Companies and foundations without scientific potential, that thanks to their links with the former head of Scientific Research Fund Hristo Petrov and Rangel Gurov lined their pockets with millions from the last round of tenders, can get away with it. It is for the court to decide whether the already concluded contracts with them are to be cancelled so that any reimbursement of money may become possible in the long run. Meanwhile, the current manager of the fund proffesor Vladimir Ovcharov confirmed that the winning 95 projects which shared the 14.8 million levs, were re-evaluated by three different committees. Under the magnifying glass have been screened also the projects administratively rejected by officials with no scientific training. The team of the fund is now specifying how many of the norms of the European Union have been violated and what sums have been distributed in the form of unauthorized aid. According to Mr. Ovcharov in more than 30 out of the 95 awarded projects there are irregularities subject of criminal investigation. The Fund will announce the procedure anew. Previous applicants who wish to participate again, just need to make a request without the need to submit documents again.
Because of the massive abuses, the budget for research is at the critical minimum. Last year, the fund received a total of 26 million levs, with which to pay off projects from previous sessions, and the infamous last competition. For 2013 the subsidy is 23 million levs as this money must suffice to repeat the manipulated session that swallowed 15 million levs. Separately, the Treasury wants the management of the fund to return 6 million levs illegally distributed in past competitions. Violations were found during inspection of the Agency for State Financial Inspection, but Science contests the findings of the auditors. In the worst case scenario, the fund will have only cents to spend for more than half a year. In this case Mr. Ovcharov is prepared to resign.
At the same time it became clear that some of the 22 companies from the last competition round whose contracts were canceled by ex-education minister Vodenitcharov, have filed lawsuits against this decision. They have already received money to create additional projects in the Education segment, which was initially not intended to be opened. However, the pseudo scientists quickly got financing they are not ready to give back until the court says so.
The BANKER
