The joint specialist conference of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office and the Hungarian Project Management Association in Budapest on 19 March 2024 provided a more detailed insight into these topics, among others.
Businesses, research institutions, specialist and public organisations alike showed keen interest in the conference, which explored the role and opportunities of innovative stakeholders in accelerating the green transition. The Hungarian Association for Innovation, the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture and the Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises were the specialist partners involved in the event.
Among the plenary presentations, András Gelencsér, air chemist, member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, rector of the University of Pannonia, spoke first about the global challenges and possible responses to the challenges of our environment. The key message is also a warning: at current growth rates, development is not sustainable because our resources are finite.
In his presentation, László Bódis, Deputy Secretary of State for Innovation at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, said that the common goal is to use research capacities to find community responses to social and economic challenges. He presented the policy efforts to link universities, research institutions and the economy, as set out in the strategic package of measures of the John von Neumann Programme, which will also boost the green transition. He confirmed that the government is committed to supporting such research and development. He praised the National Laboratories Programme, which brings together the best national expertise in the field, with eight institutions working on similar topics.
Representing the corporate sector, István Márton, CEO of MVM Future Lab, said that the demand for electricity is constantly growing, and the MVM Group, as an adaptive organisation, has already put carbon neutral and renewable energy generation and storage solutions at the focus of its ten-year strategy.
Dr Borbála Schenk, Head of the International Department of the NRDI Office, introduced the EU funding opportunities of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme related to green transition, encouraging Hungarian organisations to participate and apply. She pointed out that the NRDI Office supports successful participation in international calls in a number of ways: by offering strategic partnership-building schemes, expertise, information events, knowledge sharing, and also by providing personalised advice and consultations. In the second half of the conference, representatives of start-ups, professional and funding organisations involved in green transition engaged in an informal roundtable discussion, led by Áron Boros, Vice President of the Hungarian Project Management Association. The panel included: Dr Zsuzsa Szabados, Vice President for Businesses, National Research, Development and Innovation Office, Dr Csaba Ágoston, President, Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises, Anikó Juhász, Deputy Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Dávid Mezőszentgyörgyi, Director, MATE, Gödöllő, Ambrus Vancsó, CEO, Proofminder, Nóra Krzyzewsky, Quality Assurance Director, Bonafarm Group.
Topics included marketable innovations, the role of the state, opportunities for businesses and good examples to follow. The regulatory environment and market needs are stimulating innovative solutions for green transition. The participants agreed that not only sustainability and efficiency, but also commercial viability are the main objectives of successful projects, and a stable market environment and predictable regulation are essential conditions for this.
Source: National Research, Development and Innovation Office and Hungarian Project Management Association