The Institute of Polymers is an autonomous research unit at the Nanosciences, New Materials and Technologies Division of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. IP is the country’s leading research institute in the field of polymer science accomplishing its mission – to do advanced research on polymers and polymer materials and to transform the generated knowledge into innovative materials, products, technologies and services in response to the needs of industry and society. The research includes interrelated investigations – concerning precise synthesis and characterization of polymers that creates the strong knowledge ground for front-line and application oriented research:
- Synthesis, modification and characterization of polymers: development of new and effective methods for synthesis and modification to control the polymer composition and structure and properties, precise and thorough characterization of polymers.
- Development of new polymer materials with tailored properties. The investigations aim at giving new valuable properties to approved in practice polymer materials and at developing of new systems in response to the need of advanced polymer materials for sustainable industrial growth and increasing quality of life. The research covers design, synthesis and thorough characterization of polymer materials, deriving structure-properties relationships and assessment of the innovation potential of the investigations. The research is focused on: i) materials for pharmacy and medicine; ii) materials for biotechnology, agriculture and food preservation; iii) electroconductive and photoactive materials; and iv)materials for energy and environmental purposes.
The Institute is a Centre of Excellence for new polymer materials for medicine and pharmacy in consortium with two other academic organizations. The high scientific level of investigations conducted at IP-BAS enables the establishment of fruitful collaborations with prominent research centers in the country and abroad. The Institute maintains relations with all the polymer research groups in the country and bilateral cooperation with similar academic institutions from Europe and the rest of the world. IP-BAS intensifies the joint investigations with organizations specialized in fields other than polymer science such as medicine, pharmacy, biotechnology, agriculture, etc., resulting in a number of interdisciplinary projects.
The IP-BAS achievements and international reputation are results of the efforts of the highly qualified staff of the Institute. Its researchers are among the leading scientist in Bulgaria and with world reputation in the field.
