Agricultural University Participates in a Scientific Forum in South Africa

The Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs, Prof. Dr. Dimo Atanasov, represented the Agricultural University at the highly prestigious Science Forum South Africa (SFSA 2024), organized by the Department of Science and Innovation of the Republic of South Africa (DSTI).

Prof. Atanasov was part of the Bulgarian delegation, which also included Prof. Dobri Yarkov, Rector of the Trakia University – Stara Zagora; Prof. Darina Zaimova, Vice-Rector of Trakia University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikola Konstantinov, representative of the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Technology (INSAIT); and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lyuba Slavcheva-Mikhova, representative of the Institute of Astronomy at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS).

Her Excellency Maria Tsotsorkova, Bulgarian Ambassador to South Africa, warmly welcomed the Bulgarian delegation to this significant forum, held from December 2 to December 5, 2024.

A highlight of the visit was the panel discussion titled "Perspectives on Research and Innovation Cooperation between Bulgaria and South Africa". The discussion took place at the International Conference Center of CSIR, initiated by the Bulgarian Embassy in Pretoria in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria and the South African Department of Science and Innovation.

The goal of the panel discussion was to deepen bilateral cooperation between Bulgaria and South Africa in areas such as sustainable agriculture, astronomy, computer science, and artificial intelligence.

During the discussion, Prof. Dr. Dimo Atanasov had the opportunity to meet and commence negotiations for bilateral academic and research exchanges with representatives from the University of Namibia, the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).

As part of their visit to South Africa, the Bulgarian academic delegation also toured key institutions, including the Agricultural Research Center, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the State Institute for Astronomy (DSTI), the Center for Cybersecurity and High-Performance Computing, the TOKABIO Biolab, and the HartRAO Radio Astronomy Observatory.

Photos: Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in South Africa.