Experts from the technology and defense sectors explored the intersections between the automotive industry and defense during the Innovations Day: Autonomous Systems & Defense forum held on February 25 at Sofia Tech Park. The event was organized by Automotive Cluster Bulgaria, in its role as project coordinator, together with Grand Tour Technology. It is part of the project led by Automotive & Mobility EDIH Bulgaria — a European Digital Innovation Hub supporting digital transformation and innovation in the automotive and manufacturing sectors. The hub aims to promote the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, artificial intelligence, and sustainable innovation across the industry. Through this project, participating companies gain access to training, certifications, events, demonstrations, and other services to support digital transformation and strengthen competitiveness. The forum brought together industry representatives, engineers, security experts, and members of the innovation ecosystem to discuss the advancement of autonomous unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and airspace protection technologies. During the opening, Automotive Cluster Bulgaria’s Executive Director, Lyubomir Stanislavov highlighted the strong connection between the automotive and defense sectors, emphasizing that highly trained automotive engineers can play a key role in developing next-generation autonomous technologies. Key program highlights included solutions for full autonomy in unmanned platforms based on artificial intelligence and edge computing, presented by Tihomir Nedev, Co-founder and CEO of Fadron. Integrated Counter-UAS solutions for airspace protection with a focus on civilian applications were presented by Ivo Karaneshev, and Dimitar Peikov from Grand Tour Technology. Topics related to AI-powered drones and intelligent security systems were discussed by Ivan Ivanov, Co-founder and CEO of Autonomous Monitoring Systems. Solutions for countermeasures and the protection of critical infrastructure and defense assets were showcased by Dimitry Nedov, Co-founder and CTO of SpearX. Regulatory aspects and challenges related to dual-use technologies were addressed by Tomas Dimitrov from Logos, an expert in European space policy, defense, and security. The event format encouraged in-depth discussions and direct exchange between participants, with a strong focus on real-world applications of autonomous technologies in both industry and security. Automotive & Mobility EDIH Bulgaria also announced that a series of free training sessions for end users will begin next week. The first session starts 05.03-06.03 and will focus on Lean practices and cost reduction, followed by a cybersecurity training on March 25. These trainings are offered under the De Minimis procedure and are free for participants. In addition, the hub highlighted that trainings can also be conducted on-site at companies. The hub also confirmed that additional events on topics relevant to the automotive and manufacturing sectors will be organized throughout the year. More photos of the event you may find in the Event Gallery.
