History

The Catalysis Institute (CI) of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) was established in 1983 and subsequently developed into a leading center for catalytic research in the country and the Southeast European region. At its inception, the institute focused its activities on fundamental and applied research on catalytic reactions and processes, their kinetic regularities, the development of catalyst production technologies, mathematical models of catalytic reactors and processes, efficient coordination of research activities in the field of catalysis among various institutions working in this area in Bulgaria, expert activities, development, and implementation of catalyst production, and application of industrial catalytic processes on a national scale. In its early years, the research and development program of the institute primarily focused on the development and application of catalytic processes and catalysts in the chemical and petrochemical industries. In the 1990s and during the pre-accession period (1999-2006), the main research activity was adapted to respond to the needs and problems facing humanity as a whole (technological, ecological, and social problems) in accordance with the pre-accession strategy of the European Union adopted in Luxembourg in December 1997, and the goals and priorities of the Fifth and Sixth European Framework Programs. During this period, CI specifically focused on the development of nanostructured catalytic materials related to environmental preservation and clean production, especially environmentally friendly energy production.