The 2021 Hungarian Innovation Grand Prix was awarded to CycloLab Ltd. for its SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug excipient.
József Bódis, state secretary for higher education, innovation and vocational training of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology (ITM), said that the higher education and innovation sector has undergone significant changes.
The change has given higher education institutions that have changed models further scope for development. In addition to education and research, universities are also expected to demonstrate innovation performance, he said.
The State Secretary of ITM pointed out that higher education has received significant resources in recent years to operate high-quality universities that can become part of the innovation ecosystem.
The State Secretary stressed that Hungary spends 1.6 percent of GDP on research, development and innovation, and the aim is to increase this figure to 1.8 percent in the near future. He pointed out the need to make use of opportunities offered by the EU to attract additional funding.
János Pakucs, honorary president of the Hungarian Association for Innovation, stressed that innovation contributes significantly to the performance of the Hungarian economy. The companies that participated in the 2021 competition were able to directly generate HUF 12 billion in additional revenue through their innovation.
Péter Závodszky, President of the Hungarian Innovation Foundation, said that the Hungarian Innovation Grand Prix competition also shows that there are successful creative communities in Hungary, and that it is possible to engage in competitive, value-added activities in the country.
Zoltán Birkner, President of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDIO), said about the work of the jury evaluating the applications: 35 applications were received by the 2 February 2022 deadline, the jury classified 33 applications as successful innovations implemented in 2021, and the winners were selected from them.
The 2021 Industrial Innovation Prize, sponsored by the ITM, was awarded to MEDITOP Gyógyszeripari Kft. for the development and production of Favipiravir Meditop 200 mg film-coated tablets.
The 2021 Agricultural Innovation Award, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture (AM), was awarded to Martonvásár Bázismag Vetőmagszaporító, Termeltető és Forgalmazó Kft. for establishing and increasing the efficiency of field crop production through ecological innovation, the treatment of seeds with biologically active substances.
The 2021 Environmental Innovation Award, sponsored by AM, was awarded to Controlsoft-Automatika Szolgáltató Kft. for its webSCADA6 process control system.
The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office awarded its 2021 Innovation Award to Műszer Automatika Kft. for its MANTI family of thermal protection materials.
The 2021 Startup Innovation Prize of the Hungarian Association for Innovation was awarded to Péntech Solutions Kft. for its digital company financing system.
The Hungarian Innovation Grand Prix was established by the General Assembly of the Hungarian Association for Innovation in 1991.The prize is awarded once a year to companies registered in Hungary that have achieved significant business benefits through outstanding technical and economic innovation performance in the year preceding the award.
Source: MTI
