The partnership aims to attract high calibre talent to the world-class faculty and train the next generation of technology researchers and engineers
Sofia, Bulgaria, Sept. 7, 2022 – VMware Inc. (NYSE: VMW) today announced a relationship with the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) and computer science institute in Eastern Europe, the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT), boosting world-class deep tech research in Sofia, Bulgaria, and the rest of Europe.
The VMware University Research Fund has committed to awarding a U.S. $1.5 million grant to attract top researchers and scientists to the faculty, in support of the 10-year plan signed by ETH Zurich, EPFL, and the Bulgarian government. This founding grant aims to establish and develop the INSAIT faculty, as well as attract Ph.D. & MSc students for research in in diverse areas of computer science and systems engineering, including AI, security, storage and networking.
Diana Stefanova, VMware VP of Regional Site Strategy says: “For VMware, this is an investment in new technologies research, consistent with our innovation strategy. It is also a unique opportunity to increase the pool of key talent in Central and Eastern Europe.”
In addition to the financial support, VMware's more than 1800 engineers in Bulgaria are uniquely positioned to help support the institute with hands-on experience in cloud, networking, computing, and security. The collaboration of renowned scientists with PhD and Masters students, supported by big tech capabilities, has the potential to lead to groundbreaking findings in critical areas, such as private trustworthy AI, programmable networks and the data economy.
Raghu Raghuram, CEO, VMware, commented: “There is an intrinsic link between innovation and talent. As an organization that has a culture of innovation, we have seen first-hand how important it is to invest and nurture great minds and ideas. This relationship with INSAIT is another example of our global commitment to developing tech talent. It is especially relevant to VMware in Bulgaria given our world-class R&D operations there, which we are keen to keep well supplied with the best minds in technology.”
The focus of the relationship is to invest in developing world-class talent. Establishing unique technological facilities helps contribute to new collaborative research, for the benefit of the entire technology ecosystem.
Prof. Martin Vechev, Chair of INSAIT Supervisory Board said: “As a global technological leader VMware understands the importance of investing in talent and promoting inclusive economic growth and recovery. Attracting and nurturing the top minds in turn helps with the democratization of science and solving some of the hardest challenges.”
For more than 15 years the VMware Academic Program has been supporting the advancement of academic research and teaching in universities and institutions in the United States and around the world. This extension of close collaboration with institutes such as INSAIT aims to increase the diversity of systems research people, ideas, and advances across the globe.
In this latest endeavour, VMware and INSAIT will continue to drive the program’s goals of attracting high-quality and diverse talent and creating state of the art educational programs. In this way, providing attractive career perspectives and globally competitive salaries in a flourishing industry encourages top young talent and improves local economic and social opportunities.
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Media contacts
Hristina Harlampieva
VMware Bulgaria Communications
+359 88 546 4488
hharalampieva@vmware.com