site.btaEducation Minister Confers with Prominent German Quantum Physicist Jürgen Mlynek

The possibility for Bulgarian scientific organizations to partner with major German research centres was discussed in Sofia on Friday between caretaker Minister of Education and Science Galin Tsokov and Jürgen Mlynek, a leading European quantum physicist and former longtime president of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, the largest scientific organization in Germany. The news was reported on the website of the Ministry of Education and Science.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Education and Science Minister Nikolai Vitanov and the head of the ministry's Science Directorate Milena Damyanova.

Prof. Mlynek expressed his willingness to work for closer contacts between Bulgarian and German scientists.

Addressing the guest, Tsokov said: "Your research and managerial experience in physics and quantum science would be very useful to us and for the development of this branch of contemporary Bulgarian science." Tsokov noted that his ministry's policies in recent years have been focused on promoting scientific research in strategic domains creating added value and on technologies of the future.

A new programme to increase Bulgaria's quantum technology capacity is to be presented, the minister said. He recalled that a Quantum Technology Centre was set up at the Physics Faculty of Sofia University last year. In addition to creating scientific products for Bulgaria, the centre seeks to become an important factor in developing Europe's quantum technologies. Sofia University's INSAIT institute, which develops technologies in the field of artificial intelligence, also works on some theoretical matters of physics, Tsokov said.