Education:

- 1969-1975 - Moscow Chemical Technological Institute "D. I. Mendeleev", Eng. in "Chemical cybernetics and main processes and devices in chemical industry", gold medal.

- 1977-1980 - Higher Institute of Mining and Geology, Sofia, Ph. D. student in Mineral Processing;

- 1980 - Defended Ph.D. thesis in Mineral Processing, Higher Institute of Mining and Geology, Sofia.

Post-Doc. Specializations:

Copper-zinc selection, 2000, DAAD, Germany

Career:

2000-2017: Professor in Mineral processing, University of Mining and Geology, Sofia.

2007- 2014:  Member of the European Parliament, ENVI Member and ITRE Substitute Member.

2007-2011: Vice-Rector of University of Mining & Geology - Sofia.

Since 2004: reader in "Flotation methods in mineral processing" and “Chemical methods in mineral processing”.

Since 2002: Editor, Geology and Mineral Resources magazine.

1998: Defended Doctor of Technical Sciences Thesis (Dr. Habil.).

1994 - 2009: reader in "Flotation methods for ores' dressing" and in "Energy basis of flotation processes" at the College on Mining - Kardjali town.

1991 - 2009: director of the College on Mining - Kardjali town.

1990 - 1995: senior researcher - University of Mining and Geology, Sofia.

1986 - 1991: vice-director and director of the Centre for education, investigation and technologies' implementation founded by the Higher Institute of Mining and Geology, Sofia and GORUBSO firm, Madan town.

1980 - 1990: researcher - Higher Institute of Mining and Geology, Sofia.

1975 - 1977: regular military service.

1975: engineer - Central Institute on Complex Automatics, Sofia.

Team leaded by Mr. Panayotov implemented 7 technologies and 4 systems for flotation improvement. Technologies developed have been presented in many countries, including Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, Russia, Chile, India, Peru, Bolivia, etc.

Fields of interest: new technologies in minerals' processing (lead-zinc, copper-pyrite, copper-molybdenum selection), wastewater and washing acids purification, technogenic waste utilization, electrochemical technologies.

Membership: Union of Scientists in Bulgaria, Scientific Advisory Committee of the World Congress of Mineral Processing; Balkan Mining Academy, the Russian Mining Academy, Academy of Ecology - St. Petersburg, Hydrogen Society.

Publications: over 170; 42 inventions, patents and utility models; 4 monographs (in Bulgarian and in English); 4 text-books in the fields taught.

Projects: management and co-management of more than 20 projects - (in Bulgaria and abroad); Economic impact of 12 mln levs (6 mln Euro) of projects, implemented in Bulgaria

Awards:

Dimitrov's prize for fundamental technological contribution (1982); Gold order of labour (1985); Gold medal from the First World Young Inventors' Exhibition and Gold medal from Plovdiv International Technical Fair (1989); the best Bulgarian engineer in the field of minerals' dressing for the year (1991); foremost processing engineer of Bulgaria (2001); Honorary citizen of Kardzhali town (2005); 2 gold medals from the East West Euro Intellect Technical Fair and International Exhibition (2003); Order "St. Cyril and Methodius" (Russia) for contribution to science and culture of Slavonic society; Order "Stara Planina - first degree", for contribution to the development of Mining and Metallurgy in Bulgaria (2010); Recording in Golden Book of Bulgarian inventors (2012); Bernardo O'Higgins Order of Chile (2012); Best Member of the European Parliament of the Year 2013 in the Environment Category; Inventor of the Year - 2014; Order "St. Cyril and Methodius with necklace" -2018.