The caretaker government has updated the list of research higher education institutions. Currently, 12 higher education institutions have this status.
Seven of them - Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", the Medical Universities in Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv, the Technical University in Sofia, the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, and Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski", renewed their status after an evaluation of the criteria updated in November.
The list also includes the Medical University in Pleven, Thracian University in Stara Zagora, Ruse University "Angel Kanchev", Southwestern University "Neofit Rilski" in Blagoevgrad, and Burgas Free University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov".
The status of a research higher education institution was introduced in the Higher Education Act in 2021. It is granted for contributions to the development of important public areas through scientific research and high results from research activities.
Ten research universities were created, representing an entire network in Bulgaria.