Institute-Level Report Bulgarian Ship Hydrodynamics Centre (BSHC)

Institute-level report – BHSCWeb site:

Institute-level Report – Bulgarian Ship Hydrodynamics Centre (BSHC)

1. Institute-level Executive summary

The Bulgarian Ship Hydrodynamic Centre (BSHC) is a relatively small institute in terms of number of staff, the average age of the scientific staff is high and the recruiting and retaining of young scientists is almost non-existing. The productivity is declining and the future for the BSHC is therefore not very bright. The technical infrastructure at the BSHC is good, but it needs improvement and expansion if it shall be a useful asset in the future.

2. Institute Evaluation summary

2.aQuality

The BSHC has a limited international network and few international projects/deliveries, but the trend is positive and their ambitions to improve on this are clearly stated. In order to achieve this goal recruiting young scientists is of vital importance. Given the existing infrastructure and accumulated knowledge and experience in the institute, the innovative potential is probably quite large, but again depends on better funding and recruitment of younger scientists.

2.bProductivity

The BSHC has a relatively modest productivity in terms of educational activities, PhD candidates and scientific publications. The project activity is to a large extent oriented towards industry projects and the scientific results seem limited.

2.cRelevance

Since the institute activities are limited in terms of education, PhD candidate production and scientific publications it is fair to say that the scientific impact of the institute and the socio-economic impact on the education of the Bulgarian population are on the low side. On the other hand, the services and products delivered to Bulgarian industry are of a larger volume so in that respect the socio-economic impact on the Bulgarian industrial production is reasonably high.

2.dProspect

The BSHC is describing itself as a well organized and structured research institute which has a good infrastructure and a well qualified staff. The problem is the lack of funds and non-competitive salaries which makes it very difficult to see how the institute can “regenerate” itself by recruiting and retaining new, young staff members and make the necessary improvements to the infrastructure. If this situation is not changed in a few years time, the cost of “turning it around” may be too large given the current economical situation in Bulgaria.

3. Overall Score

Based on the analysis in paragraph 2, the overall score for Bulgarian Ships Hydrodynamics Centre (BHSC) is a “B”, based on its current scientific staff (numbers and age distribution), output of publications and PhD students, number of projects and its technical infrastructure which makes it competitive on a national level, given the state Bulgaria is in now, and it is considered to some extent internationally visible, based on its international network and projects.

4. Overall Strengths and Weaknesses

Comment on the positioning of the institutes within the Division, the Academy. Comment on the positioning (and cooperation) of the institutes within the whole Bulgarian research system, especially as to universities. Comment on overlaps, redundancies, synergies, potential for cooperation and other structural re-arrangement that that you may find important in strengthening the Academy.

5. Recommendations

Including specific and actionable comments and suggestions on issues such as the organization, Cooperation, overlaps, etc.

Annex A – Detailed evaluation paragraph 2.a “Quality”

2.a.1 -S I.5 “Researchers and other personnel” (Strong links) (W)

BSHC has a small staff in total for a research institute, a total of 79 persons, of which 25 are appointed scientists. Of the 25 persons, 10 persons have “academic rank”, and 8 persons have defended their Phd degree. BSHC SER says on page 5 that “The comparison with similar institutions in Europe and around the world demonstrates that the current number of staff is at critical level necessary to carry out a comprehensive research process in full correspondence with national research strategies, and every effort have to made to increase the number of scientific and research personnel.” The low number of scientists must be considered as a weakness, especially when their age distribution and the number of new staff are taken in to the consideration. 7 of the 25 are above 60 years of age, 14 are between 50 and 60, and only 3 are under 50 years. The recruiting is also very low, due to a small number of Phd students and lack of competitiveness in salaries compared to the industry.

2.a.2 – S I.6 “Cooperation with other research establishments”(Strong links) (S)

BSHC seems to have established good working relations and cooperation with relevant national research institutions, but have a limited international network. The national cooperation seems to be targeted towards specific projects and activities, while the international cooperation seems to be more of an informal kind with visits, frame agreements, participation in conferences etc.

2.a.3 – S I.8 “Educational activities”(Strong links) (W)

BSHC has a very modest educational program for foreign students, and is mainly focused on national high school and university student programs. On the other hand, their plans and ambitions to become a leading hydrodynamics research institution on a European and global level are well defined.

2.a.4 – S I.10 “Overall academic achievements” (Links) (W)

The scientific achievements listed seem to have more character of technical developments rather than scientific results. The applied results are also more engineering products than scientific products. The number of citations is also very low in the report period.

2.a.5 – S II.1 “Strategy and policies for future development” (Links) (S)

The future plans described shows an ambitious program with a number of relevant activities in close cooperation with international partners. So if these plans are realized, the BSHC will deliver a fair amount of relevant science within the institute’s area of interest.

