Eng. Nikola Belopitov is among the most remarkable representatives of the Bulgarian technical intelligentsia. A scientist, inventor, and public figure, he is a fine example of the best characteristics of highly educated, socially responsible and progressive Bulgarians born in the early XX century. A European by education and mentality, he is a devoted patriot who works hard to improve Bulgaria’s international reputation. He is personally involved in transforming Bulgaria from a preindustrial agricultural economy into a developed and modern state with an electrical industry.
Colleagues, students and followers, consider Eng. Belopitov as the patriarch of the Bulgarian electrical industry. Under his leadership, the electrical industry’s main technical and material base in Bulgaria was built for just three years. Structures as the high-current plant in Sofia, the Electric Porcelain Plant in Nikolaevo, the plant for electrical installation materials in Ruse, the Elprom Plant in Troyan, the Nenko Iliev Plant in Sevlievo, the Cable Plant in Burgas and many others came into existence.
“The construction assignments for the factories were made in two versions – one was official for the Ministry, which was lowered several times and the real one, used for the construction. All this was necessary because even the smaller assignments were considered to be ‘fantastic’. The Soviet comrades understood us, so they joined our ‘noble’ lie. “
Eng. Nikola Belopitov, Memoirs
Eng. Belopitov is an innovator and inventor, creator of new methods, products, and technologies. His first invention on the Elecrospark coating ( aka Electrospark Deposition) by vibrating applicator was registered on 10th of Jan 1957 by the Bulgarian Institute for Inventions and Rationalizations. Two years later, it is officially patented in Germany, becoming the first Bulgarian invention patented formally in Germany and Western Europe in general.
‘I will never forget how, when he was coming to work every morning, he was going around all the laboratories greeted with his typical greeting, raising right hand and saying, ‘Anything new?’ He was always eager to hear about some new research, an interesting result and invention and was ready to provide help for its further development and implementation.’
Academician Eng. Angel S. Angelov
Eng. Belopitov is a man with a big heart, humble and kind. Always smiling, he was happy to help everyone. His life went through a series of twists of fate and challenges, which he overcomes through willpower, productivity, and creative vigour. Together with his wife, the Bulgarian artist Olga Belopitova, they maintain friendships with many of the prominent intellectuals of the epoch. They are frequent visitors at the Journalist’s Club and the Russian Club in Sofia, where they met friends.
In his memoirs, Academician Eng. Angel Angelov reflects, “Now we all aim towards Europe, but he was a European even back then – in upbringing, mentality and education. And he was a great patriot, I emphasize on a patriot, who gave his best to raise the scientific and technical image of Bulgaria to a world level. “
Eng. Belopitov is a part of an old family line from Panagyurishte, a town in South-Central Bulgaria. After graduating from high school, hoping to make him forget about politics, his parents sent him to study electrical engineering in Austria. But anyway, he returned to take part in the September Uprising in 1923 and found himself in prison for the first time. Later, he will continue his studies in Danzig (then Germany, now Gdansk, Poland) and, after graduating, will choose to return and work in Bulgaria.
Many prominent Bulgarian public figures, politicians and scientists were born in Panagyurishte. Among them is Nikola Belopitov. The Belopitov family has been present in the city’s archives for generations: Todor and Yosif Belopitov were among the wealthy merchants of the city, Ivan Belopitov was a graduate of Robert College in Istanbul, Todor Belopitov was the secretary of revolutionary Georgi Benkovski.
After the expansion of Nazi Germany, Eng. Belopitov becomes involved in the anti-fascist intelligence and grows closer to General Vladimir Zaimov, helping him establish radio contact with Moscow. Gestapo is following them closely. After a breakthrough in the Slovak cell Gen. Zaimov, Belopitov and other participants are arrested and tortured. During the following trial, Gen. Zaimov is convicted to death and subsequently shot without disclosing his accomplices, saving Eng. Belopitov from certain death.
‘I was sure my days are numbered. It was snowy outside. The single cell of the Police Directorate was freezing cold. I was sleeping on the floor, wrapped in my coat. Among the heavy steps of the Hobnailed Boots down the corridor, you could often hear the light footsteps of the civilian police who were coming to take me, with my hands tight, for another interrogation with some extra ‘treatment’.’
Eng. Nikola Belopitov, Memoirs
Eng. Belopitov was appointed Director of NIIS and later became an establisher and first Director of Scientific Research Institute of Electronic Industry (NIIEP). Thus he brought together the R&D, engineering and human power of the electric industry into one research and innovation organisation. He initiated and personally managed the construction of the new Institute headquarters, located in Gorni Lozenets – the tallest and most prestigious building in Sofia at the time.
„When asked ‘Where do you work?’ the employees were not using the actual name of the institute but simply answering ‘I work for Belopitov’s Institute’ and everyone knew what they mean.“
Eng. Yordanka Vezireva