27 – 29 October 2025 | The Venue, Sofia Tech Park
National Space Forum 2025
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27 – 29 October 2025 | The Venue, Sofia Tech Park
The National Space Forum (NaFSKI) highlights the most recent advancements in education, science, and business within the field of space research in Bulgaria. It brings together prominent figures from both Bulgaria and abroad, fostering new opportunities for collaboration and engagement.
The sixth National Space Forum (NaFSKI-VI) is organised by Branch Cosmos of the Union of Physicists in Bulgaria.
October 2025
The Venue
Sofia Tech Park
The event was held in person and in English
The call for papers for the NaFSKI-VI proceedings is open.
All research with original results presented during NaFSKI-VI, including in the e-poster session, is eligible for publication in the proceedings.
and members of
NaFSKI-V is under the auspices of the Ministry of Innovation and Growth
With the financial support of
Sponsors
27 October
09:00 – 18:00
09:00-09:30 Registration
09:15-09:30 Opening address: Deputy Minister Prof. Dr. George Angelov [Ministry of Innovation and Growth]
09:30-11:00 Session: Remote sensing {moderator: Guergana Guerova [Sofia University]}
09:30-10:00 invited speaker: Dr. Stefania Ciliberti [Nologin Oceanic Weather Systems, Santiago de Compostela, Spain] From Space to Sea: Improving Ocean Forecasting with Copernicus Marine Data
10:00-10:15 Petya Angelova [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Overview of potential application of quantum computing in atmospheric remote sensing
10:15-10:30 Vasilena Krazheva [Wiser Technology] Intelligent Road Infrastructure – ML for detecting road features using high resolution satellite imagery
10:30-10:45 Rositsa Miteva [Institute of Astronomy and NAO – BAS] Geomagnetic storm effects on satellite orbits
10:45-11:00 Ivaylo Nachev [Technical University of Sofia] Impact of solar activity on ionospheric dynamics and high-energy particle fluxes over Antarctica
11:00-11:30 Coffee break
11:30-13:00 Session: Sun and exo-space weather {moderator: Rositsa Miteva [IANAO–BAS]}
11:30-12:00 invited speaker: Dr. Werner Pӧtzi [Kanzelhoehe Observatory and University of Graz, Austria] Solar observations with the telescopes in Belogradchik observatory and St. George International School
12:00-12:15 Momchil Dechev [Institute of Astronomy and NAO – BAS] Results from the Bulgarian-Austrian project on solar and coronal activity
12:15-12:30 Denitza Stoeva [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Long-Period Magnetic Activity in the K-Dwarf GJ 1137 and a new Super Earth on a 9-day orbit
12:30-12:45 Stefan Stefanov [Institute of Astronomy and NAO – BAS / Sofia University] A Warm Jovian Exoplanet Exhibiting Transit Timing Variations Indicating a Nearby Companion, and Evidence for a Cold Jupiter from HARPS and FEROS Observations
12:45-13:00 Anna Görgei [Konkoly Observatory / Eötvös University] Radio and optical observation of flares and coronal mass ejections in the Hyades open cluster
13:00-13:30 Lunch
13:30-15:30 Session: ESA & NASA space missions for science {moderator: Deyan Mihaylov [Case Western Reserve University / Sofia University]}
13:30-14:00 invited speaker: Prof. Glenn Starkman [Case Western Reserve University, USA] The End of the Cosmological Principle
14:00-14:15 Antoaneta Antonova [Institute of Astronomy and NAO – BAS] Spectroscopic and archival studies of ultracool dwarf candidates
14:15-14:30 Antoaneta Avramova-Boncheva [Institute of Astronomy and NAO – BAS] Investigating Flares and Chromospheric Activity in Dwarf Stars with Spectroscopy and TESS Data
14:30-14:45 Djemma Russeva [University of St Andrews] Combatting Stellar Granulation via Individual Spectral Line Investigation
14:45-15:00 Nikola Antonov [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Remotely Operated Astronomical Observatory “Meshtitsa” – Supporting Professional and Citizen Science Activities
15:00-15:15 Veselina Kalinova [Max Planck Institute for Radioastronomy] Machine-learning methods to study the dynamics and dark matter of nearby galaxies
15:15-15:30 Petar Eftimov [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] The new Master’s Program in Astrobiology – Goals and Perspectives in Search of an Intersection between Space and Life Sciences
15:30-16:00 Coffee break
16:00-18:00 Session: Dark side of the Universe {moderator: Venelin Kozhuharov [Sofia University]}
16:00-16:30 invited speaker: Luca Visinelli [Università degli Studi di Salerno & INFN, Italy] Constraints on Exotic Early-Universe Physics from the CMB
16:30-16:45 Georgi Vasilev [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Searching for Dark Matter with the AMS-02 Detector
16:45-17:00 Katerina Kostova [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Searching for Dark Photons with PADME
17:00-17:15 Ivaylo Dionisov [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Neutrino Interactions and Hidden Particle Searches with SND@LHC
17:15-17:30 Svetoslav Ivanov [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and National Centre of Excellence Mechatronics and Clean Technologies] Evaluation of Timepix3 sensor operating in nanosecond data-streaming mode for space research
