Press release: April 26th 2021, Sofia
The Executive Chairman of the European Association for Autonomous Transport and Open Systems – ATOS, Mr. Radoslav Atanasov met with the Bulgarian Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Mr. Rossen Jeliazkov at his office to brief him on the Association’s role to raise awareness in AI Technology transportation and to achieve acceptance in the society with the opportunities it creates. These goals link directly with the Minister’s targets to decarbonize the transport sector.
The Bulgarian Minister was also briefed about Europe’s projects in Aerial VTOLs and in Autonomous Road Vehicles, in the construction of transport infrastructure for development of Regional and Smart cities’ Urban Traffic Management. Examples with Unmanned Air Mobility (UAM) projects in the cities of Paris, Barcelona, Toulouse, Bordeaux were discussed.
Minister Jeliazkov expressed great interest in the advancement and implementation of the AI robotics systems in all modes of transport for safe, green and efficient mobility. He was impressed with Association’s mission to bring together industry and safety professionals, regulators and local authorities for achieving an integrated European network of Smart Cities – seeing its critical role to engage all stakeholders.
The Minister and Mr. Atanasov agreed the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Administration, BULATSA and the local authorities must engage in a concrete project either for Sofia or another big city to incubate know-how and business for Autonomous Transport development in Bulgaria. For the purpose the Association is to be invited to participate in rule-making working groups and support the Ministry to elaborate the future priorities and programs.