Prof. Nik Kasabov

Founder and Chief Scientist

Nik Kasabov

https://academics.aut.ac.nz/nkasabov

Professor Nikola Kasabov, is an internationally established scientist and a Professor Emeritus of Knowledge Engineering in the School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematical Sciences at Auckland University of Technology (AUT).

Founding Director of:

  • the Knowledge Engineering Laboratory at the University of Otago (1992) and

  • the Knowledge Engineering and Discovery Research Institute (KEDRI, www.kedri.aut.ac.nz) at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) (2002).


Main research interests are in the areas of:

  • computational intelligence;

  • neuro-computing;

  • bioinformatics;

  • neuroinformatics;

  • speech and image processing;

  • data mining;

  • knowledge representation and

  • knowledge discovery.​

Professor Kasabov has a Master's degree in Computer Science and Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences from the Technical University in Sofia, Bulgaria. He has supervised to completion of 50 Ph.D. students.​

Sponsorships

Prof. Kasabov is committed to promoting and supporting continued education in his home country of Bulgaria. For this, he has established and funds two types of scholarships on an annual basis, for high school education and tertiary education.

High School “Bacho Kiro” in Pavlikeni

Since 2008, Professor Nikola Kasabov has sponsored excellence in the school "Bacho Kiro" in Pavlikeni, where he studied until 1966, for primary and secondary study: СУ „Бачо Киро” – Павликени.

Click here for Testimonials

  • Current engagements and honorary professor appointments:

    • Visiting Professor, IICT, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (since 2022).

    • Visiting Professor Dalian University, China (since 2022).  

    • Honorary Professor, Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland (since 2020);

    • George Moore Professorship of Data Analytics in the Intelligent Systems Research Center at Ulster University, Derry, UK (2020-2024).

    • Honorary and Visiting Professorship appointments in Teesside University UK, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, ETH/UniZurich (2012-2022).

    • Editor-in-Chief of the Springer Series in Bio-/Neurosystems and Springer Journal Evolving Systems.

    • Associate Editor of numerous international journals, including Neural Networks, IEEE Transactions of Cognitive and Development Systems, and Information Sciences.

    ​

    Awards and Memberships:

    • Computer Science New Zealand Leader Award, Research.com (2023): https://research.com/u/nikola-kasabov

    • Life Fellow of IEEE (Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers) (2022-)

    • Fellow of RSNZ (Royal Society of New Zealand) (2001-)

    • Fellow of the College of Fellows of INNS (International Neural Network Society) (2018-)

    • Distinguished Visiting Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering UK (2015-2016)

    • Fellow of the NZ IITP (Institute for IT Professionals) (2001-).

    • Doctor Honoris Causa of Obuda University Budapest (2018).

    • The Bayer Science Innovator Award (2007);

    • EU Marie Curie Fellowship (2011-2012);

    • the INNS Gabor Award (2012);

    • The Royal Society of New Zealand Silver Medal (2001);

    • the AUT Medal (2015).

    • the INNS Ada Lovelace Meritorious Aaward (2019);

    • Innovator of the Year in NZ (2019).

    • Visiting Professor, Institute for Information and Communication Technologies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (2022).

    • Ph.D. Advisor, Technical University of Sofia (2022-).

    Publications include over 700+ works:

    • 300+journal papers,

    • 10 textbooks,

    • 6 edited research books and monographs,

    • 288 conference papers,

    • 60 book chapters,

    • 10 edited conference proceedings,

    • 28 patents and authorship certificates in the area of intelligent systems, connectionist and hybrid connectionist systems, fuzzy systems, expert systems, speech recognition, bioinformatics, neurocomputing, and neural networks

    • Publications and Citations on Google Scholar

    Leadership of international professional organizations:

    • President of the International Neural Network Society (INNS) (2009-2010),

    • President of the Asia-Pacific Neural Network Assembly (APNNA) (2008),

    • President of the Asia Pacific Neural Networks Society (2019) (APNNS).

    • General Chairman of a series of biannual international conferences on Neurocomputing and Evolving Intelligence in New Zealand (1992- 2018).

    Extensive academic experience at various academic and research organizations:

    • Technical University of Sofia, Bulgaria;

    • University of Otago, New Zealand;

    • University of Essex, UK;

    • University of Trento, Italy; 

    • TU Kaiserslautern Germany;

    • ETH Zurich, Switzerland;

    • Shanghai Jiao Tong University;

    • Ulster University UK.

  • Стипендии за 2025-26 година:

    Здравко Атанасов Атанасов – 7б клас.

    Моника Светлозарова Букова - 12 klac

    Трифон Александров Александров – 12 klas

    Училищен конкурс „Нови идеи“ – 2025/2026

    Тема: „ Мозък-машина интерфейс“

    Първа награда: Диян Минчев,

    Втора награда: Изабел Борисова,

    Трета награда: Александра Георгиева. 

  • Стипендии за 2024-25 година:

    Александра Алтънаева от XII б клас

    Иван Александров от VII а клас.

