Prof. Stefan Dodunekov has formally taken over from Prof. Nikola Sabotinov as the new Chair of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Wednesday's ceremony was attended by Bulgarian Education and Science Minister Sergey Ignatov.

"Bulgaria's goal in the years to come is the creation of a knowledge-based economy. During its entire 143-year history, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has been shaped by two factors – the development of science and research, and the development of social relations in Bulgaria. This will go on, and, if needed, the reforms in the Academy will be continued," Prof. Dodunekov stated at his inauguration, as cited by BGNES.

BAS's new head Prof. Dodunekov pointed out in his speech that he comes from the BAS Institute on Mathematics and IT, which has direct contracts with many Bulgarian universities, and defined BAS's cooperation with the higher education institutions as extremely important.

Education Minister Ignatov praised the outgoing head of the BAS, Prof. Nikola Sabotinov, regardless of their "many disputes" over the past three years.

"What we did was only and solely in the interest of the BAS, the oldest modern-era institution in Bulgaria, in order to preserve it for the needs and future of the Bulgarian nation," Sabotinov declared in his farewell address.

Prof. Nikola Sabotinov's term coincided with a period, especially the first two years of the term of the Borisov Cabinet, 2009-2010, in which BAS succumbed into disrepute, amidst violent criticism by Bulgaria's Deputy PM and Finance Minister Simeon Djankov over its failure to reform, echoed by Prime Minister Boyko Borisopv, which often bordered on insults.

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