STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF RUSE "ANGEL KANCHEV" WON THIRD PLACE AT THE PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL "AQUASENSE IOT 2026" HACKATHON IN BURGAS

 Second-year students majoring in Computer Systems and Technologies at the University of Ruse  "Angel Kanchev" secured third place in the student category at the international "AquaSense IoT Hackathon 2026."

    The prestigious science and technology forum took place on May 17–18th , 2026, in Burgas, bringing together over 80 young innovators and engineers from across the country and abroad. The three-day event was hosted by  University in Burgas "Professor Asen Zlatarov", with IEEE Bulgaria and the  University of Ruse "Angel Kanchev" serving as co-organizers.

In a highly competitive field of 16 finalist teams, the University of Ruse—comprising Vladislav Daskalov, Deyvid Deyanov, Sinan Sabriev, and Teodor Tsvetanov—impressed the expert jury with their project, "Intelligent System for Real-Time Water Monitoring and Analysis." The students were mentored by Prof. Georgi Hristov, PhD and Chief Assistant Professor Georgi Georgiev, PhD from the Department of Telecommunications.

The project developed by the future engineers from Ruse is a comprehensive IoT (Internet of Things) solution for environmental monitoring. It comprises a hardware component featuring specialized sensors that measure five key water parameters in real time: pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, depth, and temperature. The data is transmitted to a server architecture for processing and visualized via a web interface. A unique advantage of the system is its integrated artificial intelligence (AI) functionality. Since different bodies of water (rivers, lakes, seas) possess specific natural characteristics, the AI model autonomously learns from collected historical data. In this way, the system identifies correlations between parameters and establishes dynamic hazard thresholds. Upon a sudden change or deviation in these parameters, the platform automatically signals a potential environmental risk.

The final stage of the hackathon and the project presentations took place on St. Anastasia Island and in the multifunctional hall of the Chengene Skele Cultural and Tourist Complex. The international character of the event was highlighted by the presence of representatives from Azerbaijan, while the finalists included teams from the Technical University of Varna, Burgas State University, and leading specialized IT high schools from across Bulgaria.

The initiative is being implemented as part of project BG16RFPR002-1.014-0016, the "BLUE CRYSTAL" Competence Centre, funded by the "Research, Innovation and Digitalisation for Smart Transformation" Programme 2021–2027 and co-financed by the European Union. The hackathon was held with the support of the "UNITe" Centre of Excellence and the "Education with Science" and K-TRIO projects.


THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY INNOVATIVE YOUTH EXPO WAS HELD AT THE KANEV CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF RUSE "ANGEL KANCHEV" ON MAY 14TH, 2026

    The opening ceremony was attended by the rector of the University of Ruse, Prof. Desislava Atanasova, PhD; Academician Hristo Beloev, DscEng—Honourary rector and chair of the Ruse Municipal Council; the mayor of Ruse Municipality, Mr. Pencho Milkov; the head of the Regional Education Administration, Dr. Rositsa Georgieva; Father Simeon of the Ruse Metropolis; the university’s vice-rectors, Prof. Teodor Iliev, PhD, Prof. Daniel Bratanov, PhD and Assoc. Prof. Galina Ivanova, PhD.
    The edition of this year of the EXPO brought together participants at 35 exhibition booths—an impressive achievement that demonstrates the sustainable development  of the forum and growing interest. Visitors had the opportunity to view a variety of projects, prototypes, experimental models, samples, and demonstrations showcasing innovative ideas and practical solutions.
     The Department of Telecommunications participated in the EXPO with a team of faculty members, department staff, and students from the 2nd, third, and fourth-year students majoring in “Internet and Mobile Communications,” who introduced visitors and event participants to the activities of the “Robotics and Embedded Systems” research laboratory and demonstrated the capabilities of various robotic platforms and systems.

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 A  SEMINAR  WAS HELD AT THE UNITE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (UNITE CoE) AT tTHE UNIVERSITY OF RUSE "ANGEL KANCHEV", ORGANIZED BY THE TEAM OF RESEARCH GROUP 3.1.3. "INTELLIGENT CYBER PHYSICAL -SYSTEM AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR GENERATING AND VISUALIZING SPATIAL OBJECTS AND PROCESSES" UNDER THE PROJECT "RUSE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY", LED BY PROF. GEORGI HRISTOV, PHD FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS ON MAY 12TH, 2026

 On May 12th , 2026, a seminar was held at the UNITE Centre of Excellence (UNITE CoE) at the University of Ruse "Angel Kanchev", organized by the team of Research Group 3.1.3. "Intelligent Cyber-Physical Systems and Technologies for Generating and Visualizing Spatial Objects and Processes" under the "Ruse Research University" project, led by Prof. Georgi Hristov, PhD from the Department of Telecommunications.

The event was dedicated to technology transfer in the field of intelligent cyber-physical systems and 3D technologies.

