In the Hungarian innovation strategy package, the John von Neumann Programme (NJP), the Government has set a target to significantly increase the number of industrial property rights – today, there are 1.5 patent applications for every EUR 1 billion of GDP in Hungary, compared to the EU average of 3.5. This is why the Government decided, in the framework of the NJP, to reduce patent application and maintenance fees for individuals, SMEs, universities and research institutes by 75% from 2024, offering the most favourable rates in Europe for these groups. R&D results and innovative ideas can be most effectively exploited if they are properly protected by law. This step is vital to ensure that the resources invested - time, money, expertise - not only pay off, but also bring long-term market advantage and appropriate benefits.

The good news is that market players in Hungary are also becoming increasingly aware of this issue, and are increasingly often applying for protection of their product or technology at the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (SZTNH). In the framework of awareness-raising, the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDI Office) has long been supporting targeted calls for proposals to make this opportunity available to a wider range of people, even the smallest micro-enterprises. The HUF 500 million available under this call for proposals will be used to provide 100% non-refundable support to stakeholders to finance domestic and international SZTNH procedures related to patents, utility models, plant varieties, designs or trademarks, including, for example, IPR advice, prosecution services and the cost of official fees.

“The protection and exploitation of intellectual property is one of the most important catalysts for unlocking the innovation potential of our country. We support market players, universities and individuals to ensure that intellectual creation is properly recognised, by raising awareness, providing effective processes, sharing good practice and recommending national and international resources. This call offers a unique opportunity to finance the costs incurred at the most important decision points of obtaining domestic and international protection, thus ultimately facilitating the acquisition of domestic, European and international industrial property protection,” emphasised Szabolcs Farkas, president of the SZTNH.

“It is important for all market players to recognise that in order to be competitive, they need to keep up with the competition in the field of IP protection. One of the priority goals of the John von Neumann Programme is to double the number of patents in Hungary by the end of the decade. In addition to the funding, we are also encouraging this by making patenting a basic requirement for increasingly of our innovation calls ,” added Dr Zsuzsa Szabados, Vice-President of the NRDI Office for Corporate Innovation.

The two calls for proposals now open research sites of businesses, universities and other organisations and individuals can apply for support to protect their intellectual property. Since 2015, a total of 474 applications have received more than HUF 730 million in funding under the previous “Industrial Property Protection” schemes launched for similar purposes.