News of the Office

On 21 February 2020, The National Conference of Student Research Societies (OTDK) won two significant awards: winning the second place of Highlights of Hungary voted for by the public and the Special Prize of Brain Bar provide further evidence that OTDK is a cohesive and constructive community of Hungarian higher education talents.

Wednesday, 19 February 2020, Budapest (MTI - Hungarian Press Agency) Hungarian social and natural sciences researchers have increasing access to international research infrastructure, István Szabó, Vice President for Science and International Affairs of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDI Office) said on Wednesday at a meeting with the press in Budapest.

This is the first practice-oriented, quality-assured programme on startups, market environment and the operation of innovative businesses that provides the same high level of training in every part of the country.

The Territorial Innovation Platforms (TIP) initiative was launched in October last year by the National Research, Development and Innovation (NRDI) Office, with the policy support of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology. So far, the charter document has been signed by 11 universities in Budapest and six more in rural Hungary, and today Szent István University also established its TIP.

A nationwide series of events entitled “Territorial Innovation Platforms (TIP)” has been launched by the National Research, Development and Innovation (NRDI) Office, with the policy support of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology. So far, the charter document has been signed by 11 universities in Budapest and five more in rural Hungary. Today, the University of Pannonia (PE) also established its TIP.

Hungary moved up four places from last year in the Bloomberg Innovation Index, now ranking as 18th. The country performed better in five of the seven indicator groups which form the basis of the overall ranking. It is good news that Hungary made significant progress in the fields of productivity, the share of high-tech companies and R&D intensity.

Just as last year, the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDI Office) and the National Scientific Student Council (OTDT) participate at the Educatio trade show with own stands. This way they can provide aspirant students with first-hand information about the potential of a research career. The stands attract young visitors with exciting games, interactive challenges and prizes, and the lucky ones can even take a selfie with the official OTDT mascot, a tame owl.

One of the most important objectives of the renewing Hungarian innovation system is to foster close collaboration between university knowledge centres and the business sector in order to translate R&D activities into practical solutions.

A major planning task related to the 2021-2027 EU programming cycle is the planning of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) Drawing up the document and implementing its content are preconditions for eligibility for EU funds in the new programming cycle.

The third Conference on University Business Cooperation in Central Europe (CUBCCE) has been organised this year to provide a forum for a dialogue and exchange of experience between universities and businesses, the event was organised by the Ministry for Innovation and Technology and the National Research, Development and Innovation Office. The two-day event was hosted by Budapest LAB, the business development centre of the Budapest Business School on 5-6 December 2019.

Gödöllő, 3 December 2019, Tuesday (MTI) - An Agro-ICT Centre of Cooperation between Higher Education and Industry (AgIT FIEK with Hungarian abbreviation) was established by the Szent István University and its business partners supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund with a grant of HUF 1.5 billion - said the Vice President for Innovation and General Affairs of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDIO) on Tuesday in Gödöllő.

Horizon Europe, the next research and innovation framework programme of the EU shall be launched in 2021. The National Research, Development and Innovation Office as the national coordinator of EU research and innovation framework programmes organised a consultation event in cooperation with the European Commission on 27 November 2019 - as part of the consultation events in EU Member States - focusing on the details of the implementation of the new programme.

In order to promote the smooth implementation and accounting of projects funded by Horizon 2020, a workshop was organised by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office as the domestic coordinator of EU research and innovation framework programme, in collaboration with the European Commission, focusing on audits related to the Horizon 2020 programme at the Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Law.

Budapest, 28 November 2019, Thursday (MTI) - In order to increase the innovation performance of Hungary priority is given to efforts made to establish an innovation ecosystem based on universities - said László Palkovics, Minister for Innovation and Technology on Thursday in his speech closing the nationwide series of events to present the Territorial Innovation Platforms (TIPs).

Szeged, 26 November 2019, Tuesday (MTI) - A Territorial Innovation Platform (TIP) was set up on Tuesday in Szeged with the participation of the University of Szeged, research institutes, businesses and professional organisations.

Pécs, 22 November 2019, Friday (MTI) - To strengthen innovation capacities, the Territorial Innovation Platform (TIP) was also established in Pécs, after Miskolc, Debrecen and Győr

Budapest, 22 November 2019, Friday (MTI) - More than 270 researchers and research groups have been granted nearly HUF 10 billion within the call for proposals in fundamental research invited by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDI Office) - said Tamás Schanda, Minister of State at the Ministry for Innovation and Technology on Friday.

Debrecen, 13 November 2019, Wednesday (MTI) - The representatives of the University of Debrecen and the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDIO) signed a founding declaration on establishing a Territorial Innovation Platform (RIP) at the University of Debrecen on Wednesday.

The New National Excellence Programme (ÚNKP with Hungarian abbreviation), by rewarding excellence in research motivates the most talented young researchers to pursue scientific careers.

Nationwide events presenting the Regional Innovation Platforms (RIP) organised by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office and supported by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology were launched. Local universities also joined the programme by signing the declaration of cooperation in Budapest and in 5 other cities. Today RIP was also set up at Széchenyi István University.