Many Bulgarian higher education institutions improved their scientific activities in 2020. In terms of scientific research, the Technical University - Sofia and the Medical University - Plovdiv rank alongside major centers such as the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", and the Medical University - Sofia. The Agricultural Academy also joins them. Progress is also observed in the scientific activities of the University of Food Technologies - Plovdiv, the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy - Sofia, the Trakia University - Stara Zagora, the University "Prof. Asen Zlatarov" - Burgas, and the Ruse University "Angel Kanchev". Positive development is also noted at the medical universities in Varna and Pleven, the Technical University - Plovdiv, the Forestry University - Sofia, the University of Food Technologies - Plovdiv, the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy - Sofia, the Veliko Tarnovo University "Sts. Cyril and Methodius", and the University of Economics - Varna. These results are reported in the 2020 report by the Commission for Monitoring and Evaluation of Research Activities in Higher Education Institutions and Scientific Organizations. Stability is observed in the research activities of the major science centers in the country. Scientific research is increasingly influencing the public and economic spheres. Experts also track the impact of scientific studies based on the number of publications, patents, and citations per researcher in the institutions. Notable leaders in this ranking are the Medical University - Sofia, the University "Prof. Asen Zlatarov" - Burgas, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, and Sofia University. In 2020, more organizations and universities increased their scientific efficiency. These include the Medical University - Plovdiv, the Ruse University, the University of Food Technologies - Plovdiv, the Trakia University - Stara Zagora, the Forestry University - Sofia, the University of Food Technologies - Plovdiv, the Medical University - Pleven, the Agricultural Academy, the Technical University - Varna, etc. Progress in this indicator is also evident at the Technical University - Gabrovo, the South-West University "Neofit Rilski", UASG - Sofia, the Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar", the University of Mining and Geology "St. Ivan Rilski", the Shumen University "Bishop K. Preslavski", the Veliko Tarnovo University "Sts. Cyril and Methodius", etc. BAS and the Agricultural Academy maintain their leading positions in patent activities, but according to specialists, their results are still far below potential capabilities. Overall, patent activity in scientific organizations and universities remains at a low level. Bulgaria continues to lag in other indicators. As a percentage of the total active population in the country, scientists are more than two and a half times fewer compared to European Union countries. Young researchers are still insufficient to replace those retiring. This leads to worsening research results and exacerbating problematic areas. Experts also note lower publication activity from scientific organizations and universities. We lag more than four times behind Greece and twice behind Serbia in terms of refereed documents in international databases. To a large extent, the decline in publication activity compared to 2019 is related to the pandemic situation, but despite this, the number of publications remains higher compared to all previous years. At the same time, our country is improving the quality of scientific research. Over the last five years (2016-2020), we have reached 40% of publications in quartile Q1 (highest quality) in international databases, surpassing Slovakia and Serbia and ranking alongside Croatia.
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Rlovdiv24.bg, 29.12.2021
Mon.bg, 29.12.2021
See the article here
Rlovdiv24.bg, 29.12.2021
Mon.bg, 29.12.2021
