The two key public actors in Hungary’s innovation ecosystem, the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDI Office) and the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (SZTNH), have reinforced their cooperation. With the new agreement, the two offices aim to coordinate their support for research and development and the promotion of industrial property activities even more closely.

The agreement was signed by Ádám Kiss, President of the NRDI Office, and Szabolcs Farkas, President of SZTNH. Both institutions are committed to strengthening the knowledge-based economy by using the tools available in their respective domains to support targeted research, development and innovation activities of Hungarian research institutions and enterprises. For the past ten years, the NRDI Office has been the leading public funder in this field, while SZTNH, as the professional authority responsible for the protection of intellectual property in Hungary and abroad, ensures that innovative Hungarian ideas can be turned into real, marketable outcomes.

The goals, methods and tools of the two organisations complement each other well, making strategic cooperation a logical step. Coordinating their activities offers benefits which, when consciously harnessed, can further improve the performance of Hungary’s innovation ecosystem and the effectiveness of related government efforts.

This renewed collaboration, based on new foundations and involving mutual support and coordination of each other’s professional activities, covers important areas such as expanding professional capacities related to IP protection – including specialist training and talent development – aligning the RDI funding system with intellectual property protection, knowledge transfer and sharing of best practices, shaping public attitudes through joint communication and awareness programmes, and developing joint policy proposals and strategic initiatives.