Strengthening big cities is an important sociopolitical issue in Hungary since research capacities – both in human and infrastructural terms – are concentrated in Budapest. About three-fourth of all research, development and innovation activities are concentrated in the capital city. Capacities need to be built outside Budapest as well, and these new capacities will create new jobs, said József Pálinkás, President of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office speaking on a programme aired by InfoRadio.
“We need to set up key industries in these hubs, key industries that can have an impact on the entire region. This is an aspect that will surely be changed by the new funding scheme. We can afford HUF 257 billion for the so-called convergence regions i.e. the regions outside Budapest to finance research, development and innovation, while HUF 13 billion goes for Budapest, meaning there are twenty times as much funds available for the other regions of Hungary than for the central region.”
This additional money will probably help strengthen universities that have major research bases, the former HAS President said, adding that a total of HUF 1200 billion is available over a period of seven years in EU and national funds.
“This surplus will probably encourage businesses to set up their R&D operations at locations that they wouldn't prefer otherwise. We can say to businesses that if you establish R&D operations in a big city outside of Budapest in partnership with a university, you will get some of the HUF 50 billion. And HUF 50 billion is a good reason for many people to spur into action."
Funding of HUF 50 billion is available to support partnerships between the business and the academic sector, and additional HUF 50 billion is available for business R&D capacity enhancements, provided that the investments are implemented outside Budapest. It can attract workforce into the region, contributing to its development, József Pálinkás said.
Established 10 months ago, the NRDI Office has announced programmes, to be financed from EU funds, in total value of HUF 200 billion, and the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund, which is directly controlled by the NRDI Office and was also founded at the beginning of the year, has announced programmes in total value of HUF 30 billion, the President of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office said.
The President of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office also talked about their goal to use the available funds in a way that produces the best possible outcome. They will assess how an exploratory research supported with major funding improved the reputation of the university/academic sector globally and will also examine its economic effectiveness.
The remuneration of researchers must be increased, possibly as early as in 2016 or 2017 in order to keep the best talents in Hungary, József Pálinkás said.
“We are facing a serious lack of human resources. We have enough money, but we miss the ideas and the people. Many great talents have left Hungary and they are sorely missed. There are many things in the Lendület (“Momentum”) Programme that can be leveraged by the Innovation Office, and I have many ideas regarding potential ways to address shortage of manpower. We have a brand new scheme. Those who apply for a European Research Council (ERC) funding scheme and get an “A” grade in the second round but do not win grants due to lack of funds, will automatically be given the opportunity to work, for one and a half years, under research conditions that will enable them to re-apply for funding. It is also beneficial for the government in its capacity as an investor, because by providing HUF 50 million grants to applicants who were given “A” grade but did not win, it can give them the opportunity to work on projects and re-apply for ERC funding schemes, ensuring bigger chances for them to win EUR 2.5 million (HUF 750 million).
A lot of facilities and opportunities shall be created to retain the most talented researchers in Hungary as they can also attract investors, József Pálinkás said.
“I have many ideas in this regard. We need to give special treatment to the very best; if we implement a programme to increase the salary of the top fifty Hungarian researchers to be twice the average or that of other employees in similar positions, we should really select the best 50, and then nobody will say a word. But if we fail to select the very best, everybody will be talking about collusion."
He added: a very clear and transparent system needs to be established for the support of outstanding researchers so that the majority accepts the idea behind the system, and also because the mobility of people working in this sector is very high and they can find a job anywhere in the world.
Source: inforadio.hu