International Conference on Secure Systems Design and Technology Development (SysTechDev 2026)

25 Jun 2026, 08:00 → 26 Jun 2026, 17:00 Europe/Sofia

''Vasil Levski'' National Military University

Nikolay Dolchinkov (''Vasil Levski'' National Military University, Bulgaria), Lyubomir Lazov (Green Future Technology), Artis Teilans (Green Future Technology)

The conference is organized by the Green Future Technology Engineering Centre, Latvia

The aim of this conference is to provide the platform for researchers to share the knowledge and ideas in the recent trends in the following disciplines: Defence and Security Technology, Engineering Sciences and Production Technology, Information Technology, Laser Technology, Sustainable Energy

We invite authors to submit abstracts and full original scientific papers which are NOT submitted/published under consideration anywhere in other conferences or journals.

Poster-Template-SysTechDev2026.pptx

SysTechDev_2026_Call_for_Papers_8v.pdf

Template_2026_SysTechDev.docx

Thursday 25 June

Registration, coffee

Session I: DEFENCE AND SECURITY TECHNOLOGY

1 PSYCHOLOGICAL QUALITIES OF STRATEGIC LEADERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE FOR PROFESSIONAL SELECTION IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM

This report analyzes the role of psychological qualities of strategic leaders as a critical determinant of the effectiveness, resilience, and legitimacy of the national security system. Security is approached not only as an institutional and normative framework but also as a function of the human factor, which plays a central role in strategic decision-making under conditions of uncertainty, risk, and crisis. Particular emphasis is placed on the need to integrate scientifically grounded psychological criteria into the professional selection of leadership personnel, including emotional and moral resilience, cognitive flexibility, self-regulation, and reflexivity. The analysis is grounded in contemporary theoretical perspectives on strategic leadership and management psychology and highlights the importance of a systematic psychological selection framework for the sustainable functioning of security institutions.

Speaker: Mr Kristiyan Petrov

2 The Crisis Around Greenland and the Test for NATO and the EU: Legal Limits of Territorial Claims and Tools Against Coercion

The study analyzes the geopolitical crisis surrounding Greenland as a fundamental test of the sustainability of the international legal order and the institutional capacity of NATO and the EU. The focus is on the conceptual clash between the outdated model of “territory purchase” and the modern liberal legalism affirming the right to self-determination of the Greenlandic people. The methodology includes a legal and normative analysis of the 2009 Act on Greenland Self-Government, a comparative study of the evolution of the Monroe Doctrine, and an analysis of cases of geoeconomic coercion in the Arctic. The results of the study identify critical risks arising from the increased Russian-Chinese strategic cooperation and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to foreign investment. The main conclusions reject the treatment of territory as a commodity and emphasize that sovereignty is inextricably linked to the will of the population in Nuuk. The article recommends, on the one hand, institutionalizing NATO's role by strengthening its European pillar and eliminating the “alliance dilemma” by conducting a specialized Arctic mission, and on the other hand, activating the EU's defense mechanisms against economic coercion and strictly adhering to the democratic procedures for changing the status, as set out in the 2009 Act. The study establishes Greenland as an active security entity, whose defense is a litmus test for the ability of Western allies to uphold the principle of sovereign equality and to implement an innovative approach in a “zero to one” perspective.

Speaker: Dr Daniel Berchev (Vasil Levski National Military University)

3 A methodology for the Strategic Defense Review and its governance system. (Prototype)

Abstract: This article is part of a series describing the capability-based defense planning model as the main methodology for conducting Strategic Defense Reviews in the Republic of Bulgaria. The proposed prototype follows a sequence of abstract steps for conducting Strategic Defense Reviews to achieve the goal of ensuring adequate defense capabilities for the armed forces. The article focuses on the planning process in the Ministry of Defense and the Bulgarian Army and includes a model of activities, information flows and links, communications, and other elements of the process. The management decision-making process is also described, including the functions of the participants in the process and the responsibilities for the different levels of management. In addition to this model, the decomposed activities of the planning process are presented up to the third level, which completes the design of the system.
The proposed methodology is based on modern scientific and analytical methods.
Keywords: Strategic Defense Review, Defense Planning, Complex Organizational System Model, Process Modeling.

Speaker: Ivo Radulov (Rakovski National Defence College, Sofia)

4 The key role of SMEs in the European defence ecosystem with emphasis on Quantum technologies

The research paper focuses on the important role of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the development of the European defence ecosystem with emphasis on quantum technologies, incl. with dual use. The research is based on interdisciplinary approach. In addition to the methods of analysis and synthesis of primary and secondary sources of information, generalization, inductive and deductive research approach, the study uses Joseph Schumpeter’s theory from the entrepreneurial ecosystem, which claims that SMEs play a crucial role in economic development through “creative destruction” and innovation. The research is based on the key strategic documents of the European union such as the White paper for European defence - Readiness 2030, the Quantum Europe Strategy, the Enrico Letta's Report on the Future of the Single Market, the Mario Draghi’s report on EU competitiveness, the Sauli Niinistö’s Report on Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness as well as the Global risks report of the World Economic Forum. The results of the study identify quantum technologies both as innovation drivers, but also as risk multipliers across many domains - security, defence, geopolitics. At the same time contrary to the perception that the defence sector is mainly reserved for traditional defence contractors and large established firms, the study shows that SMEs act as key accelerators of dual-use technological innovation and development of market niches due to their agility, flexibility, cross-sector adaptability, and closer ties to civilian markets, making them an important player in the process of building strategic autonomy for the EU. In conclusion, the publication draws certain conclusions and recommendations for the importance of social dialogue and SMEs’ integration into EU defence-industrial ecosystem through their participation in quantum technologies, as it is essential for European defence market and competitiveness.

