English
Български 
On May 23rd, the Clean&Circle Center of Competence hosted a delegation from Soka University, Japan. The visit was held in a spirit of academic collaboration, with a focus on sustainable development and innovations in the circular economy. It marked the first official working meeting held in the newly inaugurated building of the center, located on the Sofia University campus in the Lozenets district.
The meeting began with a presentation of the building, its capabilities, and plans for future development by Prof. Dr. Sc. Yana Topalova — coordinator of Clean&Circle from 2018 to 2025 and a lecturer at the Department of General and Applied Hydrobiology at the Faculty of Biology of Sofia University. She outlined the center's progress to date and its role in the university's scientific ecosystem.
During the visit, the guests had the opportunity to tour the microbiology laboratories housed in the building, where key research activities related to the circular economy are being conducted, including those focused on biotechnology, waste treatment, and sustainable resource utilization.
The delegation from Soka University included Prof. Dr. Junichi Ida – Vice President of the university; Dr. Yoshiko Nagaoka – Global Mobility Coordinator, International Office; and Dr. Yumi Ninomiya – lecturer in Bulgarian language. The guests were accompanied by Prof. Gergana Petkova, Dean of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology (FCMP).
During the meeting, Prof. Ida emphasized Soka University's commitment to fostering collaboration in the field of environmental innovation.
“We are currently planning the creation of a new department for green technologies at our university. We want to encourage students not only to study but also to develop entrepreneurial thinking in the field of sustainable innovation. We believe that partnerships such as the one with Sofia University will help us build a strong international network,” Prof. Ida shared.
The Japanese guests were deeply impressed by the high level of organization and technical infrastructure of the microbiology laboratories located in the Center of Competence. During the visit, the laboratory facilities equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation were presented to the delegation by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Irina Schneider, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jovana Todorova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivaylo Yotinov, and Chief Assistant Dr. Nora Dinova.
Opportunities for student exchange were also discussed, with both sides emphasizing that such initiatives are essential for fostering a global perspective among young researchers. The visit also included discussions on future partnerships, joint research projects, and academic exchange. The Japanese delegation expressed strong interest in the center’s activities and its contribution to modern science.
