Today, on 16.05.2022, the official opening ceremony of the "National Center for Mechatronics and Clean Technologies", Campus "Student City", on the premises of the Technical University – Sofia, took place. The project is funded by the Operational Programme "Science and Education for Intelligent Growth" 2014-2020, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.
The Campus "Student City" at TU – Sofia is headed by Prof. Dr. Eng. Georgi Todorov, and it houses sixteen laboratories equipped with the most modern and unique in the country equipment and infrastructure, which is a prerequisite for conducting cutting-edge research in the fields of mechatronics, virtual engineering and digital manufacturing, robotic systems and mechatronic technologies, biomechatronics, micro/nano engineering for mechatronic technologies, vibrational and acoustic mechatronic technologies, additive technologies, functional coatings and new materials, control systems, energy efficiency, sustainable use of raw materials and resources, transport engineering, electromobility, etc.
The Center of Excellence "Mechatronics and Clean Technologies" is composed on the principle of "complementarity-synergy" and brings together leading scientific groups from the Technical University – Sofia, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", institutes of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (12 in total), Technical University – Varna, Technical University – Gabrovo, and University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy – Sofia. The role of each is to coordinate, organize and conduct independent research activities in the field of mechatronics and clean technologies. In order to establish closer ties with business, through a publicly announced competition, the Mechatronics Cluster, "Borima" EAD, and the Association for Scientific Research and Development (ASRD), located in Sofia Tech Park, have been attracted as associated partners. To ensure a higher scientific level, again through an announcement, structures from world-renowned universities (Tel Aviv, Berlin, and Delft) and the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology – Zurich have been attracted as associated partners.
The plan for the research activities under the project is designed to ensure, establish, operate, develop, and transform the Center into a leading national and competitive European scientific structure within a 10-year period. This guarantees added value to the implementation of the program for sustainable and intelligent economic growth of Bulgaria.
Official guests at the ceremony were Acad. Nikolai Denkov, Minister of Education and Science, Yordanka Fandakova, Mayor of Sofia, Prof. Dr. Georgi Vaysilov – Executive Director of the Executive Agency "Education Program", Prof. Dr. Plamen Stefanov from the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, head of the project "National Center for Mechatronics and Clean Technologies", Prof. Dr. Eng. Iliya Zhelezarov, Rector of the Technical University – Gabrovo, Prof. Dr. Eng. Senya Terzieva-Zhelyazkova, Rector of the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy – Sofia, Bogdan Bogdanov, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Investment Agency, Ivan Mihaylov, Manager of "Visteon Electronics Bulgaria" EOOD and member of the Board of Trustees of TU – Sofia, directors of scientific institutes, representatives of business, teachers, researchers and students.
The Rector of the Technical University – Sofia, Prof. Dr. Eng. Ivan Králov, welcomed the guests on behalf of the academic leadership and thanked everyone who participated in the construction of the "Student City" campus – the project management, the leadership and the scientific-expert council of the campus, the research teams, the administrative staff and employees, the builders, the supervision and investor control, as well as the municipal administration. "I also extend special thanks to the Managing Authority of the OP HRD, which supported and motivated us to seek and justify the need for the most modern equipment and its delivery in full compliance with regulatory requirements. This project would not have been possible without the immense understanding and assistance from the leadership and staff of the Ministry of Education and Science, and we are extremely grateful for their help, empathy and pioneering spirit," Prof. Králov stated.
The National Centre for Mechatronics and Clean Technologies began as an idea at the end of 2014, going through analyses, negotiations, project preparation, and application and approval phases. In 2017, a consortium of institutes of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), leading universities, and associated business partners won the project to build this largest in the country facility, valued at nearly 70 million leva. In addition to the construction of three campuses – at BAS, TU – Sofia, and at SU "St. Kliment Ohridski" – and their equipping with state-of-the-art research infrastructure, the first period until the end of 2023 also includes the creation of scientific capacity to conduct top-level research and ensure the sustainability of the Centre's activities during the next five-year period. Another key objective of the project is to establish close ties with business, support it, and achieve a real transfer of modern technologies to it. "Even with the formation of the project team and the preparation of the project, several unprecedented effects were achieved to date: unification and synergy among researchers from different scientific institutions – BAS institutes, higher education institutions, business companies, and employer organizations. The well-structured framework, clear vision, and plan for the construction of the entire top-level infrastructure and scientific capacity are vivid proof of the desire and capabilities of the Bulgarian scientific community to fulfill its social commitment to society and business," Prof. Králov pointed out.
The "Student City" Campus was built in about two years through the reconstruction and renovation of educational-experimental facilities from the 1970s. It was designed according to the requirements of the researchers for the 16 laboratories within it. To date, a large part of the equipment has been delivered, with the total investment valued at approximately 19 million BGN. A significant portion of this equipment consists of some of the first machines produced in the world, and for some of them, researchers from TU – Sofia have developed the technologies and tools for their use.
"It is an immense pride for us that some of the engineering solutions in this campus are developments by engineering teams from TU – Sofia; they hold patent protection, and some of them are already being realized in the market. I am proud to note that among the appointed researchers in this campus are three top graduates from our cohorts – highly qualified young engineers. This is a clear proof that we are on the right track and a guarantee for the sustainability of the project," Prof. Králov emphasized. "Let us wish that, just like the campus, the entire Centre of Excellence for Mechatronics and Clean Technologies becomes a real technological transfer complex of knowledge, engineering solutions, and technologies from science to industry, regions, and society. Farewell and many happy returns," concluded the Rector of TU – Sofia, Prof. Králov
In his welcome address, the Minister of Education and Science, Acad. Nikolai Denev, congratulated the project team and the management of TU – Sofia on the construction and opening of the campus well ahead of the deadline, the end of 2023. "The success of the project depends on the material and technical base, the work of qualified researchers, the rules of operation and its financing, but also on the creative spirit that will prevail here. We must create the necessary conditions for talented and motivated young people to find their realization in Bulgaria. The Ministry of Education and Science will be a partner to every educational and scientific organization that sets high goals," stated Minister Nikolai Denev.
The Mayor of Sofia, Mrs. Yordanka Fandakova, congratulated all partners involved in the implementation of the project and above all the management and team of the Technical University – Sofia. "The project fits into the Strategy for Digital Transformation of the capital. The Municipality of Sofia and, in particular, the district administration also have their contribution to the construction of the Center. The Ministry of Education and Science and the scientific community have proven that they can manage significant financial resources and build modern research infrastructure. The Municipality of Sofia can develop technologically, in cooperation with TU – Sofia and other universities, in close connection with business. With TU – Sofia, we are also working on a project to improve the energy efficiency of the Sofia metro. I wish success to the Center, I believe in the talent and capacity of the people in Sofia," stated Yordanka Fandakova.
Prof. Dr. Eng. Georgi Todorov, Head of the Campus "Student City", made a brief presentation of the project, outlining its goals, stages, and expected results from its activities.
The President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Rumen Radev, sent a congratulatory message to the management of the Technical University – Sofia on the occasion of the opening of the National Center for Mechatronics and Clean Technologies, Campus "Student City".
At the end of the ceremony, the official guests cut the ribbon and opened the Center, after which they toured the functioning laboratories.
