The call for applications aims to strengthen researcher creativity and excellence, and facilitate promising basic research projects initiated by researchers which are generally expected to provide more insight into various natural and social phenomena, extend the knowledge of humanity, and deliver results which pave the way for new methodologies and procedures, thus creating and determining the future of research and development on the basis of excellence and competitiveness.

The call for research projects based on Hungarian–Thai international cooperation provides funding for discovery research projects in the following areas:

• agricultural sciences;
  
• biotechnology;
  
• energy;
  
• environmental protection.
  

Deadline and manner of submission

Submission deadline is 12 January 2017. The submission is successful if the application was finalised electronically by the researcher and approved by the head of the host institution before 12 January 2017, and if the hard copies of the application was received by the customer service of the NRDI Office via regular mail, postmarked no later than 19 January 2017. All applications must be submitted in English irrespective of the field of science.

It is essential to submit together with the application an electronic copy of the Declaration on International Cooperation signed by the principal investigator of the foreign partner. In the absence of this document, the application will not meet the formal requirements and will not be assessed.

Who can apply

Researchers with Hungarian or foreign nationality may apply jointly with a host institution seated in Hungary which shall be

• a higher education institution, research centre, research institution, budgetary organ or an institution thereof having legal personality if it qualifies as a research organisation;
  
• a non-profit organisation pursuing research and development as core activity.
  

Throughout the implementation period of the funded project the Hungarian national researcher must be a full-time worker of the host institution under an employment contract, civil service contract or other contract aimed at performing work; and the foreign national researcher has to be a full-time worker under an employment contract, civil service contract, works contract or other contract aimed at performing work.

Projects can also be implemented by consortia.

Eligible activities

The full implementation of actions specified in the project plan developed on the basis of the research and work plan outlined in the Call for research projects based on Hungarian–Thai international cooperation is eligible for funding.

Eligible costs

The material costs of the project, the wage of researcher(s) planned to be employed in the project (PhD students, PhD candidates, postdoctors and young researchers) and other participants absolutely necessary for the success of the project (students, technicians and other supporting staff), the procurement of devices, equipment and instruments necessary for the research, the costs of maintaining international scientific relations, and the costs of conference presentation and publication of the research findings as specified in detail in the call notice.

Other important conditions

• Projects shall commence between 01 May 2017 and 1 December 2017. 
  
• The research tasks of the project have to be implemented in a host institution seated in Hungary. Exceptions to this are the tasks to be implemented by the foreign partner(s), not funded from the NRDI Fund.
  
• Maximum project duration is 36 months.
  

Available funds

In order to achieve the objectives of the call the NRDI Office has earmarked a total budget of HUF 150 million from the NRDI Fund for the 2017-2020 period in line with the Act on the Central Budget and with regard to the programme strategy of the NRDI Fund. Applicants may apply for non-refundable funds of up to HUF 36 million per project, as long as available funds last. Maximum funding intensity is 100%.