The Institute of Catalysis (IC) of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) was established in 1983 and subsequently developed into a leading center for catalysis research within the country and the Southeast European region. Upon its founding, the Institute focused its activities on fundamental and applied research into catalytic reactions and processes and their kinetic principles; the development of catalyst production technologies and mathematical models for catalytic reactors and processes; the effective coordination of catalysis research among various institutions active in the field in Bulgaria; expert services; and the development, implementation, and national-scale application of catalyst production and industrial catalytic processes. In its early years, the Institute’s research and development program was primarily directed toward the development and application of catalytic processes and catalysts for the chemical and petrochemical industries. During the 1990s and the pre-accession period (1999–2006), the Institute’s core research activities were adapted to address global challenges—including technological, environmental, and social issues—in alignment with the European Union’s pre-accession strategy (adopted in Luxembourg in December 1997) and the goals and priorities of the Fifth and Sixth European Framework Programmes. During this period, the Institute of Catalysis (IC) has focused specifically on developing nanostructured catalytic materials relevant to environmental protection and clean production processes—particularly environmentally friendly energy production.
The IC also organizes training for graduate and PhD students. It actively participates in projects under European Union Framework Programmes, as well as in numerous research projects funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund (BNSF), NATO, UNIDO, UNESCO, and others. These projects aim to elevate research standards and improve the quality of training for PhD and graduate students, successfully paving the way for integration into the European Research Area (ERA). The IC has established a strong reputation as a European research institution and has successfully forged professional ties with similar institutions within the European Union and with international research organizations outside the EU. The IC serves as the headquarters for the Bulgarian Catalysis Club (BCC), founded in 1992. Shortly after its inception, the BCC became a collective member of the European Federation of Catalysis Societies (EFCATS) and the global International Association of Catalysis Societies (IACS). The IC was the principal organizer of the 7th European Congress on Catalysis, held in Sofia in 2005. The Institute of Catalysis organizes the traditional International Symposia on Heterogeneous Catalysis, the conferences of the Bulgarian Catalysis Club, the National Methodological Workshops on Catalysis, and the International Workshops on Electron Paramagnetic Resonance of Disordered Systems. The Institute also organizes workshops and meetings under the auspices of NATO and UNIDO. It is an active member of the Balkan Environmental Association (B.EN.A).