The seminar was attended by Prof. Izzatidin Abdul Aziz, PhD from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS in Malaysia, Prof. Patricia Fernanda da Silva, PhD from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, Dr. Sokchenda Sreng and Dr. Kosorl Thourn from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia in Cambodia, doctoral students Dragana Zecevic, Sara Ivkovic, Mirjana Stojanovic, Vladan Barovic, Denis Lukac, and Marko Asanovic from the Faculty of Transport, Communications, and Logistics at Adriatik University Bar in Montenegro, as well as members of Research Group 3.1.3., which consists primarily of faculty members from the Department of Telecommunications at the University of Ruse.

During the event, guests were briefed on the goals and objectives of the "Ruse Research University" project, which is funded by the European Union —NextGenerationEU—through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria, under contract BG-RRP-2.013-0001, as well as the research group's main activities and results. Project BG16RFPR002-1.014-0004 was also presented - The Centre of Excellence "Universities for Science, Informatics, and Technologies in the e-Society" (UNITE), which is funded by the "Scientific Research, Innovation, and Digitalization for Smart Transformation" Programme 2021–2027 and co-funded by the European Union.

After the presentations by the hosts, the guests also introduced their institutions and their activities, as well as research and educational projects currently underway at the four organizations in South America, Asia, and Europe.

The presentations were followed by a discussion during which opportunities for collaboration between the members of the research group and the guests were explored. The visiting faculty members and doctoral students also had the opportunity to visit the laboratories for 3D digitization, kinematics, 3D printing, and 3D visualization at the UNITE Centre for Advanced Technologies at the University of Ruse "Angel Kanchev" and to learn about the results of the researchers' work at the centre.

HONOURARY SCIENTIFIC LECTURE TITLED "3D TECHNOLOGIES IN THE SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

 Prof. Plamen Zahariev, PhD, Prof. Georgi Hristov, PhD,  and Assoc. Prof. Nina Bencheva, PhD will deliver an honourary scientific lecture titled "3D Technologies in the Scientific and Educational Activities of Higher Education Institutions." The event will take place on January 30th , 2024, at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, and is part of a series of honourary lectures organized by the Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Computer, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Association (ECTI).

The collaboration between the University of Ruse  "Angel Kanchev" and Chulalongkorn University dates back to 2020. In 2022, the two institutions signed a memorandum of cooperation in the fields of education and research, as well as an institutional agreement for the exchange of faculty members, doctoral candidates, and students. Under these agreements, two students from Chulalongkorn University will study at the University of Ruse this year, while two of their faculty members will undertake short-term training and specialization programmes. The two universities were long-standing partners in implementing the activities of project No. 609854-EPP-1-2019-1-FR-EPPKA2 CBHE-JP ASEAN FACTORI 4.0, which was funded under the Erasmus+ programme and aimed to establish a distributed Centre of Excellence in industrial automation across seven universities in Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.

The lecture by Prof. Plamen Zahariev, PhD, Prof. Georgi Hristov, PhD, and Assoc. Prof. Nina Bencheva, PhD focuses on 3D technologies and the application of 3D scanning and printing methods in the research and educational processes at the University of Ruse. It also addresses their work on the digitization, visualization, and promotion of cultural, historical, and natural heritage, carried out at the Centre of Excellence (CoE UNITE – Ruse). This centre was established at the University of Ruse under Project BG05M2OP001-1.001-0004, "Universities for Science, Informatics and Technologies in the e-Society" (Project UNITE), funded by the Operational Programme "Science and Education for Smart Growth."


TWO STEM TRAINING COURSES WERE HELD FOR TEACHERS FROM PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE RUSE MUNICIPALITY

16th  December, 2023

 The scientific team behind the UNITe Project organized and conducted two STEM training courses for teachers from primary and secondary schools in the Municipality of Ruse between October 28th , 2023, and December 16th , 2023. The events were carried out based on an initiative by, and with the assistance of, the Centre for Student Technical and Scientific Creativity – Ruse (CSTSC-Ruse).

The "Robotics with micro:bit" training course is designed for 3rd and 4th-grade students, enabling them to apply block-based programming principles not only to solve various mathematical problems but also to control mini-robots, participate in engaging games, and have fun. The course sessions utilize micro:bit microcontrollers and micro:maqueen mini-robots.

The "Block-Based Drone Programming" training course is aligned with the curricula for 6th and 7th-grade students, offering them an engaging and innovative way to solve mathematical and practical problems through the block-based programming of DJI Tello mini-drones.

   More than 20 teachers participated in the two courses, which were led by instructors from the Department of Telecommunications at the University of Ruse "Angel Kanchev". In the coming months, all participants who completed the training will have the opportunity to integrate and apply the knowledge they gained in actual lessons with students from primary and secondary schools in the Municipality of Ruse, as well as in courses offered by CSTSC-Ruse.