The researchers from ISSP possess a rich experience in networking activities with leading European Research Centres. Currently, the research and development activity of the Institute is carried out in close collaboration with more that 50 European Universities and Institutes. Bulgarian researchers working in the field of laser physics and applications have a long-term and very active cooperation with institutes from Germany, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Netherlands, France, UK, Australia etc. This fruitful cooperation resulted in the following joint research projects:

• FP6 project No.: MRTN-CT-2003-505086, "Selective formation and biochemistry of oxidative clustered DNA damage" (2004-2008);
• FP5 project No.: HPRN-CT-1999-00129, COCOMO, "Coherence and Control in Atomic and Molecular Systems and Processes" (2000 - 2004);
• two NATO Scientific Initiative "Science for Peace" projects:
  • NATO SfP-972685, "Development of a System Based on a High Power and High Efficiency Copper Bromide Laser for Precision Materials Processing", 1999-2002;
  • NATO SfP-971989, "High Beam Quality UV Lasers for Microelectronics", 1999-2004.

    The significant contribution in the fundamental science led also to the implementation of high power and long life laser to different emerging field of applications. Australian industrial company NORSELD works together with Bulgarian partners on farther testing and improvements ("Life time test of40W CuBr laser tube", (1999-2000); "SHG of UV from a Copper Bromide Laser" (2001-2003)).

    In the field of soft matter physics, in addition to the above mentioned Institutes, good relations also exist between ISSP and:

• Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield;
• University of Patras, Patras, Greece;
• General Physics Institute, RAS, Moscow, Russia;
• Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy;
• NIOPIC, Moscow, Russia;
• Saga Medical School, Saga, Japan;
• University of Buffalo, USA. A NATO grant (LST.CLG974686) and a Royal Society grant was funded.

    The studies related to contemporary microelectronic industry and future nanoelectronics are also carried out in collaboration with many laboratories on the Balkans and in Europe:

• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece;
• Izmir Inst. of Technology, Department of Physics, Izmir, Turkey;
• Institute of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia;
• Department of Microelectronics, Faculty of Electronic Engineering, University of Nis, Yugoslavia;
• Institute of Semiconductor Physics, NAS, Ukraine College of Informatics and Electronics;
• University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland;
• Universita di Roma '' La Sapienza", Dipartimento di Energetica, Italy;
• Institut fuer Ionenstrahlungsphysik und Materialforshung, Forschungszentrum Rossendorf, Germany;
• Laboratoire de Microscopie Electronique et Tunnel, Universite de Reims, France;
• Power Electronics Research Laboratory (PERL),University of Illinois at Chicago, USA;
• The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA;
• Dept. of Electronics & Tele-Comm. Eng. Jadavpur University, Calcutta, India;
• Joint Institute for Nuclear research, Dubna. Russia.

    The research in the field of nanoparticles and ultrathin films has been performed in collaboration with
    - the National Polytechnical University of Athens, Greece;
    - Max-Plank Institute of Microstructure Physics, Halle, Germany,
    - University of Abertay Dundee, Scotland (udner a Royal Society grant),
    - Vrjie Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium;
    - Max-Plank Institute, Garching, Munchen, Germany;
    - University of Harkiv, Ukraine.

    Studies on VCSELs have been carried out in the framework of a COST Project with Free University of Brussels. Twining with Forschungszentrum Rossendorf, Germany was established in 1999 and successful collaborative studies are performed in the field of nanoscience & technology of various materials: Si based materials for microelectronics, colossal magnetoresistance thin films, new biomaterials, etc.

Attractions for senior and young scientists

    The cooperation with foreign partners has a longstanding tradition in the Institute of Solid State Physics. This tradition has its origin in the well-known achievements of the staff in various fields of solid/soft matter physics. ISSP is famous with several scientific schools. For example, novel results obtained in the theory and experiment of nanomembranes, membrane elasticity and flexoelectricity, several new flexoeffects discovered in model and living membranes, the general concept of biomembrane structure and function as a liquid crystal mechanism (mechano-electro-opto-chemical machine) have attracted the attention of a great number of European, US and Japanese scientists from top European and world centers (CNRS-France; Biozentrum Basel, Switzerland; Nottingham University, UK; Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA; Buffalo University, USA; Saga Medical School, Saga, Japan, etc.). The high scientific level of the results in this field led to the creation of a French-Bulgarian laboratory funded jointly by CNRS, France and Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, whose activity is coordinated by ISSP. The Institute has also a long-time leading role on the Balkans in the research and development in microelectronics. Many explorers have visited ISSP for training and experience exchange. In 2000 the Electronic Faculty, University of Nis handed over an Award to ISSP in thanks for the help of our scientists in microelectronics development in Yugoslavia. The Institute has a very good reputation in the field of theoretical physics (two senior researchers elected Senior Associates in ICTP, Trieste) and low-temperature studies and superconductivity (ISSP was among the founders of the International Low Temperature and High Magnetic Fields Lab, Wroclaw, Poland). ISSP has some unique for the Balkan states set-ups such as molecular beam epitaxy system, metalo-organic MBE system, a variety of pulsed high-power visible and ultraviolet lasers, which have been developed and produced in Bulgaria.

    ISSP has a steady experience in education of young scientists, PhD students and post docs. Every year between 10 and 20 students prepare their MSc. theses in the Institute and some of them continue their education as PhD students. During the last several years ISSP received a number of requests from young European, Indian and African scientist looking for PhD student and postdoc positions. Members from the senior staff are involved in education programs in number of universities (e.g. Acad. A. G. Petrov is a regular lecturer in University of Buffalo, USA; Prof. N. Tonchev and Prof. D. Pushkarov are permanent lecturers in the International Center of Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy etc.). ISSP successfully participates in Central European Exchange Programme for University Study.

    Since 1980 ISSP organizes an International School-Symposium on contemporary problems in Condensed Matter Physics (ISCMP). The event is regularly visited by many Bulgarian and foreign students and young scientists.