Google is giving another $1m to INSAIT, the AI institute at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", the government press office said. Google announced the gift at a meeting with Prime Minister Rumen Radev.
The money is direct funding plus Google Cloud credits, which give access to computing power. The institute for computer science, artificial intelligence and technology will use it to expand its research and its work on a new generation of AI models.
The gift supports AI for science and maths, robotics, Earth observation and technological sovereignty.
Google has backed the institute since it was set up in 2022. With the new gift, its total support tops $7m. The government press office calls that unprecedented for Bulgaria and the region.
Deputy prime minister and economy, investment and industry minister Alexander Pulev and innovation and digital transformation minister Ivan Vasilev also attended. The two sides discussed how to widen cooperation in high technology and investment in Bulgaria's digital infrastructure. They also talked about digitalisation, the competitiveness of the economy, cyber security and possible joint projects in the space industry.
Radev thanked Google for backing INSAIT. "Bulgaria has excellent human potential, which is the greatest wealth of our country," he said. Investment and partnerships like this help keep many young, talented people in Bulgaria, Radev said.
The prime minister said partnerships with leading tech firms matter for the growth of high technology and for keeping talent at home. He added that the government is very ambitious on digitalisation and has a lot to offer investors.
Google Cloud vice president Marianne Janik said: "By deepening our partnership with INSAIT, we are committed to helping Bulgaria build a competitive and secure digital future." She added that Google greatly values its continuing cooperation with the Bulgarian government.
Earlier today, Radev also met representatives of the American-Central European Business Association (ACEBA), together with Vasilev and health minister Katya Ivkova. He told them a strong economy is the basis of cooperation between Bulgaria and the US. He said American investment is a priority because it brings high technology and successful models for building a modern economy.