Two UNWE Researchers Have Been Nominated for the Pythagoras Awards

Prof. D.Sc. Nikolay Shterev and Chief Assist. Dr. Ivet Tileva were nominated for the most prestigious national science awards - the Pythagoras Awards – in the category Established Reearcher in the Field of Social Sciences and Humanities and in the category Young Resarcher in the Field of Social Sciences and Humanities. They received their awards from the Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev at the official ceremony held at the National Historical Museum.

Photo: Ministry of Education and Science

"We are proud that for the first time in the history of the awards two researchers from the UNWE are among the scientists nominated for the highest scientific honors of the Ministry of Education and Science – the Pythagoras Awards", said Dr. Prof. Matilda Alexandrova, Vice-Rector for Educational Activity, who greeted the nominees on behalf of the Rector's Management and the academic community of UNWE and wished them further success in their scientific and teaching activities.

On the occasion of his nomination Prof. D.Sc. Nikolay Shterev outlined: "Firstly, the UNWE deserves admiration because in the recent years it has managed to prove, including through a number of patents for which applications for protection have been filed, that the economics, as a science, can create very high added value not only for the university itself but also for society. These nominations show that the University, we, are part of the country's research space and we should be proud that we do science and that this science is valued and seen on a national scale.

The awards reflect the development of science over the past decades, and what has been impressing in the recent years is that there is an increasing reliance on collective work, regardless of whether there is an individual scientist. This year I had the honour of being nominate, but it is the work of the entire team which has put in months of effort. The nomination itself, especially for young scientists, is a great experience because it shows that their work is not just points that measure their work according to the law and regulations, they see that their work is evaluated in terms of its usefulness to society, and this should give them strength for many new developments."

Chief Assist. Dr. Ivet Tileva, honoured as a young scientist in the category Young Researcher in the Field of Social Sciences and Humanities, said: "The nomination is something extraordinary and unexpected for me. When we talk about emerging scientists, this is the most prestigious scientific award in Bulgaria, and I am honoured to be the first runner-up in the nomination for Young Researcher. I am glad that the award goes to my university, the UNWE, which consistently supports young researchers!" She expressed thankfulness to her Scientific Advisor Assoc. Prof. Daniel Danov and to the University for the opportunity to develop her scientific potential.

The Pythagoras National Science Awards are the most prestigious national distinction for achievements in the field of scientific research. They are held for the 17th consecutive year, honouring leading Bulgarian scientists and science communicators for their significant contribution to the development of science and society. In 2025, 52 scientists participated in the eight categories. The nominations were reviewed by a jury composed of distinguished and authoritative scientists, and the winners included both established scientists and young researchers in various scientific fields.

The grand prize Pythagoras for overall contribution to science in 2025 was awarded to Prof. Radostina Stoyanova from the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the prize in the category Science Communication was awarded to Prof. Hristo Pimpirev.