site.btaBulgarian Inventors Contribute to Major Breakthroughs in World Science

Bulgarian Inventors Contribute to Major Breakthroughs in World Science


Sofia, February 11 (BTA) - "There are indications that we can
fight successfully HIV, ebola and even some types of cancer,"
Academician Chavdar Roumenin, Director of the Institute of
Engineering and Robotics with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
(BAS), told BTA. He is an expert on science, research and
development with the European Commission and a laureate of the
Top Inventor 2014 Awards in the Electrotechnics and Electronics
Category.

The latter award was granted to Roumenin and Prof. Siya Lozanova
by the Patent Office for ten patents of Hall effect sensors.
The devices, which they have invented, are applicable in any
area, where a magnetic field can be found - from disruption of
the hemoglobin structure (typical for HIV and ebola patients),
through alarm systems for homes and cars, smart washing
machines, ACs and ovens to anti-terrorism robots.

There are numerous examples of successful Bulgarian inventors at
world level. Due to the lack of financing and equipment and,
sometimes, subjective human factors, most of them implement
their projects abroad in cooperation with international teams.
"This applies to the achievements of engineer Asen Yordanov in
the field of aviation, John Nochev - for the lunar module, Peter
Petrov - for the electronic watch and Roumen Antonov - for the
gear box of automobiles. All of them have been implemented
abroad," said Prof. Ventsislav Suinov, inventor of the laser
interferometer, used for a wide range of micro/macro
measurements.

Bulgarian inventors are often criticized for "exporting" their
work from Bulgaria. Actually, a cooperation with a foreign team
is actually an international partnership, where all partners are
placed on an equal footing and have a chance to implement their
ideas. "We receive the greatest portions of financing by our
colleagues from Germany, Belgium and Italy, with whom we carry
out jointly research activities. They grant us access to their
laboratories and equipment, which allows us to conduct detailed
studies and analyses," said Prof. Pavlina Dolashka of the
Institute of Organic Chemistry with BAS. She is an inventor of
hemocyanin, a biologically active product, having an
immunostimulatory and antitumor effect.

The low interest of the local business is a major problem for
Bulgarian inventors. The business wants immediate results, while
investments in inventions are among the most risky ones.

Therefore, producing a prototype, a sample form or a pilot
article of an invention should get public financing under the
Research Fund with the Education Ministry and under EU
operational programmes, according to the researchers. However,
in order to provide financial assistance, the Research Fund
places a condition for co-financing by inventors and business.
This generates a vicious circle because the more valuable an
idea, the larger the amount, which the inventors should provide
themselves.

In case of a financial crisis, it is usually the budget for
science and innovations that is being cut, while it should be
vice versa, Suinov commented. There is formality, lack of
understanding and inadequate administrative capacity, which
creates conditions for corruption, he added.

Dolashka says that Bulgarian researchers have repeatedly applied
with the Research Fund with a project on a gel for the
treatment of a skin tumor but, unfortunately, this is not among
the priorities of the Fund. So, they have decided to implement
the idea together with German colleagues.

Researchers in Bulgaria are considered to be "eccentric persons"
and often called "Mohicans" /as in the Last of the Mohicans/.
They do not have the typical public image as the result of their
activity is not that visible for the people, Sunov also said.
According to Roumenin, however, the institutions and the
business have begun paying more and more attention to science in
Bulgaria. He is hopeful that the country will start allocating
funds for inventions and research, which at first glance appear
rather abstract.