More than 200 scientists from over 30 countries are presenting new findings in classical and modern fields of mathematics and informatics during the “Mathematics Days in Sofia” – MDS2026 international conference, held in the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Hall at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Traditionally, this scientific forum is organized under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
“A country that wants to be technologically advanced must, above all, be a country of mathematics – with good teachers, strong universities, and research institutes that are viewed not as an expense but as an investment with the highest return,” said President Iliana Iotova who opened the event and welcomed the participants and guests at BAS. “This forum does not join the general chorus in which we usually speak of a ‘brain drain’ – it builds bridges,” said Iliana Iotova.
Bulgaria has every reason to be proud of its tradition in the field of mathematics. For generations, Bulgarian mathematicians have made significant contributions to the international scientific community, and our young talents continue to win awards at the most prestigious international competitions, said Corresponding Member Evdokia Pasheva, Vice-President of BAS, in her welcoming remarks.
During the opening ceremony, the 2026 Mathematics Award of the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics was announced; it is awarded every three years to a Bulgarian mathematician under the age of 40 for outstanding achievements in the field of mathematics. Dr. Evgeni Dimitrov of the University of Southern California, USA, is this year’s laureate, announced Prof. Julian Revalski, Member of BAS, who chaired the Award Committee. Dr. Evgeni Dimitrov was honored for his contributions to research in the field of probability theory. His research helps explain complex random phenomena arising in mathematical models of growing interfaces and random matrices. He is also one of the world’s leading experts in the rapidly developing theory of Gibbsian line ensembles.
The high caliber of Bulgarian mathematicians and computer scientists has long been widely recognized, and today many of them work at prestigious universities and research centers outside Bulgaria. One of the main goals in organizing and hosting scientific forums such as the Mathematics Days in Sofia is to strengthen and deepen ties with the Bulgarian mathematical diaspora by providing an environment for successful collaborative research activities aimed at finding the sought-after and much-needed answers and results in all spheres of human development.
The Institute of Mathematics and Informatics of BAS, in collaboration with the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and the Union of Mathematicians in Bulgaria, are the organizers of the traditional gathering of Bulgarian mathematicians in Sofia which began today and will continue through July 10. More about the event: https://mds.math.bas.bg/
