The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (abbreviated BAS; , abbreviated БАН) is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869.

The Academy, with headquarters in Sofia, is autonomous and consists of a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members. It publishes and circulates different scientific works, encyclopaedias, dictionaries and journals, and runs its own publishing house.

The activities are distributed in three main branches: Natural, mathematical and engineering sciences; Biological, medical and agrarian sciences and Social sciences, humanities and art. As of 2025, they are structured in 43 autonomous scientific institutes and 9 specialized units. The Academy employs approximately 3,000 scientists, representing about 15% of all academic staff in Bulgaria, and produces roughly half of the country's scientific output.

Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva has served as President of the BAS since 9 December 2024, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the Academy's history. She was elected by the General Assembly on 2 December 2024, receiving 81 supporting votes out of 107 members voting, for the term 2024–2028. As of 2022, its budget was 119.860 million leva (€61.28 million).

History

As Bulgaria was part of the Ottoman Empire, Bulgarian émigrés founded the Bulgarian Literary Society (Bŭlgarsko Knizhovno Druzhestvo) on 26 September 1869, in Brăila in the Kingdom of Romania, on the model of the Romanian Literary Society, that had been established in 1866. The first statutes were accepted, and its first board was elected:

Board of Trustees Nikolai Tsenov – President Vasilaki Mihailidi Petraki Simov Kostaki Popovich Stefan Beron

Acting members: Marin Drinov (1838–1906) – Chairman Vasil Drumev (1840–1901) – Member Vasil D. Stoyanov (1839–1910) – Secretary

The following year, the Literary Society began issuing the Periodical Journal, its official publication, and in 1871 elected its first honorary member - Gavril Krastevich. As a cultural and enlightened society, the Society worked to form a library of old Bulgarian and foreign books, manuscripts, and medieval charters; and the journal brought to the attention the importance of collecting materials valuable for the study of Bulgarian folklore, history, language, and literature.

In 1878, shortly after Bulgaria's liberation from Ottoman rule, the General Assembly voted to move the headquarters of the Society from Brăila to Sofia, and on 1 March 1893 the BLS moved into its own building, right next to where the Bulgarian Parliament is seated. The BLS headquarters were completed in 1892. The building was designed by architect Hermann Mayer and was expanded during the 1920s.

The Bulgarian Literary Society adopted its present-day name in 1911, and a Bulgarian politician Ivan Geshov (1849–1924) who served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria (in office: 29 March 1911 – 14 June 1913) became the academy's first president for 13 years till he died at the age of 75 in 1924.

The BAS became a member of the Union of Slavonic Academies and Scientific Communities in 1913 and was accepted as a member of the International Council of Scientific Unions in 1931.

The BAS was awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation for their contributions to promotion of mutual understanding between Bulgaria and Japan on 1 December 2020.Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2020 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of JapanForeign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2020 (Groups) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Departments The BAS is organised into nine research divisions. Each division groups a number of independent scientific institutes and academic specialised units.

Information and Communication Sciences and Technologie Source:s

Institute of Mathematics and Informatics Institute of Mechanics Institute of Robotics Institute of Information and Communication Technologies

Energy Resources and Energy Efficiency Source:

Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems "Academician Evgeni Budevski" Institute of Chemical Engineering Central Laboratory of Solar Energy and New Energy Sources

Nanosciences, New Materials and Technologies

Institute of Solid State Physics "Acad. Georgi Nadjakov" Institute of Electronics "Academician Emil Djakov" Institute of Optical Materials and Technologies "Acad. Jordan Malinowski" Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography "Acad. Ivan Kostov" Institute of Metal Science, Equipment and Technologies "Acad. A. Balevski" with Bulgarian Ship Hydrodynamics Centre – Varna Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Institute of Organic Chemistry with Center of Phytochemistry Institute of Physical Chemistry "Academician Rostislaw Kaischew" Institute of Polymers Institute of Catalysis Central Laboratory of Applied Physics – Plovdiv

Biomedicine and Quality of Life Source:

Institute of Molecular Biology "Acad. Roumen Tsanev" Institute of Neurobiology Institute of Microbiology "Stephan Angeloff" Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction "Acad. K. Bratanov" Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum

Biodiversity, Bioresources and Ecology Source:

Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research Forest Research Institute Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics National Museum of Natural History Botanical Garden of BAS

Climate Change, Hazards and Natural Resources Source:

Geological Institute "Strashimir Dimitrov" National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography Climate, Atmosphere and Water Research Institute Institute of Oceanology "Prof. Fridtjof Nansen"

Astronomy, Space Research and Technologies Source:

Institute of Astronomy with National Astronomical Observatory Space Research and Technology Institute

Cultural-Historical Heritage and National Identity Source:

Institute for Bulgarian Language "Professor Lyubomir Andreychin" Institute of Balkan Studies and Center of Thracology "Prof. Alexander Fol" Institute for Literature Institute for Historical Studies Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum Institute of Art Studies National Archaeological Institute with Museum Cyrillo-Methodian Research Center

Man and Society Source:

Economic Research Institute Institute for the State and the Law Institute for Population and Human Studies Institute of Philosophy and Sociology

Honours Academia Peak and Camp Academia on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica are named for the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in appreciation of Academy's contribution to the Antarctic exploration.Academia Peak. Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica.

See also Camp Academia

References

External links Official website