The call, launched by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office, is split into three sub-programmes. Research institutions and R&D businesses have until 28 May to submit their applications for funding participation in conferences abroad, the organisation of scientific events in Hungary targeting an international audience, and for support for activities to promote and raise awareness of domestic R&D results. Details of the call are now available on the website of the NRDI Office. The NRDI Office will also help interested parties and potential applicants with an information event, where they will not only learn about the opportunities and expectations, but also hear from successful science communicators about their own experiences and tricks of the trade.

“A key objective of the Science Patronage call is to foster a greater awareness of scientific and innovative achievements in society. A number of new research centres have recently been set up to deliver world-leading, high-quality academic work. Two of our researchers have been awarded Nobel Prizes, and in 2023 Hungarian innovation moved up one category in the international ranking - the only one in Europe to do so. We intend to further improve our innovation performance and to be in the global TOP 25 by 2030, in the TOP 10 by 2040 and in the TOP 10 in Europe already by 2030. For this reason, another important objective is to integrate the Hungarian research community more and more into the international community, to make Hungarian researchers more visible and more recognised both in Hungary and abroad”, pointed out Balázs Hankó, State Secretary for Innovation, Higher Education, Vocational Training and Adult Education at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, related to the launch of the call. He also added that this can also boost interest in a career in research and hence it has a major role to play in training the next generation of scientists.

This call for proposals had already attracted huge interest upon its launch in 2021. Among the winners of that call, 270 researchers had networking opportunities at professional conferences abroad, and 40 international conferences were organised in Hungary in a wide range of scientific fields, helping to promote the results of Hungarian research to a wider audience. In addition, the call supported the production of 33 high-quality educational or science-promoting media productions on topics as diverse as the medical application of 3D technology, the sustainability of the global energy system and super-resolution microscopy, and produced more than 90 publications, including educational publications for the general public, historical monographs, medical textbooks and university textbooks.