International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

This paper evaluates the potential of waste-to-energy (WtE) solutions in managing industrial and municipal waste in Bulgaria. It provides an overview of current WtE technologies, including thermal, biochemical, and innovative processes, and assesses their applicability within the Bulgarian context. The study highlights environmental and economic benefits such as reduced landfill use, decreased greenhouse gas emissions, and energy recovery. By examining successful implementations in Bulgaria and other EU countries, the paper identifies key challenges and opportunities for scaling WtE solutions. The findings suggest that with the right policy support and investment, WtE can significantly contribute to sustainable waste management in Bulgaria.

This paper evaluates the potential of waste-to-energy (WtE) solutions in managing industrial and municipal waste in Bulgaria. It provides an overview of current WtE technologies, including thermal, biochemical, and innovative processes, and assesses their applicability within the Bulgarian context. The study highlights environmental and economic benefits such as reduced landfill use, decreased greenhouse gas emissions, and energy recovery. By examining successful implementations in Bulgaria and other EU countries, the paper identifies key challenges and opportunities for scaling WtE solutions. The findings suggest that with the right policy support and investment, WtE can significantly contribute to sustainable waste management in Bulgaria

This paper explores the pivotal role of technology and innovation in enhancing the resilience of Bulgaria’s critical infrastructure. It examines the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, digital twins, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), cyber-physical systems (CPS), and big data analytics in sectors like hazardous waste management, border security, and airport security. By analyzing case studies and current implementations, the paper highlights the successes and challenges faced in adopting these technologies. The study also discusses the importance of public-private partnerships and regulatory frameworks in fostering an environment conducive to technological innovation. The findings underscore the necessity for continuous investment in technology to safeguard critical infrastructure against emerging threats and to ensure long-term sustainability.

The article presents a comparative analysis of the organization of the early childhood education and care in three countries from the Balkan region – Romania, Greece and Bulgaria. The analysis focuses on the following aspects of preprimary education: access to early childhood education and care; organisation of centre-based ECEC; educational guidelines; organisational variations and alternative structures in ECEC.

The paper presents the research design of an international project focused on academic entrepreneurship culture and entrepreneurial education. The entrepreneurship is a key feature of the market economy and the democratic development of the countries, leading to better living standard. However, the entrepreneurial culture, knowledge and skills need to be upgraded in countries, who used to apply a planned economy approach. Thus, an examination of the current state of entrepreneurial culture is required and an approach for its development needs to be provided. The academic environment is the best place, where such an examination can be performed, and proposal can be elaborated. The current paper presents an international project, aiming to explore unrevealed strengths of academic entrepreneurship in detail and in various aspects oriented to students, academic staff, and businesspeople. The paper aims to present the scientific context in which the project is positioned and the research design of the project.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is dedicated to fostering peace, security, and stability in its member states. Counter-terrorism remains one of its top priorities, with a focus on a comprehensive and collaborative approach. This paper explores the OSCE’s counter-terrorism strategies and their implications for Bulgaria, a participating state. It delves into the collaborative efforts, initiatives, and programs that Bulgaria engages in within the OSCE framework to combat terrorism.

The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) spearheads a unified approach across the UN to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism globally. Despite the emergence of new challenges, including the misuse of new technologies by terrorist groups, the UNOCT has amplified its efforts, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus remains on promoting multilateral cooperation, with the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) playing a pivotal role in fostering international cooperation against terrorism. This paper delves into Bulgaria’s contributions and role in these initiatives, emphasizing its alignment with the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

The Green Transition, aiming for a sustainable and eco-friendly future, plays a crucial role in ensuring societal security. As the world grapples with climate change and environmental degradation, the Green Transition offers a pathway to address these challenges while fostering societal cohesion and resilience. In Bulgaria, the Green Transition is not just an environmental endeavor but also a means to counter disinformation narratives and foreign authoritarian influence. This paper examines Bulgaria’s efforts in the Green Transition, its implications for societal security, and the challenges and opportunities it presents.

The paper presents a conceptual model for overcoming the consequences of the pandemic based on summarized results from research focused on societal challenges in Bulgaria caused by COVID-19. The study aims to submit a unified methodological framework for application by experts in researching, analyzing, and bench-marking the entrepreneurs’ activity and suggestions for applicable and reasonable measures in the field of business development during the pandemic situation caused by COVID-19. The findings of this research can assist managers in national institutions and business organizations to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of different measures which influence creativity and innovation and focus on proactive suggestions to overcome the negative consequences of the pandemic.

Cross-border cooperation (CBC) is a unique and effective instrument of European Union that has the potential to influence on human security in a positive way. This paper analyses the role of CBC between Bulgaria and Greece in the context of human security. The analysis is focused on the Right to Life, and especially, on the right to health and social welfare. The comparative analysis represents CBC results and benefits from two programming periods: 2007-2013 and 2014-2020. The expected outcomes of cross-border projects (by 2023) are also being explored, outlining the main trends and prospects for developing the cross-border partnership.

A historical aspect of uranium mining in Bulgaria has been made until its eradication in 1992. Described are the measures taken pursuant to Decree-Law No. 74 / 27.03.1998 on the liquidation of the consequences of uranium mining and processing and the gaps to be eliminated in this regard. Up to the end of uranium mining in 1992, the annual uranium yield was 660-680 t, of which 430 t was obtained by geotechnical method – drilling with drilling of the sand-type uranium. They are poor in uranium (below 0.05%), but with a few times cheaper yields (an average of $ 40 / kg for 1970-1990). Possible new uranium extraction from this type of field and mine wastewater could reach 350 t per year at a value not exceeding 80 $ / kg. It is possible to investigate and prove 40-50 000 tons of new uranium ore deposits in Bulgaria mainly in the sand-type deposits at a depth of up to 650 m.