17:30-17:45 Simeon Ivanov [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and National Centre of Excellence Mechatronics and Clean Technologies] Testing and Calibration of Particle Detector Modules
17:45-18:00 Valentin Buchakchiev [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Challenges for SiPM sensors in space
09:30-11:00 Sponsor session/Funding possibilities {moderator: Irina Gancheva [Wiser Technology]}
09:30-9:45 Wiser Technology – Kalin Iliev
9:45-10:00 Kodin Soft – Dinko Manolov
10:00-10:15 Sfera Technologies – Zdravko Dimitrov
10:15-10:30 Elitsa Beyska [EISMEA] EIC Accelerator program for space SMEs and start-ups
10:30-10:45 Ivan Martinez [Bulgarian Space Cluster] Introducing the Bulgarian Space Cluster
10:45-11:00 Open discussion
11:30-12:30 Session: Radio technologies and instrumentation {moderator: Peter Petkov [TU-Sofia]}
11:30-12:00 invited speaker: Volodymyr Kudriashov [Serco Netherlands BV for the European Space Agency, Netherlands] On Event Horizon Imaging from Space
12:00-12:15 Pavlina Aleksieva [Technical University of Sofia] Interferometer for solar radio observations
12:15-12:30 Peter Petkov [Technical University of Sofia] Reflector Antennas for Radioastronomical purposes
12:30-13:00 Session: “Game-changers” for in-space solar energy harvesting {moderator: Stella Tkatchova [European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency]}
12:30-12:45 Stella Tkatchova [EISMEA] Future “Game-changing” concepts, technologies and “use cases” for in space solar energy harvesting
12:45-13:00 Francesca Brunetti [Tor Vergata University of Rome – CHOSE] Emerging Paradigms in Solar Energy Harvesting for Space Applications
13:30-15:00 Session: “Game-changers” for in-space solar energy harvesting (cont’d) {moderator: Stella Tkatchova [European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency]}
13:30-13:45 Tomas Mrazek [Technical University of Munich] In-Space Green Propulsion Innovations in the EIC Portfolio on In-Space Solar Energy Harvesting for Innovative Space Applications
13:45-14:00 Manuel Peralta-Fuentes [University of Jaén] Band-gap PV material investigation for High-Power Optical Transmission in Planets and Satellites of the Solar System
14:00-14:15 Alvaro Valera Albacete [University of Jaén] Development and Characterization of a High-Power Optical Transmission (HPOT) System
14:15-14:30 invited speaker: Gonzalo Sánchez-Arriaga [Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain] Status and Development Roadmap of a Deorbit Device Based on Electrodynamic Tethers
14:30-14:45 Mihails Ščepanskis [Deep Space Energy] European Radioisotope Dynamic Generator (RDG) for Deep Space Exploration and Power Resilience for Strategic Satellites
14:45-15:00 invited speaker: Naoki Shinohara [RISH Kyoto University, Japan] Wireless Power Transfer, Technological Gaps & Game-Changing Innovations
16:00-18:00 “Game-changers” panel discussion
Part I: Pathfinder Game-changing technologies
invited speakers:
Prof. Naoki Shinohara [RISH Kyoto University, Japan]
Prof. Alessandra Costanzo [University of Bologna, Italy]
Prof. Gonzalo Sánchez-Arriaga [Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain]
Part II: Industry-driven technology innovations
invited speakers:
Monica Rangelova [ENDUROSAT]
Niklas Voigt [OHB System AG, Germany]
28 October
09:00 – 18:00
29 October
09:00 – 18:00
09:30-11:00 Session for early-career scientists {moderator: Stoil Ivanov [Sofia University]}
09:30-10:00 Emil Raychev [Naval Academy “Nikola Vaptsarov”] Integrating Rotating Detonation Engines in Orbital Transfer Vehicles: Redefining Propulsion for Efficient Space Logistics
10:00-10:30 Valentyn Shopov [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Modeling of trajectory of reentry vehicles from low Earth orbit
10:30-11:00 Philipa Aleksandrova [Naval Academy “Nikola Vaptsarov”] Monitoring deforestation through spatio-temporal analysis of Landsat imagery in all regions in Bulgaria for the period 2017–2024
11:00-11:30 Coffee break
11:30-12:30 Session for early-career scientists {moderator: Stoil Ivanov [Sofia University]}
11:30-11:50 Ana-Maria Bogdanova [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Design and Experimental Investigation of a Solid Propellant Rocket Motor
11:50-12:10 Veselin Vasilev [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Experimental investigation of an arc discharge for in-situ oxygen production on Mars
12:10-12:30 Michael Tsanev [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Landing with Intelligence: Deep Reinforcement Learning for Thrust Vector-Controlled Rocket Descent
12:30-13:00 Space applications session {moderator: Rositsa Miteva [IANAO–BAS]}
12:30-12:45 Adelina Miteva [Space Research and Technology Institute – BAS] Nanotechnology in the aerospace industry
12:45-13:00 Kolyo Dankov [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Leveraging Slooh’s Global Robotic Telescopes Network for Fast-Response Precision Astrometry of Newly Discovered NEA and Comets
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-14:30 Space applications session {moderator: Rositsa Miteva [IANAO–BAS]}
14:00-14:15 Andrea Lani [KU Leuven] Magnetic shielding for space re-entry: from science fiction to science fact!
