The funds allotted by Bulgaria for its Academy of Sciences in the state budget for 2012 are roughly the same as those for managing the stray dogs problem, revealed researchers.

Sunday Bulgarian Academy of Sciences announced that they will hold a new rally Wednesday against a fresh 9% budget reduction that they say makes them face extinction.

"BGN 50 M for stray dogs against BGN 54 M for the Academy. You can clearly see the priorities of our government," quipped BAS president Nikola Sabotinov.

In the 2009 and 2010 state budgets, BAS has already faced a 40% reduction which has left it unable to pay salaries in full.

Researches say that the center-right GERB cabinet of PM Boyko Borisov has paid no heed  of reforms carried out in the Academy and has embarked on an unrelenting campaign to destroy it.

"BAS's fate depends on two persons who do not know a thing about how science functions - PM Borisov and FinMin Simeon Djankov," commented researchers.

They also revealed that in addition, overall state spending for research will shrink to a mere 0.2% of GDP in 2012, against an already insufficient 0.4% in 2011.

"Science and research should be key priorities for any country. Alas, Bulgarian science is on its way to be wiped out from Europe," said Sabotinov.

Regarding calls from PM Borisov and Minister Djankov that BAS seek for outside financing from the EU and the private sector, Academy representatives said that the institution is already overperforming compared to similar entities in Europe.

In 2010, BAS has attracted BGN 58 M outside income, against the BGN 84 M state subsidy; for 2011, outside revenue will be BGN 44, against the BGN 58 M budget payment.