The National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDI Office) is launching its SME Focal Area Innovation Programme, an innovation call for proposals to support the focal areas designated in the John von Neumann Programme, with a HUF 50 billion budget, HUF 15 billion more than last year. The digitisation of the economy and society, the green transition and the preservation of healthy life are the focal areas where we face the most pressing challenges today and where Hungary can be most competitive.

Last year’s call attracted 3.5 times more project proposals, which is why the budget for the new call has increased significantly. The current call also encourages Hungarian businesses and their university and research institute partners to develop innovative solutions, mainly in the three focal areas mentioned above.

In order to ensure economic impact, this year again, applicants must meet three key requirements: the development of a new technology, product or service; the successful protection of this new development through industrial property protection, in particular patents; and the generation of sales revenue from the new product or service developed in the years following the development period.

Under the call, HUF 25 billion has been earmarked for innovation development in the field of digitalisation, and HUF 10-10 billion in non-refundable funding for two other focal areas: green transition and health. Also, an additional HUF 5 billion will be available to develop innovative solutions of outstanding quality that are promising even by international standards. Applicants can first submit their proposals to the NRDI Office for peer review. Proposals will continue to be evaluated by high-level experts from research and business, as well as by the dedicated Focal Area Innovation Boards. Applicants who pass the rigorous evaluation process will then be able to submit their funding request to the NRDI Office, expected in autumn 2024.

The call for proposals is available on the NRDI Office’s website:
SME Focal Area Innovation Programme (2024-1.1.1-KKV_FÓKUSZ)