site.btaINSAIT Surpassed the Expectations We Had Set, Prime Minister Zhelyazkov Says

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and his guest Guy Parmelin, head of the Federal Department for Economic Affairs, Education and Research of the Swiss Confederation, attended the celebration of the fourth anniversary of the establishment of the Institute of Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology – INSAIT.

“The activities of the Institute of Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology – INSAIT surpassed the expectations we had set and showed that the establishment of a sustainable model in partnership with the technological institute is exceptionally successful,” Prime Minister Zhelyazkov said.

“We have marked four years of successful development, deepening of the long-term cooperation in the field of science, education and technology,” the Prime Minister said. The fulfilment of the Bulgarian-Swiss programme for the first and the second cohesion period of cooperation was exceptionally successful, he added. “The programme greatly benefits the development of important and sensitive areas connected to education, scientific research, environmental protection and countering corruption,” Zhalyazkov said. He added that CHF 90,000,000 have been earmarked for the new programming period.

According to the Prime Minister, “no one imagined four years ago when INSAIT started its work that artificial intelligence would develop so quickly, that’s why the results that the Institute has achieved are really encouraging.” Zhelyazkov explained that university students, post graduate students, doctoral students from over 150 countries meet at INSAIT. “The interest is enormous, there are more than 4,000 applications for 10 seats. This gives Sofia the chance to turn into a computer science and new technologies centre,” he added.

The Bulgarian state’s priority is to run high-tech scientific research, Zhelyazkov said and added that with this Institute, Bulgaria will attract more capital from leading institutions and companies. According to him, INSAIT is a model for a successful transformation through partnership and vision.

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Zhelyazkov welcomed Guy Parmelin at the Council of Ministers. “As a government, we will do everything possible to make the cooperation between Bulgaria and Switzerland even more fruitful,” Zhelyazkov said at the meeting. Parmelin is visiting Sofia at the invitation of the Prime Minister.