FOCUS ERA Chair Research Agenda Launched at Mathematics Days in Sofia 2026

The Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IMI-BAS) hosted the official launch of the FOCUS ERA Chair Research Agenda as part of the Mathematics Days in Sofia (MDS) 2026 conference. The event brought together members of the Advisory Board, researchers, digital heritage experts and representatives of the academic community to present new approaches and research directions in the field of digital cultural heritage.

The session, held at Hall 256 of IMI-BAS , focused on the theme “Rethinking Digital Heritage: Challenges, Infrastructures, and Innovation Pathways in FOCUS” , presented by Milena Dobreva and Krassimira Ivanova . The presentation introduced the main objectives of the FOCUS ERA Chair, highlighting the project’s research priorities in digital heritage, data infrastructures, open innovation and the development of new approaches for preserving, accessing and reusing cultural heritage resources.

The programme featured contributions from leading Bulgarian and international researchers exploring innovative technologies and methodologies for digital cultural heritage.

Georgios Papaioannou presented research on digital archives of memory , focusing on how 3D reconstruction and open data can support the documentation and interpretation of inaccessible and challenging heritage sites. Lybomila Malcheva presented the Digital Twin of the Buzludzha Monument , demonstrating the potential of immersive digital models for cultural heritage preservation and engagement.

A research team from IICT consisting of Miglena Raykovska, Miryana Raykovska, Nikolay Petkov, Martin Tsvetkov, Rositsa Manova, Tanya Hristova, Georgi Ivanov, Svetlana Trifonova, Ivan Georgiev and Stefan Alexandrov presented work on the digital documentation and reconstruction of a Late Bronze Age urn burial from the necropolis near Baley, North-West Bulgaria . Vessela Statkova explored the theatre space as a complex resource of tangible and intangible cultural heritage and discussed pathways towards developing digital twin models.

The second part of the programme focused on open approaches, data reuse and emerging infrastructures for digital heritage. Mahendra Mahey presented the role of GLAM Labs as catalysts for digital cultural heritage reuse , while Gustavo Candela discussed the opportunities offered by Wikidata and GLAM collaborations for enriching digital collections.

Further presentations addressed innovative methods for mapping and sharing cultural heritage knowledge. Nikola Tulechki introduced approaches for mapping cultural heritage in urban environments through Wiki-OSM integration patterns for toponymic data. Krassimira Ivanova presented a platform approach for transforming restricted data into accessible AI services for cultural heritage, while Ivan Lambov explored blockchain-based solutions for sovereign data management and their potential applications in the cultural heritage domain.

The event concluded with a discussion on future research directions, collaboration opportunities and the role of digital technologies in enabling more open, accessible and sustainable cultural heritage ecosystems.

The launch of the FOCUS ERA Chair Research Agenda contributes to strengthening Bulgaria’s position in international digital heritage research and supports new collaborations between researchers, cultural institutions and technology communities.

The event was organised within the framework of Mathematics Days in Sofia (MDS) , a conference organised by the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the Union of the Bulgarian Mathematicians and the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics of Sofia University . MDS aims to present the latest scientific achievements in mathematics and informatics and to connect Bulgarian researchers working in Bulgaria and abroad.