First T4EU T-Lab Fair & Second Stakeholder Challenge launched in Sofia, Bulgaria
2-4 June 2025 | Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Bulgaria
About
From 2 to 4 June 2025, the First T-Lab Fair & Second Stakeholder Challenge, organised by T4EU, was officially launched at the Rectorate Building of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. This initiative, part of the T4EU Environmental Transformation Lab ‘Smart cities and regions’, aimed at engaging young researchers and graduate students in the Alliance’s outreach, stimulating interdisciplinary research, and fostering collaboration with key stakeholders. The event’s thematic focus is on climate change and the adaptation of cities to the urban heat island effect through nature-based solutions. The events brought together more than 50 participants, students, young researchers, academics, business representatives, local authorities and other stakeholders.
On the first day, June 02, the Student’ Stakeholder Challenge kicked off. A total of 24 students from 7 partner universities (Saarland University, University of Alicante, Catholic University of Portugal, University of Silesia in Katowice, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, University of Trieste and Vytautas Magnus University) participated in the event, divided into 5 teams. They were introduced to the objectives of the “T4EU Stakeholder Challenge” format and got a lecture on “Climate change adaptation through smart city approach and understanding transforming geographies”. The day’s program also included practical training on working with geospatial data in a GIS environment, as well as a field visit to the case study area with a demonstration of geospatial data collection in an urban context. During the process, participants were supported by mentors – young scientists from the National University Centre for Geospatial Research and Technologies, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski (link).
The second day was the culmination of the Fair, which combined the work of student teams on the assigned case study to design a tactical urbanism intervention applying nature-based solutions that addresses climate adaptation needs in Sofia — specifically in the Lyulin district – using geospatial data and tools and expo which brought together leading companies in the field of geospatial technologies, as well as organizations and institutions that actively apply these innovations in their activities. The booths, where the latest technological solutions and exciting internship opportunities were presented, attracted particular interest among participants involving Ministry of Agriculture and Food, ESRI Bulgaria, Geodesy, cartography and cadastre agency – Republic of Bulgaria, Sofiyska Voda Ltd., part of Veolia, Geo-zona, Electrohold Bulgaria, Pontech BG, Geographica Ltd., Aerographica Geospatial.
The main stakeholders of the event were University Center of Geospatial Research and Technologies (NUCGRT) and Sofia Municipality.
Event partners were Bulgarian Geographical Society, Faculty of Geology and Geography, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Forest Research Institute, Applied Geoinformatics Department of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
The event concluded on 4 June with students’ group presentations to a jury of experts. Their valuable and innovative ideas will be shared with the people and the Sofia Municipality, which is a lasting partner and stakeholder of Sofia University in the T4EU Alliance. Student projects will also be published on the future T-Labs Platform as an innovative collaboration approach.
We hope that with this event, we have contributed to the promotion of geospatial technologies and their enormous application in science and business! Stay tuned for more information about the activities of T4EU Environmental Transformation Lab ‘Smart cities and regions’.
