Available budget

In the period 2024–2028, the Ministry of Culture and Innovation allocates a combined budget of HUF 19 billion from the NRDI Fund for the programme of the EXCELLENCE projects (EXCELLENCE_24), the ADVANCED projects (ADVANCED_24), the STARTING projects (STARTING_24), and the programme of thematic research projects based on Hungarian–Austrian and Hungarian–Slovenian bilateral cooperation (ANN_24 and SNN_24).

Duration of the projects

Projects shall commence on 1 January 2025, and the maximum project duration is 36 months (SNN_24) and 48 months (ANN_24), depending on the relation.

Amount of funding

According to the call, a maximum of HUF 56 million for a maximum of 48 months can be requested for each Hungarian project in the Hungarian-Austrian relation (ANN_24); a maximum of HUF 42 million for a maximum of 36 months can be requested for each Hungarian project in the Hungarian-Slovenian relation (SNN_24). If the duration of the project is shorter, requested funding should be decreased on a pro rata temporis basis. Apart from remuneration and related taxes payable by the employer, certain tangible costs are also eligible, as well as overhead costs at a flat rate of 20% of the direct project costs. The implementation of ANN and SNN type projects may involve participating researchers, technical staff, and students. They do not have to join the proposal but it is recommended to list the participating researchers in a separate part at the end of the research plan. The earliest date for reporting costs is the project start date specified in the funding agreement.

Submission of applications

The applications have to be submitted in the English language. The request for funding has to be prepared and submitted in the Electronic Proposal Review system (EPR) of the NRDI Office (https://www.otka-palyazat.hu/). The proposal has to be submitted only electronically, none of its parts has to be sent to the NRDI Office on paper.

A proposal can be considered submitted if it is electronically finalized by the principal investigator and approved by the representative of the host institution by the submission deadline defined in the call for proposals. Furthermore, the electronically signed versions of the documents, required to be submitted with electronic signature in the call, have to be submitted through the EPR as well.

An ANN_24 proposal has to be submitted by the Hungarian researcher to the NRDI Office, while the matching proposal has to be submitted by the Austrian partner to the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). The proposal can only be supported if the Hungarian proposal is supported by the NRDI Office and the Austrian proposal is supported by the FWF.

Submission and evaluation of the SNN_24 proposals take place according to the so-called Lead Agency principle: if the amount of the research support required by the Hungarian partner exceeds that of the Slovenian partner, the NRDI Office administers the evaluation; if the amount of the research support required by the Slovenian partner exceeds that of the Hungarian partner, the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) administers the evaluation.

The applications submitted to the NRDI Office must describe in the work plan how the proposed research work is distributed between the Hungarian and the foreign parties. The research plan must explain the added value of the international collaboration. In case of the SNN_24 proposals, furthermore, the budget and its justification by the foreign partner have to be attached as well.

Eligible applicants

Principal investigators can apply jointly with the host institution which has to be a Hungarian based

• higher education institution, research centre, research institution, budgetary institution or an institution thereof having legal personality that qualifies as a research and knowledge-dissemination organisation under Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014;
• business company which has at least two completed business years, maintains double-entry accounting that qualifies as a research and knowledge-dissemination organisation under Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014;
• non-profit organisation that qualifies as a research and knowledge-dissemination organisation under Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014.

Throughout the entire implementation period the principal investigator shall be employed by the host institution under an employment contract, civil service contract, or other contract aimed at performing work.

One principal investigator can submit only one proposal in this call; parallel EXCELLENCE_24, ADVANCED_24, or STARTING_24 proposal cannot be submitted. Supported K_23, FK_23, PD_23, SNN_23 project and Frontline (KKP) project starting after 31 December 2020 also constitute ground for exclusion.

Eligible objectives and actions

Project proposals can cover discovery research in any fields of science, regardless of thematic priority, if otherwise the application meets the conditions laid down in the call. All activities are eligible that are performed by the participating domestic researcher(s) or research group(s) in order to attain the primary goals set out in the discovery research plan submitted to the NRDI Office.