Some 64 per cent of Bulgarians believe that the state budget should be the main source of funding for science, according to a Bulgarian Academy of Science study.

Even more, 82 per cent, said that the private business sector should provide stimuli and invest in science, Focus news agency reported.

More than 77 per cent thought that the social status of scientists in Bulgaria is far from desirable.

The social status of Bulgarian scientists was based on three indices, salaries, prestige of the profession and the image of the scientists in the society.

A parallel research of the National Centre for Researching Public Opinion (NCRPO) showed that according to 70 per cent of the Bulgarians the state did not take enough care of science.

Even greater percentage, 78, of the people in the poll said that the state should be the main sponsor of the science.