The 46th meeting of the Рanel "Information Systems and Technologies" (IST Panel) of the NATO Science and Technology Organization of (NATO STO) was held from 12 to 16 October, 2020. Due to COVID-19 complicated situation it took place entirely online. During the meeting were discussed issues about the new information and communication technologies, developed to support the Alliance.

On the 1 of October, 2020 a European project "Boosting the scientific excellence and innovation capacity in Cyber security of the Professor Tsvetan Lazarov Bulgarian Defence Institute" (CyNET *) was started. It is part of the National Programme "European Scientific Networks", which aims to:

• networking and partnership with foreign leading universities and scientific organizations;

• improving the capacity in the research field in terms of preparation of doctoral and postdoctoral programs, as well as project management;

Recently the NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO) bestowed the Bulgarian Principal Human Factors and Medicine (HFM) Panel Principal member Prof. Dr Sc. Yantsislav Yanakiev from the Bulgarian Defence Institute “Prof. Tsvetan Lazarov” two Panel Excellence Awards. Colonel Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolai Stoianov – the Bulgarian Principal member in NATO Science and Technology Board presented the awards to Prof. Yanakiev.

On April 28, 2021 the Charge d`Affaires at the Republic of Kosovo in Bulgaria HE Delfin Pllana and Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi – founder and president of the University for Business and Technology in Prishtina, Kosovo visited “Prof. Tsvetan Lazarov” Defence Institute. They were welcomed by the Director, Colonel Dr. Dimitar Kirkov, the Deputy Director, Colonel Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolai Stoianov, Prof. Dr. Yantsislav Yanakiev and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rosen Iliev - Secretary of the Scientific Council.

From 12 to 14.05.2021 Researchers from the Institute of Defense "Professor Tsvetan Lazarov" participated in a joint seminar organized by the University of Library Science and Information Technology (UniBIT) on the project "CyberTwin". It is one of the 12 projects of the National Science Program "European Science Networks" of the Ministry of Education and Science.