site.btaBulgarian Academy of Sciences, Plovdiv Regional Administration Join Efforts to Establish Space Centre for Disaster Prevention

Plovdiv Regional Governor Georgi Yanev and Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) President Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva have signed a memorandum of cooperation, initiating joint efforts to establish Bulgaria's first regional space centre for natural disaster prevention and emergency management. The project aims to make Plovdiv Region a pilot area for the implementation of space technologies in crisis management, the regional administration said on Tuesday.

The centre will use real-time satellite data and space technologies for the early warning and prevention of natural disasters and emergencies. Its key functions will include early detection of forest fires, continuous monitoring of river basins, prevention of industrial incidents, support for precision agriculture, and the development of an integrated platform for data sharing and analysis to assist national and local authorities.

"The signing today is more than a formal act - it demonstrates that when institutions work with continuity and a shared vision for regional development, significant projects can become a reality," Yanev said. He added that the initiative has the potential to change the way institutions manage risks and respond to disasters.

The project framework was presented at the international Hemus 2026 seminar. The centre is expected to employ state-of-the-art satellite technologies to monitor the environment, critical infrastructure, and climate change, while also supporting the agricultural sector in addressing climate change. A key component of the project will be the use of innovative solutions developed by European space company constellr, which is building the world's first high-precision thermal satellite system for Earth observation. Using next-generation infrared sensors, the technology measures land surface temperatures with exceptional sensitivity, enabling the early detection of anomalies that conventional optical and radar satellites may miss, according to the regional administration.

BAS President Evelina Slavcheva highlighted Plovdiv's role as one of Bulgaria's leading scientific centres. She also thanked Space Research and Technology Institute Director Kamen Iliev, describing him as the driving force behind the initiative over the past several years.