iris/retina, handwriting and voice collection—debated at the IAFS-2026 meeting in Sofia. Public Health & Regulation: Croatia is seeing smoking at nearly 40% of adults, one of the highest EU rates, with experts pushing better cessation support, stronger tobacco/nicotine oversight, and more healthcare training. Digital Safety for Kids: EU co-funded hotlines logged 4.5M reports of potentially illegal online content in 2025, with child sexual abuse material the biggest share; Bulgaria is flagged as the worst EU host for criminal webpages. Bulgaria Tech & Infrastructure: Bulgaria’s Road Infrastructure Agency gets a new management board chair, while ECO.BG plans to turn the decommissioned vessel Atanas Dimitrov into a “smart” artificial reef with real-time environmental sensors. AI for Agriculture: Terra Oracle AI pitches an explainable AI agronomic advisor that turns fragmented farm data (soil, satellite, weather, operations) into actionable decisions for protected cultivation growers. EU Policy Watch: The Commission starts infringement steps against multiple states, including Bulgaria, over delayed transposition of the “green transition” consumer rules. Energy Transition: Europe’s renewables hit a power-generation inflection point, but grid and storage investment is accelerating—especially BESS and transmission deals.

Road Infrastructure Leadership: Aleksandar Todorov was appointed Chair of the Management Board of Bulgaria’s Road Infrastructure Agency, with new board members also named. Smart Ocean Tech: ECO.BG plans to sink the decommissioned vessel Atanas Dimitrov to create Bulgaria’s first smart artificial reef, using sensors for real-time environmental monitoring. Agile + Heritage Tech: Dr. Alistair Cockburn talks about using agile methods to speed up digital cultural heritage work, including collaboration with museum and history professionals. EU Startup Policy: The European Commission’s first Startup and Scaleup Scoreboard links pro-startup rules to better scaleup performance, talent access, and venture funding. Youth Jobs Dialogue: Bulgaria, Spain and Portugal discussed how young people face lower pay and longer transitions into work, with AI’s impact on labour markets a key theme. Cyber Safety for Kids: New EU hotline data highlights a surge in reports of child sexual abuse material, with Bulgaria flagged as a top host country for criminal webpages. Defence Innovation Push: Bulgaria’s Hemus 2026 will host a Startup Networking pitching event for dual-use tech firms. Water Management Warning: Experts say Bulgaria’s water problems are driven as much by governance and aging infrastructure as by climate change.

AI Safety & Online Abuse: EU co-funded hotlines logged 4.5M reports of potentially illegal child sexual abuse content in 2025, with Bulgaria flagged as the worst in the bloc for criminal webpages hosted. Tech Retail Ecosystems: Samsung Store in Bulgaria is expanding beyond shops via a partnership model with Postbank, adding consultation and repair access points inside bank branches. Cyber & Defense Tech: Bulgaria’s Transport ministry discussed Corridor VIII, airport modernization, and 6G network development plus critical infrastructure protection with the US. Energy Infrastructure: Bulgaria’s grid push continues with new BESS capacity and a broader EU renewables surge driving more battery storage and transmission deals. Water Management: Experts warn Bulgaria’s water failures come from governance gaps and aging infrastructure, not just climate change, calling for accountability and modernization. EU Rule Enforcement: The European Commission opened infringement steps against Bulgaria for delayed transposition of EU consumer/green-claims rules. Space & Research Links: Bulgaria and Sweden explored university partnerships in computer science, AI, and sustainable development. Startup for Defense: Hemus 2026 will host a Bulgarian dual-use startup pitching event focused on comms, energy, biotech, unmanned systems, and extreme-condition tech.

