site.bta"Evolving with Nature": Bulgaria’s Vision for Expo 2025 Unveiled

The motto of the Bulgarian Pavilion at Expo 2025 is "Evolving with Nature". The motto was unveiled by Iskren Krastev, a member of the team behind Bulgaria’s concept for its visual presentation at the Osaka World Expo, during a business breakfast organized by the Japan-Bulgaria Business Association (JBBA).

The event was held in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA). Among the attendees were President Rumen Radev; Tomislav Donchev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth; Petar Dilov, Minister of Economy and Industry; Miroslav Borshosh, Minister of Tourism; Hisashi Michigami, Japan's Ambassador to Bulgaria; Dr. Boyko Takov, Executive Director of BSMEPA; and Todor Kesimov, Chairman of JBBA.

Iskren Krastev is an entrepreneur and mentor to hundreds of companies. He builds innovation ecosystems and leads the implementation of AI technologies in regulated industries. Other project participants include architect Maria Gospodinova and MP-Studio.

Krastev highlighted that for generations, the Bulgarian bacterium Lactobacillus bulgaricus has been improving lives worldwide. Fifty-five years ago, during the Expo in Osaka, Bulgarian yogurt became part of Japanese cuisine and wellness after Emperor Hirohito and his wife endorsed its health benefits, forever linking it to Bulgaria. Today, Bulgarian innovators continue this global mission by helping the world advance. As the sixth space-faring nation and the third to develop space food, Bulgaria now also proudly develops nanosatellites capable of monitoring pollution in the air, soil, and oceans in near-real time. Emergency responses have become unprecedentedly fast - Krastev noted that a 1-square-meter wildfire can now be detected from space within five minutes.

Just as Bulgarian engineer John Atanasoff invented the first digital computer, Bulgaria today is among Europe’s leading IT hubs, boasting one of the fastest internet connections and exceptional human capital. Krastev also pointed out that Bulgaria is one of the few countries developing its own AI language model. In the pursuit of a world where technology harmonizes with nature, Bulgarian AI innovators analyze data and design new molecules to help humanity evolve alongside the natural world.

Bulgaria has also established the world’s first licensed cargo drone airline, develops cutting-edge software for autonomous and electric vehicles, and is one of Europe's largest producers of bicycles and e-bikes, he noted. The country also has strong traditions in the pharmaceutical industry and health tech innovations. Additionally, Bulgaria is the EU’s largest producer of herbs, medicinal plants, and spices, and holds a 50% share of the global rose oil market, making it a global leader. Beyond innovation and business potential, Bulgaria is a masterpiece of nature and culture that deserves to be explored, Krastev emphasized.

Strahil Yordanov, Creative Director at MP-Studio, said that the Bulgarian pavilion at Expo 2025 will be a living space uniting past, present, and future to foster collaboration and empathy. Visitors will experience Bulgaria’s culture, history, and science and explore the country’s picturesque landscapes and cutting-edge innovations - ones that tackle today’s challenges and save lives, Yordanov said.

He added that the “Future Zone” will be particularly exciting for visitors, as it will bring humanity’s horizons to life through an impressive 360-degree projection. This immersive display will showcase how we, as people, create the future.

An interactive installation will allow visitors to share their values for tomorrow. Using AI, these messages will be transformed into a dynamic artwork, displayed for future guests to see. This will create a six-month-long "pass it forward" effect, offering a collective insight into how visitors to the Bulgarian pavilion envision the future. The visual experience will be enriched by contributions from Bulgarian children, who will share their visions for a better world.

“We believe one of the pavilion’s most beloved symbols will be the Bulgarian mascot Lacto-chan,” Yordanov added, explaining that the name symbolizes the bond between Bulgaria and Japan, blending science, culture, and friendship. "Lacto" is inspired by Lactobacillus bulgaricus, the unique bacterium behind Bulgaria’s famous yogurt, while "chan" is a Japanese suffix expressing affection, often used for children or cute characters.

“Lacto-chan isn’t a superhero bacterium, but a community of bacteria working together like superheroes,” Yordanov said.

The meeting was also attended by BTA Director General Kiril Valchev.