In Bulgaria, The St. Cyril and St. Methodius International Foundation exists “To build upon an intellectual capacity, securing access to the best academic centres on an international level for young and capable Bulgarians, who are needed to meet the challenges of transition, as well as for the integration of Bulgaria into Europe and the world.”

True to this mission, and with the help of BNP Paribas Bulgaria, they will be financing the participation of bright Bulgarian high school students in an intensive 6-week summer program at the world-renowned institution, MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), in Boston. The program will be attended by approximately 80 high school students from the US and other countries including Bulgaria, China, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Lebanon, Poland, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and the UK. Once selected, the students go to MIT and work on a research project under the guidance of faculty, post-docs and graduate students at MIT, Harvard, Boston University, and other research institutions in the Boston area.

The Foundation, established in 1982, has initiated a number of other projects including “Bulgarian Teachers”, which aims to encourage excellence among teaching professionals, and the management of various funds to help the academic and professional growth of young people.