The High School Students Institute of mathematics and informatics was established in September 2000. The founding of HSSI was one of the initiatives of the Bulgarian mathematical community within the celebration of the World Mathematical Year 2000.
   Founders of HSSI are:
• The Union of Bulgarian Mathematicians (UBM)
• The “Evrika” foundation
• The International “St Cyril and St Methodius” foundation
• The Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

   Mission
   Bulgaria has a relatively well-developed network of Mathematics and Informatics competitions for secondary school students. For more than 20 years Bulgarian high school students successfully participate in the International Mathematics and Informatics Olympiads. There are many students however, who are highly creative only if they are not “under the pressure” of the limited competition time. Some of them could become good inventors or scientists in their professional life. It is the mission of HSSI to identify such students and to take care of them developing the future leaders in science.
   UBM has long-standing traditions in early identification and proper enhancement of talents. Since 1980, School Sections in the framework of the annual Spring Conferences of UBM have been organized, where high school students presented their papers. It is the mission of HSSI to keep the traditions alive giving them new spirit and new content.
   Before 1989 the so called “Movement for Technical and Scientific Creativity of the Youth” (TNTM in Bulgarian) existed in Bulgaria. The students worked on individual scientific projects which they presented at sessions. Unfortunately, with the disappearing of the Communists League, everything related to it disappeared as well. It was time to establish something that would revive TNTM. It is the mission of HSSI to recreate the valuable experience with today's challenges and requirements.
   Another important factor for the creation of HSSI is the long-term collaboration between the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) in Virginia, USA, and the International “St Cyril and St Methodius” foundation in Sofia, Bulgaria. Each year CEE organizes a highly successful six-week Research Science Institute (RSI), which has gained great recognition and prestige. It is the mission of HSSI to implement RSI-like activities in Bulgaria, taking into account the conditions and the traditions in the country.
   The Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences provides a natural environment for the growth and the progress of HSSI – Library, Internet, rooms and equipment. Many collaborators of the Institute devote significant part of their free time to keep the level of extra-curricular work with talented students high. Their work supports and enables HSSI to assist the intellectual and professional growth of the high school students.