EU Consumer Rules: The European Commission has launched infringement steps against 20 member states, including Bulgaria, over delayed transposition of EU rules on green claims and sustainability labels—aimed at cutting greenwashing and improving consumer protection. Energy Storage Boom: Enery inaugurated Bulgaria’s Nova Zagora battery energy storage system (150 MW / 601 MWh), positioning large-scale BESS as a fast-growing tool for grid flexibility in Southeast Europe. Grid & Renewables Push: A new EU-wide surge in renewables is outpacing grid and storage buildout, with deal activity in batteries and transmission jumping as investors chase the next infrastructure wave. Water Management Warning: Bulgarian experts say water problems are driven as much by poor governance and aging infrastructure as by climate change, calling for accountability and modernization investment. Defense Tech Networking: Bulgaria’s Ministry of Innovation will host a Startup Networking pitching event during Hemus 2026, bringing dual-use tech startups to defence investors and companies. AI & Cybersecurity: Bulgaria’s Information Services and Google Cloud launched an AI-powered national Cybershield for improved protection of critical systems. Academia Collaboration: Bulgaria and Sweden are exploring university partnerships in computer science, AI, and sustainable development, with Jönköping University pitching industry-linked research and student mobility. BAS Historical Programme: The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences plans a three-year programme for major national historical anniversaries, starting preparations early after past organizational issues.

Energy Storage & Grid Resilience: Enery inaugurated Bulgaria’s largest standalone BESS in Nova Zagora (150 MW / 601 MWh), positioning battery storage as a fast-growing tool for Southeast Europe’s energy flexibility. Water Infrastructure & Governance: An expert warns Bulgaria’s water woes come more from poor management, aging infrastructure, and weak coordination than climate alone, calling for accountability and investment. Defence Tech & Startups: Bulgaria’s Ministry of Innovation will host “Startup Networking” during Hemus 2026 in Plovdiv, with 15 dual-use startups pitching solutions spanning communications, energy systems, biotech, unmanned tech, and extreme-condition operations. EU Competitiveness & Bureaucracy: The EC’s Bulgaria representation says Europe needs economic strength to compete globally, pointing to single-market measures and administrative simplification packages aimed at cutting billions in red tape. Transport, Aviation & 6G: Bulgaria and the US discussed Corridor VIII rail progress, airport modernization, direct Sofia–US routes, and 6G network development plus critical-infrastructure protection. AI Research Spotlight: INSAIT at Sofia University ranked top in Eastern Europe by accepted papers at CVPR 2026, with 17 accepted submissions and additional workshop and competition roles. Health & Innovation Access: EFPIA data shows innovative therapies reach fewer Bulgarian patients than before, with industry warning that pricing and reimbursement reforms are needed to stop access slipping. BTA Typography Upgrade: BTA received LIK 2.0, expanding support for all EU languages (including Greek) and improving numeric character proportions for public use.

AI & Research Spotlight: INSAIT at Sofia University topped Eastern Europe for accepted papers at CVPR 2026, landing 17 accepted publications (20 total with “discoveries”), plus an oral presentation—another signal that Bulgaria’s AI research is punching above its weight. Education Reform: OECD’s Andreas Schleicher says universities must reinvent themselves for the AI era, arguing that content is everywhere and accreditation shouldn’t lock learning inside one institution. Skills Mismatch: Bulgaria’s vocational education still doesn’t match labour-market demand, with the Institute for Market Economics putting the 2026 alignment index at 54.4/100 and showing major sector gaps. Health Policy: EFPIA warns access to innovative medicines is worsening in Bulgaria—only 46% of newly approved EU therapies reached the country in 2021–2024, down from 53% earlier. Public Tech & Culture: BTA received the updated LIK 2.0 typeface, now supporting all EU official languages including Greek, improving numerals after user feedback. Energy & Environment: Greenpeace Bulgaria staged a “TOXIC” banner action at Bobov Dol TPP, demanding tighter limits and a cleaner energy security plan. Geopolitics Tech Risk: Lithuania says Russia expanded GPS spoofing from 3 to 36 antennas in Kaliningrad, with interference reaching up to 450 km across parts of Europe.