Key words: Quantum technologies, AI, EU defence, SMEs, competitiveness, strategic autonomy

Speaker: Monika Panayotova (University of National and World Economy)

5 CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE RISK ASSESSMENT APPROACH

Abstract: This paper is the second in a series that describes the Model for risk management of Critical Infrastructure (CI) of the Republic of Bulgaria. The first one focuses on activities of developing rules and proposing a mathematical apparatus for identifying critical infrastructures and their assets. The present focuses on the activities for improving protection of critical infrastructures and in particular a methodology for the risk assessment of CI assets of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Republic of Bulgaria is presented. It defines the stages through which this process takes place and proposes a mathematical apparatus including analytical expressions for risk assessment. The methodology reveals how experts can measure, document and report risk in this area. It uses universal mathematical models for risk assessment based on adapted scientific theories and methods making it applicable to risk assessment for other CI assets in Bulgaria.
Keywords: risk, critical infrastructure, risk management.

Speaker: Mr Zarko Zdravkov (Rakovski National Defence College, Sofia)

6 Compact Critical Infrastructure Active Drone Protection System – Conceptual Design

The ever growing threat of hostile and unauthorized drones drives the need for counter-action, starting with early detection and reaction. The low cost and availability of small and low flying drones increases both their extensive use in warfare and the accidents with them in civilian settings. Efficient and adequate counteraction requires a detailed study of the threat and a retrospective analysis of potential solutions to the problem. While some structures a robust enough for the small drones, large and valuable assets are both exposed and valuable. Some of these are long pipelines and power transmission lines of many kilometers, while others, like solar fields and antenna arrays and others are localized and compact. The presented paper focuses on the latter, while further work will continue for longer linear infrastructure.

Speaker: Dr Zhivo Petrov (Georgi S. Rakovski National Defense College)

7 Assessment of EU Digital Identity Wallet from Security Perspective

The EU Digital Identity Wallet marks a pivotal evolution in Europe’s approach to identity management, embedding security by design into a system that will serve more than 400 million citizens under the eIDAS 2.0 framework. By 2026, all Member States must deploy a certified wallet capable of storing and using government‑issued digital credentials, a response to rising identity theft and cyberattacks that have caused billions in losses across the continent. The architecture minimizes attack surfaces, classifies sensitive data, and enforces strict access controls, while national transitional certification schemes and the forthcoming European Common Certification Scheme ensure a consistent, high level of protection across the Union. At the same time, the initiative strengthens the EU’s digital sovereignty, reducing reliance on private identity providers and supporting the development of a secure, interoperable digital state. Yet this transformation also brings significant risks and challenges, including the need to balance stringent security requirements with usability, ensure cross‑border interoperability, and maintain public trust in the face of evolving cyber threats. Together, these dynamics position the EUDI Wallet as both a cornerstone of Europe’s digital future and a complex security undertaking that will require sustained vigilance and coordination.

Speaker: Dr Alexander Yankov (South-West University "Neofit Rilski")

8 WHY ECONOMIC SECURITY IS NATIONAL SECURITY. ECONOMIC DETERMINISM IN THE U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY 2025

The text analyzes the fundamental link between economic stability and national security, focusing on the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy. This strategy reaffirms the view that the economy is the foundation of power and that military superiority is impossible without a strong industrial base, technological innovation, and energy independence. Furthermore, it posits that economic sovereignty and the well-being of the American middle class are key to the nation's global influence and prosperity. The evolution of this concept is examined from the Reagan era to the present, highlighting the transition from globalism to economic nationalism under the "America First" motto.

Speaker: Svetoslav Velkov

9 ASSESSMENT OF THE APPLICABILITY OF INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORKS AND STANDARDS FOR CYBERSECURITY AS A BASIS FOR BUILDING A CLASSIFICATION MODEL IN THE “SECURITY AND DEFENCE” SECTOR

The report presents an analysis of leading international cybersecurity standards and frameworks to assess their applicability in building a cyber-incident response model at the political, strategic, operational and tactical levels. The emphasis is on examining the vertical and horizontal connections between the individual levels and standards, as well as on identifying the opportunities and limitations of the standards/frameworks.

Speaker: Dr Atanas Nikolov

Session I: Engineering Sciences and Production Technology I

Session I: Information Technology I

Session I: Laser Technology I

Session I: Poster section

Session I: Sustainable Energy Engineering and Applications I