Bulgarian Student Wins Prestigious Google DeepMind AI Scholarship
Jerusalem, 19 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Sofia (BTA) – A student from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” is among those awarded the Google DeepMind AI scholarship for the academic year 2025–2026 through the Big Data for an Intelligent Society (GATE) Institute, the institute announced.
Plamena Ilieva, a student in the Master’s program “Artificial Intelligence”, receives financial support within the framework of the international initiative of Google DeepMind AI to support motivated students in the field of artificial intelligence and computer science. The amount of the scholarship is $25,000 and covers tuition fees, living expenses, academic travel, participation in scientific conferences, as well as access to mentorship and specialized resources, the institute explained.
“It is extremely important for us to create real opportunities for young people with potential and ambition. The support of Google DeepMind AI allows us not only to provide access to quality education, but also to help students build confidence, vision and international contacts early in their professional journey,” said the Director of the GATE Institute, Prof. Silvia Ilieva.
Plamena Ilieva is a graduate of the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in software engineering. Her professional experience includes internships in international technology companies, and she currently works as a software engineer and is actively involved in the development of solutions based on artificial intelligence.
“For me, this scholarship is an opportunity to build on my knowledge, receive mentorship from leading experts, and find a clearer direction in an extremely rapidly developing field. I believe that artificial intelligence should be developed responsibly and with society in mind,” Ilieva said.
Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” through the GATE Institute is one of four organizations in Europe that provide the Google DeepMind AI scholarship to students in master’s programs. The others are École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay (France), the University of Warsaw (Poland) and the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (Romania).
Through its partnership with Google DeepMind AI, the GATE Institute continues to establish its role as a leading center for education and research in the field of big data and artificial intelligence, as well as an active participant in the European and global academic community, the institute added.
