On October 9, 2025, in the auditorium of the Technical University of Sofia, Plovdiv Branch, the Utilities Digital Innovation Hub (UDIH) was officially launched – the first European innovation hub dedicated entirely to digital transformation in key public utilities sectors such as water supply, energy, waste management, and urban infrastructure.
The official partners of the event were A1 Bulgaria and ProStream.
Created with a mission to accelerate the implementation of innovative technologies and increase the efficiency of public services, UDIH aims to build a sustainable network of partnerships between technology companies, utility operators, scientific organizations, and government institutions.
Strong institutional support
The event brought together representatives of the European Commission, national institutions, water operators, representatives of the energy sector, technology companies, and startups.
Among our official guests were:
The event was opened by Dimitar Ivanov, Chairman of UDIH, Yana Mihaylova, Chief Operating Officer, and Maria Stefanova, Project Coordinator. They presented the hub’s goals and priorities in support of the sector’s digital transformation.
„Data-driven decisions are the right decisions. They make the work of experts easier and more efficient. Our mission is to be a bridge between innovation and the real needs of public utilities. Digitization in these sectors means cleaner drinking water, more reliable and sustainable energy, and better resource management. UDIH is a platform that enables us to accelerate change,” said Dimitar Ivanov in his opening remarks.
What does UDIH offer?
Yana Mihaylova presented the hub’s main services:
- Training and qualification – from basic digital skills to specialized programs for the water and energy sectors;
- Consulting and support – assistance in accessing funding from European and national programs;
- Center for digital technologies in the utilities sector – opportunity to test and validate technologies before making a real investment;
- Partnerships and networks – connecting with the innovation ecosystem and stimulating strategic cooperation.
Center for Digital Technologies in the Utilities Sector in Plovdiv
Dobromir Moldovanov from Qubiqo presented one of the hub’s key projects – the Digital Technology Center, which is being built in Plovdiv. The facility will offer an innovative simulation environment that recreates the entire water cycle and connects to real data from water and energy networks. This is the first test infrastructure of its kind in Europe, where companies can “test before investing.”
Statistics show that up to 70% of digital initiatives fail due to the lack of pre-testing capabilities. Data-driven technologies and digital twins can reduce water losses by 10–30%.
Key capabilities of the center:
- Conducting training, simulations, and demonstrations;
- Research and development, data analysis, and technology testing;
- Simulations of real-life situations such as leaks, accidents, and water losses;
- Creation of a digital twin – a digital model that can simulate 10 years of network operation in 10 minutes;
- Cybersecurity – a secure “sandbox” environment for simulating attacks and analyzing system resilience without risk to the real infrastructure.
Panel discussions:
From automation to intelligent platforms
Three panels outlined the key aspects of digital transformation:
Panel 1:
Early stages of digitization
With the participation of Prof. Gancho Dimitrov, Assoc. Prof. Emil Altimirski, Petar Bosovski, and Plamen Gerzhikov, the discussion traced the development of the sector—from the first automated systems to modern platforms with real-time data analysis.
Panel 2:
Current state of digitization in the utilities sector
Representatives from Wilo, DM Armaturn, Industrial Parts, ESRI, VIK Ruse, and ProStream shared best practices and discussed some of the challenges facing digitization: staff shortages, lack of motivation to integrate new systems and solutions, and the need for training and upskilling of employees in the sector.
Panel 3:
Opportunities and visions for the digital tomorrow
The highlight of the third panel was the participation of Pepe Chambó, Head of Business Development at Idrica/Global Omnium/Aguas de Valencia. He presented Xylem’s solution for a virtual copy of Valencia’s water supply system, which simulates, predicts, and optimizes resource management in real time.
Petar Aleksandrov (Schneider Electric Bulgaria) presented the company’s implementations of integrated water management solutions that combine GIS, automation, and software solutions for greater efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. Veselin Dimitrov (VEOLIA) presented Hubgrade, a system for monitoring, analyzing, and reducing energy and water costs that enables the measurement and optimization of the efficiency of buildings and technical infrastructure in order to save energy and water resources.
Semerdzhiev
Dimitrov
Lubenov
Aleksandrov
Todor Lyubenov (AquaIntel) demonstrated innovative systems for detecting anomalies through satellite monitoring and underground sensors. Mihail Semerdjiev from A1 Bulgaria presented the company as the largest system integrator and ICT company in the country. Over the past year, A1 has implemented over 1,000 ICT projects in companies of various sizes in the private and public sectors. The technological solutions offered are in the areas of system integration, software as a service (SaaS), infrastructure as a service (IaaS), and cybersecurity.
Study on digital maturity
in the water utilities sector
As a first concrete result of its activities, the hub presented a study on digital maturity among 19 water companies in Bulgaria. The results show an average rating of 2.7 on a scale of 1 to 5, which highlights the need for a more targeted and accelerated introduction of digital technologies in the sector.
In an interactive vote, participants identified “water losses and the lack of timely and accurate data” as the most serious problem that digitization can address. This highlights the need for integrated systems for remote monitoring, automated management, and real-time data access to support better management of public utilities.
Need for a common strategy
and coordinated action
During the event, participants repeatedly emphasized that despite the availability of a variety of technological solutions, the sector is in dire need of a comprehensive national strategy that would unite efforts to develop digital competencies, ensure sustainable financing, and apply an integrated approach to the implementation of innovations in public services. Such a strategy would also contribute to overcoming other systemic challenges in the sector—the shortage of skilled personnel, resistance to change, lack of motivation to introduce innovative solutions, and the need for targeted training and upskilling.