A gold medal with a ring and a blue ribbon, as well as an honorary certificate, were presented by the rector of TU-Sofia, Prof. Dr. Georgi Venkov. Following the official ceremony, Prof. Todorov delivered a public lecture on the topic "Virtual Engineering and the Real World," in which he traced the development of engineering technologies and the place of specialists from TU-Sofia and his team in the global industry.
In his lecture, Prof. Todorov shared his professional journey, which spans more than 40 years. It passed through the era of analog design and drawings, through the advent of two-dimensional computer graphics, to modern 3D technologies and virtual engineering, which today are at the core of the development of the global industry.
All of Prof. Todorov's educational and academic degrees were obtained at the Technical University – Sofia. It is the knowledge and training received at the university that enable him to participate in international projects and work with leading global companies. Over the years, he has participated in over 200 engineering business projects, where the defense of each technical solution required in-depth argumentation and high expertise.
According to him, the 1990s were particularly challenging, as new technologies for three-dimensional modeling were just entering the industry. At that time, they were still not widely known in Bulgaria, and Prof. Todorov was among the specialists who actively promoted their application and changed the understanding of engineering design among international partners.
Today, more than half of the engineers working in the field of 3D technologies in Bulgaria are graduates of the Technical University – Sofia. Under the scientific supervision of Prof. Todorov, over 25 doctoral students have successfully defended their theses and today hold key positions in the industry. Thus, a strong scientific and professional school has been formed, whose results are recognized both in academic circles and in business.
Prof. Todorov paid due tribute to his teachers and mentors. Among them are Assoc. Prof. Alexander Lyubenov – a specialist with many years of international experience in Vienna, Berlin, and the USA, as well as Eng. Asen Valev, long-time technical director of the ZMM association, from whom he learned the basic principles of engineering thinking and practice.
He also made special mention of Prof. Nikola Todorov, whom he described as a true visionary. It was his understanding of the potential of 3D technologies and his ability to look far ahead that had a strong influence on the professional development of Prof. Georgi Todorov.
As an example of continuity in the academic environment, Prof. Todorov also pointed to the current Dean of the Faculty of Industrial Technologies, Prof. Konstantin Kamberov, who has transformed from a graduate student into his successor in the leadership position. He emphasized the importance of teamwork and sustainable development, noting that a large part of the colleagues with whom he started working more than three decades ago continue to be part of the university's academic community.
According to Prof. Todorov, over the years, the Technical University – Sofia has continuously expanded its scientific and educational fields – from 3D technologies and engineering design to optimization methods and digital solutions. Today, the university is a leader not only in terms of its infrastructure but also as a school for training highly qualified engineers.
In conclusion, Prof. Todorov addressed a message to young people. According to him, professionalism is built daily through persistence, learning, and a drive for development. He encouraged students not to stop dreaming, because "a person is as great as their dreams are," to remember their roots, and above all, to be good people.
"As a lecturer, I can show the direction, but every young person must find their own path," emphasized Prof. Georgi Todorov.
