The programme aims to align research funding with the socio-economic challenges, while strengthening the RDI focus and enhancing scientific productivity. This year the programme addresses the challenges “Innovation for competitiveness”, “Science for our future” and “Life prospects of generations” in the research fields of secure society and environment, industry and digitization, and culture and family.

Zoltán Birkner referred to the University of Miskolc as “an excellent university in rural Hungary” which has an important mission in influencing its economic and social environment. He also said that Europe’s future and economic growth can be greatly influenced by the lack of critical elements, such as mineral resources, which increases its resource and energy dependence. Therefore, the most efficient utilization of natural resources has strategic importance for the national economy, and the university’s winning project fits well with this objective – the President of the Office said.

Csaba Deák, the President of the university pointed out that in addition to the HUF 400 million received for the project aimed at the better exploitation of underground resources, the outstanding professional work and the high quality of basic and applied research in Miskolc are also confirmed by many other winning projects, including several EU projects. He added: the international “visibility” of the university has greatly increased as a result of their efforts in recent years. The President of the university also emphasized that the Thematic Excellence Programme provided substantial support for them to serve the interests of the national economy and facilitate the rise of the region.

Miskolc, 17 July 2019, Wednesday (MTI)