2.a.6 – S II.3 “Financial situation” (Links) (S)

The BSHC’s income is not described in much detail, but it looks like approx 50% of the income is from BAS and other Government sources, and 50% from external sources. This indicates that the institute has a good balance between “internal” and “external” income sources, and it implies that their services and products are of such a quality that external customers are satisfied with their deliveries.

2.a.7 – S II.4 “BSHC structure and vision for future development” (Strong links) (S)

The BSHC seems to have a logical organizational structure based on the institute’s goals, products and services.

The listed investigations it plans to perform in the coming years does not indicate any major change in goals, plans, tasks or projects, it is more of a continuation of already existing product lines and services. That is probably a good strategy, given the available human and monetary resources.

2.a.8 – S II.5 “Innovation potential” (Strong links) (S)

BSHC has a very modern and potent infrastructure for various kinds of model testing, laboratories, software and databases. So the experimental facilities are a very strong asset for such an institute, but it must be maintained and continually upgraded and improved in order to be a useful tool for both science projects and more engineering oriented projects and services.

The innovation potential when looking at the facilities seems to be very high, but given the current number of scientific staff, and their age distribution, the probability that they will be able to fully utilize the facilities potential for innovation is more of a question.

2.a.9 – A.1 “Projects in the period 2004 -2008” (Strong links) (S)

The list of nationally and internationally funded projects in Annex 1 shows a project activity that generates a good income for the institute, and the steady rise in activity, especially funded by foreign institutions/companies, shows that despite the small staff, the institute have been successful in landing external contracts. To what extent these contracts are “science driven” is difficult to say, but a lot of them looks more like engineering projects than science projects.

2.a.10 – A.3 “Scientific products ready to be implemented in industry” (Strong links) (W)

The list of scientific products in Annex 3 strengthens the impression that a very large part of the institutes work is “engineering oriented” since the products are mainly tools and methods for hydrodynamic engineering.

2.a.11 – A.4 “Scientific products realized during the period 2004-2008” (Strong links) (W)

The list of scientific products in Annex 4 also strengthens the impression that a very large part of the institutes work is “engineering oriented” since the products are mainly tools and methods for hydrodynamic engineering.

2.a.12 – A.5 “Patent license activities” (Strong links) (W)

None.

2.a.13 – A.8 “Phd students” (Links)(W)

BSHC has had a small number of Phd students in the period 2004 – 2008, only 5 in total,
two of them women. No Phd degree has been awarded in the 5 year period.

2.a.13 – A.9 (2,3) “Post graduate training and schools organized by BSHC” (Strong links) (W)

BSHC runs 2-3 post graduate training programs in parallel in the reporting period, in addition to a few student internships and courses, which is probably on the level one can expect based on the available human and monetary resources at BHSC.

2.a.15 – A.10 “Expert activity” (Strong links) (W)

The national activities seem to be both “expert meeting places”, and more advisory and consultative bodies of experts.

2.a.16 – A.11 (1,2,3,4,5) “International activity” (Strong links) (W)

Most of the expert activities listed in Annex 10 are expert meetings/conferences/seminars, in addition to some projects financed by other countries with relatively modest amounts of money. The largest external funding was in a FP 5 project in 2003-2005.

2.a.17 – A.12.2 “Editorial boards” (Strong links) (W)

Only one participant in one editorial board.

Annex B – Detailed evaluation paragraph 2.b “Productivity”

2.b.1 – S I.8 “Educational activities”(Links) (W)

2.b.2 – S I.10 “Overall academic achievements” (Strong links) (W)

2.b.3 – S II.3 “Financial situation” (Links) (S)

2.b.4 – A.1 “Projects in the period 2004 -2008” (Links) (S)

The list of nationally and internationally funded projects in Annex 1 shows a large project activity that generates goodexternal income for the institute, and the steady rise in activity, especially funded by foreign institutions/companies, shows that despite the small staff, the institute have been successful in landing contracts. To what extent these contracts are “science driven” is difficult to say, but a lot of them looks more like engineering projects than science projects.

2.b.5 – A.2 (1,2,3) “Papers published” (Strong links) (W)

Only one paper was published in a foreign journal and 14 in Bulgarian science journals in the reporting period. In the same time period 26 papers was published in foreign congress or symposium proceedings and 48 in Bulgarian proceedings.

2.b.6 – A.2.4 “Text books and other training aids” (Strong links) (W)

Only one text book published in the reporting period.

2.b.7 – A.3 “Scientific products ready to be implemented in industry” (Strong links) (W)

In 2004 20 scientific products was implemented in industry, but in 2005 it was down to 9,
in 2006 and 2007 it was 10, and in 2008 only 4.

