Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Alarms It's Doomed

Society | May 20, 2011, Friday // 14:41
Bulgaria: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Alarms It's Doomed File photo of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) is doomed to be shut down, its members alarmed Friday.

In a declaration sent to the Bulgarian media, BAS members pointed out 2010 was the worst year in the Academy's history, due to the drastic budget cuts imposed (by more than 30%) and the significant downsizing in the of people working in it – with more than 1100 scientists having left the institution or being retired during the last year.

During the second half of 2010, the average salary in the scientific institution was a mere BGN 476 (approximately EUR 244). Furthermore, the new budget will secure just 70% of the money necessary for salaries in the institutions, with nothing left for research or anything else.

If the government does not at least an additional BGN 20 M for the Academy, protests will follow.

The BAS had a total budget of BGN 104 M in 2010, including BGN 61 M of state subsidies. The Academy got BGN 36 M under research and development contracts and projects abroad, including both Bulgarian and foreign funding, which a decrease compared with the BGN 58 M in 2009.

Bulgaria's "Scientific Research Fund", a government body, contributed BGN 13 M to the Academy in 2010, various other ministries and state institutions added BGN 5.6 M, while BGN 6.3 M were raised under contracts with private companies. The BAS got BGN 4 M from renting its properties, while the donations to the largest Bulgarian science institution amounted to only BGN 141 000.

The total expenditure of the BAS in 2010 came at BGN 114 M, with the largest share of the spending going for salaries and social security.

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Tags: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, budget cuts, salaries

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