Projects are expected to:

• develop a prototype, product, technology or service with a significant scientific and/or technical novelty;
• make the resulting prototype, product, technology or service commercially viable;
• reach a higher Technological Maturity Level (TRL).

Submission of applications

Requests for a professional opinion can be completed by logging in at kfivelemeny.nkfih.gov.hu, taking into consideration the assessment criteria indicated there and also listed in section 8 of the call.

Requests for a professional opinion can be submitted by 12:00 CET, 20 December 2021.

Please note that requests for a professional opinion may be submitted from 12:00 CET, 6 December 2021 until 12:00 CET, 13 December 2021. If, during this period, the total amount of requested funding does not reach HUF 30 billion, requests may be submitted until this amount is reached, but no later than 12:00 CET, 20 December 2021.

Project proposals should be submitted online, by logging in and completing the online application form on the Participant Portal (Pályázati e-ügyintézés) at www.palyazat.gov.hu. The finalised proposal must be submitted together with a duly signed statement verifying the electronic submission of the application, in line with the Application Guidelines.

Proposals are accepted electronically from the official opening of the online application form until 16:00 CET, 7 April 2022.

Eligible applicants

The call is open to legal entities with registered seat in Hungary or with registered seat in the European Economic Area and a branch office in Hungary, more specifically:

businesses with legal personality, if they

qualify as businesses classified under the financial management (GFO) codes specified in the call, maintain double-entry accounting and are not subject to the small business tax (KATA). Conditions for sub-programme “A”:

• at least 25% of their owners are researchers and/or holders of a PhD degree who are public employees of a state-recognised higher education institution or the Eötvös Loránd Research Network or have other work-related relationships with one of these, or have been civil servants or other employees of one of these organisations for at least 1 year during the 3 years preceding the submission of the proposal; or
• owned by a state-recognised higher education institution or a wholly-owned subsidiary of such an institution; or
• have a patent application or a granted patent, or the right to exploit at least one of them, on the subject matter of the project. The right of exploitation must be evidenced by a certificate of registration in the patent register or by an application for registration in the patent register.

Conditions for sub-programme “B”:

• At least 50% of the direct owners of the applicant organisation are researchers or inventors.

Project proposals may only be submitted independently.

Eligible project objectives

• Activities eligible for funding independently: experimental development.
• Activities not eligible for funding independently: applied (industrial) research, basic research, procurement of material and immaterial assets, publicity activities, project coordination, general costs, market entry related activities.

Additional important terms

In addition to the compulsory information activities, applicants must also make the following commitments:

1. Developed new product/technology/service/prototype

The applicant undertakes to produce at least one prototype or marketable product or technology or service no later than the physical completion of the project.

2. Employment of researchers

Employment of 1 researcher with a BSc or MSc degree, from a date no later than 3 months after project start until the physical completion of the project, in employee status with a work schedule of at least 4 hours a day, or in a contractor status, provided that the person is specialising in the project topic, as part of the R&D personnel or technicians involved in the project implementation (whether under an existing or a new contract).

3. Higher TRL

The applicant undertakes to raise the Technological Readiness Level (TRL) by at least one level by the physical completion of the project at the latest.

Maximum project duration is 12 to 36 months. The project is subject to a monitoring period of 3 years if it creates infrastructure as part of a research infrastructure investment funding.

Total available budget and maximum funding per project

The total budget of the call for proposals is HUF 12,85 billion. The maximum amount of funding is HUF 50 to 300 million per project.