14:15-14:30 Amirmohammad Shahriyari [University of Santiago de Compostela] A Conceptual Approach to Deploying Laser Power Transmission Technologies in Space Infrastructure
14:30-15:30 e-Poster session {moderator: Irina Gancheva [Wiser Technology]}
Samuil Petrov [Astronomical Observatory, Shumen University “Bishop Konstantin Preslavski”] Observations of the Sun from the Astronomical Center of the University of Shumen
Rositsa Miteva [Institute of Astronomy and NAO – BAS] Bulgarian Astronomical Society – mission and outlook
Margarita Dimitrova [Space Research and Technology Institute – BAS] Comparative evaluation of next-generation aluminium alloys for lightweight aerospace structures
Mariana Filipova [ULSIT] Quantum Space Science in Museums: A New Way to Inspire the Future Workforce
Yancho Yordanov [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Integrating quantum layers into neural networks for analysis and classification of Earth observation satellite images
Nikola Dekovski [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Defining a space exploration mission in search for shelter on Mars
Nikolay Petrov [Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”] Evaluation of spent fuel as a possible energy source of long term space missions
Filip Andonov [Technical University of Sofia] Student Club ‘Aerospace vehicles and instruments’
Eleonora Mitkova [Birkbeck University, London] Assessing Forest Conservation Effectiveness of Natura 2000 Zones in Bulgaria, Including Vitosha and Vrachanski Balkan Nature Parks: A Remote Sensing and GIS Approach
Petya Tabakova [Space Research and Technology Institute – BAS] Structure Dependence of W Diffusion in TiN-TiCN Protective Coatings for Space Applications
Nikola Ganchev [University of the Bundeswehr Munich] Current Development of VLEO Activities at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich
Valentin Stavrev [Visign Ltd] OLFAR implementation on picosatellite swarm
15:30-16:00 Coffee break
16:00-18:00 Open discussion on the NaFSKI initiative
LOC & SOC members
Branch Cosmos of the Union of the Physicists in Bulgaria is not responsible for the content of the presentations submitted by the participants in NaFSKI-VI.
The Bulgarian Science Fund is not responsible for the content of the papers presented at the scientific forum, nor for the content of the promotional and other materials for it.
NaFSKI-VI was held in Sofia Tech Park, Incubator building, The Venue hall.
address: Tsarigradsko Shose 111 boulevard, Sofia
Our Team
Program Advisory Committee
Zdravko DIMITROV [Sfera Technologies]
Guergana GUEROVA [Faculty of Physics, Sofia University]
Stoil IVANOV [Faculty of Physics, Sofia University]
Venelin KOZHUHAROV [Faculty of Physics, Sofia University]
Deyan MIHAYLOV [Case Western Reserve University / Faculty of Physics, Sofia University]
Peter PETKOV [Technical University of Sofia]
Stella TKATCHOVA [European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency]
Local Organising Committee
Vladimir BOZHILOV [Faculty of Physics, Sofia University]
Irina GANCHEVA [Wiser Technology]
Stefan LALKOVSKI [Faculty of Physics, Sofia University]
Rositsa MITEVA [Institute of Astronomy with National Astronomical Observatory – BAS]
Yuliya MUTAFCHIEVA [Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy – BAS]
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