    Училищен конкурс „Нови идеи“ – 2024/2025

    Тема: „Могат ли машините с изкуствен интелект да имат съзнание?“

    Александра Алтънаева – 12. б клас

    Цветомир Цачев – 6. б клас

    Яна Василева – 6. б клас

    ​Наградени ученици от СУ  „Бачо Киро“ Павликени с наградите на проф. Никола Касабов за високи постижения през годината и като победители на ежегодния конкурс на актуална тема предложена от Проф. Касабов  (Students from SU “Bacho Kiro” Pavlikeni, awarded with the Scholarships and Awards of Prof. Kasabov for outstanding performance during the year and for winning the top creative answer competition on timely topics suggested by Prof. Kasabov):

    2024: Виктория Венциславова Боева–XIIб кл.; Цветан Руменов Цачев–Vб кл. и Иван Александров Александров–VIа кл.

    За конкурса "Какво знаете за предимствата и недостатъците на искуствения интелект?":

    1-во място – Александра Алиманова–IXб кл.

    2-ро място – Жана Стефанова–Xа кл.

    3-то място – Цветан Цачев–Vб кл.

  • Наградени ученици от СУ „Бачо Киро“ Павликени с наградите на проф. Никола Касабов за високи постижения през годината и като победители на ежегодния конкурс на актуална тема предложена от Проф. Касабов (Students from SU “Bacho Kiro” Pavlikeni, awarded with the Scholarships and Awards of Prof. Kasabov for outstanding performance during the year and for winning the top creative answer competition on timely topics suggested by Prof. Kasabov):

    2023: Димитър Христов Димитров XIIa кл; Денислав Миленов Стоянов и Валентин Валентинов Велев VIIб клас.

    За конкурса "Какво знаете за комуникацията човек-машина?":

    • 1-во място - Александра Алиманова - 10б клас;

    • 2-ро място - Веселина Витанова - 6б клас;

    • 3-то място - Здравко Атанасов - 4б клас.

    2022: Димитър Николаев, VII; Габриела Николаева XII.

    Димитър Димитров Xia; Цветан Георгиев IIa; Мая Костова XIIb.

    2021: Димитър Георгиев VIа, Мая Димитрова Костова XIб, Десислава Ивайлова Николова XIа.

    2020: Даниел Пламенов Иванов, 12А; Александра Алтънаева Алиманова, 7б. Йолина Петрова Петрова 11; Мая Димитрова Костова 10б; Детелинка Свиленова Симеонова 11б; Йоанна Тачкова Георгиева 12а ; Айджан Риджан Касимова 11а; Йолина Петрова Петрова 11а.

    2019: Габриела Горан Тасич XIIа; Dимитър Николаев Георгиев IVа .Йолина Петрова Петрова X A ; Димитър Николаев Георгиев IV A; Десислава Николова IX А. .

    2018: Теодора Димитрова Димитрова XIIа; Александра Алтънаева Алиманова Vб и Даниел Стилиянов Дечев Vа; Йолина Петрова Петрова IXа; Елица Любомирова Цвяткова Xб; Радостина К. Ранкова Vа.

    2017: Яна Илиянова Дойнова XII; Йоан Йонков Ангелов V; Ясен Бойков Бонев.

    2016: Дани Мирославов Пенев XIIа; Василена Тихомирова Василева; Василена Маринова; Димитър Георгиев Iа; Ванислав Вълков IXа; Доника Иванова XIа,

    2015: Габриела Антонова Иванова; Даяна Любомирова Кисимова, Радослав Емилов Иванов, VII.

    2014: Борис Алтънов XII; Йорданика Ранкова Va

    2013: Радослав Емилов, Николай Александров.

    2012: Михаил Руменов Русанов, Милен Иванов, Мими Робертова Маринова, Радослав Емилов Иванов.

    2011: Кристиян Бакалов; Надежда Димитрова VI6a.

    2010: Велико Павлинов Иванов XII

    2009: Венцислав Георгиев; Деница Генчева.

    2008: Валентин Мандев XII.

  • С огромна чест, Поздравления от Н3-БГ - април 2023 г.

    Куентин Бьоргер, осмокласник в СУ „Бачо Киро” – Павликени, се класира на ПЪРВО място в Националния кръг на олимпиадата по Информационни Технологии в категорията „Софтуерни приложения”.

PhD Candidates in Neuroinformatics, TU Sofia

In 2023, Prof. Kasabov established an annual scholarship of Euros 2,000 for a Ph.D. study in the area of "Neuroinformatics, neural networks, and neurocomputation" as part of the N3-BG group of activities, to be taken by a Ph.D. student in Bulgaria: https://www.knowledgeenineering.ai/n3-bg

The student, who can be Bulgarian or international, has to be accepted for a Ph.D. study at TU Sofia, where Prof. Kasabov studied and worked until 1991, or in other universities or institutes in BG, with an exceptional record in the past year.

All applications should be submitted to Prof.Kasabov (nik.kasabov@gmail.com).

  • [Apr 2025]

    Dear Prof. Kasabov,

    I sincerely thank you for the “Professor Kasabov Academic Scholarship,” awarded for the third consecutive year with €2,000 for my doctoral research at TU-Sofia.

    This recognition is particularly meaningful following my PhD defense and a year of active contributions to the N3BG community, from organizing the Summer School to supporting the development of the Knowledge Engineering platform. I am proud to have contributed to shaping its vision in AI, data science, and machine consciousness.

    ​Your ongoing support motivates and affirms the value of my work. Thank you for your generosity, mentorship, and for championing excellence in Neuroinformatics, Neural Networks, and Neurocomputers.

    I am committed to building on this foundation and serving the scientific community with integrity and purpose.

    With heartfelt appreciation,

    Iman AbouHassan, Ph.D.

    TU-Sofia / N3BG / Knowledge Engineering