2.b.8 – A.4 “Scientific products realized during the period 2004-2008” (Strong links) (W)

The list of scientific products in Annex 4 shows an “output” of 8 to 6 scientific products a year.

2.b.9 – A.8 “Phd students” (Links)(W)

BSHC has had a small number of Phd students in the period 2004 – 2008, only 5 in total, 2 of them women. No Phd degree has been awarded in the 5 year period.

Annex C – Detailed evaluation paragraph 2.c “Relevance”

2.c.1 – S I.2 “Areas of activities and mission description” (Strong links) (S)

The mission of BHSC is stated to be to perform fundamental and applied research, to train students and PhD graduates in the field of ship hydrodynamics, aerodynamics, ocean and coastal engineering, environmental protection, water transport, defense and others in favor of the society.

The fundamental research done by the institute seems to be limited, but the applied research is on a larger scale. The amount of student training and PhD graduate training is rather limited.

All in all the socio-economic impact is possibly a bit higher than the scientific impact in the report period.

2.c.2 – S 1.3 “Relations to BAS and EU research activities” (Strong links) (W)

The high degree of applied research in support of the maritime industry is said to be in line with the BAS strategy and national aims. The relatively low amount of EU-funded projects is maybe an indicator that it is not very much in line with the EU priorities regarding marine and/or maritime research.

2.c.3 – S I.6 “Cooperation with other research establishments”(Links) (W)

BSHC seems to have established good working relations and cooperation with relevant national research institutions, but at the same time has a limited international network. The national cooperation seems to be targeted towards specific projects and activities, while the international cooperation seems to be more of an informal kind with visits, frame agreements, participation in conferences etc.

2.c.4 – S I.8 “Educational activities”(Links) (W)

2.c.5 – S I.9 “Services of particular national importance” (Strong links) (S)

BSHC has contributed to a number of inland waterways studies, both on navigation on the waterways and sediment transport in the Danube river. In addition they have done a case study on a capsized coal carrier.

2.c.6 – S I.10 “Overall academic achievements” (Links) (S)

The scientific achievements and applied results listed are mainly technical developments in support of the national maritime industry.

2.c.7 – S II.1 “Strategy and policies for future development” (Links) (S)

2.c.8 – S II.3 “Financial situation” (Links) (S)

2.c.9 – S II.5 “Innovation potential” (Strong links) (S)

BSHC has a very modern and potent infrastructure for various kinds of model testing, laboratories, software and databases. So the experimental facilities are a very strong asset for such an institute, but it must be maintained and continually upgraded and improved in order to be a useful tool for science projects, and more engineering oriented projects and services.

So the innovation potential when looking at the facilities seems to be very high, but given the current number of scientific staff, and their age distribution, the probability that they will be able to fully utilize the facilities potential for innovation is more of a question.

2.c.10 – A.1 “Projects in the period 2004 -2008” (Links) (S)

The list of nationally and internationally funded projects in Annex 1 shows a very large project activity that generates considerable income for the institute, and the steady rise in activity, especially funded by foreign institutions/companies, shows that despite the small staff, the institute have been very successful in landing contracts.

2.c.11 – A.2.4 “Text books and other training aids” (Links) (W)

Only one text book in fluid mechanics is published in the reporting period, but the subject is highly relevant for both education and industry.

2.c.12 – A.2.5 “Public outreach” (Links) (W)

BHSC has published 14 popular articles and no books or brochures in the report period. The number of articles pr year varies from a high of 5 (2005) to 1 (2007).

2.c.13 – A.3 “Scientific products ready to be implemented in industry” (Strong links) (W)

In 2004 20 scientific products was implemented in industry, but in 2005 it was down to 9,
in 2006 and 2007 it was 10, and in 2008 it was only 4.

2.c.14 – A.4 “Scientific products realized during the period 2004-2008” (Strong links) (W)

The list of scientific products in Annex 4 shows an “output” of 8 to 6 scientific products a year.

2.c.15 – A.5 “Patent license activities” (Strong links) (W)

None.

2.c.16 – A.8 “Phd students” (Links)(W)

BSHC has had a small number of Phd students in the period 2004 – 2008, only 5 in total, 2 of them women. No Phd degree has been awarded in the 5 year period.

2.c.17 – A.9 (1,2,3,4) “Teaching and training” (Strong links) (W)

BSHC has delivered less than 400 hours of lecturing, trained 7 PhD students and had 21 man months of student internship in the report period.

2.c.18 – A.10 “Expert acitivity” (Strong links) (W)

Most of the expert activities in international forums listed in Annex 10 are expert meetings/ conferences/seminars that are arranged at regular intervals. They are relevant “meeting places” for scientists and engineers working with hydrodynamics. The national activities seem to be both “expert meeting places” and more advisory and consultative bodies of experts.