Institutions and businesses are required to comply with their data provision obligations until 16 March this year to enable the CSO to compile data relating to research and development expenditure.
Organisations obliged to provide data have a key role in compiling data relating to R&D expenditure in Hungary in an accurate and professional manner. R&D expenditure means the actual use of funding available for purposes of research, development and innovation (RDI). The HCSO generates national RDI-related data by summarising data collected in the questionnaires filled in by businesses, universities, research institutes and other organisations within the framework of the National Data Collection Programme (OSAP). The validity of R&D expenditure data collected by the HCSO highly depends on the quality of data provided by organisations concerned.
The two organisations call upon businesses and organisations pursuing research, development and innovation activities from public and other sources of funding to comply with their data provision obligation in a professional and credible manner. In respect of filling in the annual OSAP data sheets they request organisations obliged to provide data to pay special attention to the preparatory phase of data provision and data in the questionnaire so that those should reflect as accurately as possible the research-development and innovation activities actually pursued.
The NRDI Office and the HCSO wish to promote responsible data provision and the accurate filling in of the OSAP data sheets by issuing a collection of examples and methodological recommendations accompanying the instructions manual. Should those concerned have any technical questions or problems filling in the data sheet, they may contact the helpdesk of the HCSO Elektra-system (toll-free tel.: 06 80 200-766, from Monday to Thursday 08:00-16:30 and on Friday 08:00-14:00).
The significance of the R&D expenditure data is shown by the fact that its committed target figure to be reached by 2020 by Hungary is included in the Partnership Agreement concluded by the European Union and Hungary for the 2014–2020 period. Also for the programming of the 2021–2027 period, which already starts in 2018, it is necessary to have the most accurate and adequately detailed R&D expenditure data available.
The leaders of the NRDI Office – as a government agency responsible for the coordination of RDI policy – and the HCSO – as a government agency responsible for rendering official data on the social and economic situation and population of Hungary – agreed in October 2017 to strengthen their cooperation to further advance the methodology of compiling RDI data, and improve the quality of data, their suitability for use and the process of data provision.
Budapest, 22 February 2018