The mission of the Institute of Catalysis (IC)—as a unit within Scientific Division 3 of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) structure, "Nanosciences, New Materials, and Technologies"—is to develop and establish itself as a leading national scientific organization in the field of catalysis. Its research activities are interdisciplinary in nature and align with the national and global priorities of the division. Key priorities within this mission include:
- The IC is a scientific organization conducting fundamental and applied research in the field of catalysis in Bulgaria;
- The IC develops catalytic materials with tailored structures and properties for applications such as environmental protection, improving quality of life, producing alternative fuels (hydrogen), and utilizing new energy sources;
- The IC is an institution with a long-standing tradition in catalysis, recognized within the international community for its scientific achievements and the forums it organizes;
- The IC is an institution that trains students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers in the field of catalysis.
- Acting as a national and regional center for catalysis, the IC develops joint projects with both domestic and foreign scientific organizations.
The IC’s research plan is updated and approved annually by the Scientific Council. Its research areas are closely aligned with the key priorities of the National Strategy for the Development of Scientific Research in the Republic of Bulgaria (2017–2030), the Strategy for the Development of BAS (2018–2030), and the Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization:
- Development of new catalytic nanomaterials and adsorbents with tailored properties.
- Development of catalytic processes and new, efficient nanoscale catalysts for the production of clean energy and fuels.
- New catalytic materials and processes for improving the quality of life.
