Available budget

In the period 2021-2025, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology allocates a combined budget of HUF12.9 billion from the NRDI Fund for the programme of the thematic research projects (K_21), the young researchers’ and postdoctoral excellence programmes (FK_21, PD_21) and the programmes of thematic research projects based on Hungarian–Austrian or Hungarian–Slovenian bilateral cooperation (ANN_21 and SNN_21).

Amount of funding

According to the call, HUF 27 million for maximum 36 months can be requested for each project. 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 up to 15%, and costs of acquisition of scientific information and Open Access publication up to 10% of the direct project costs. The eligible amount of full-time researcher’s salary is HUF 420,000 gross per month. The implementation of PD type projects cannot involve participating researchers, however technical staff and students are allowed.

Duration of the project

The maximum project duration is 36 months. Projects shall commence between 1 September and 1 December 2021. The earliest date for reporting costs is the project start date specified in the funding agreement.

Submission of applications

Complying with its legal obligation, the NRDI Office enables applicants to submit their applications exclusively electronically. In this case, the documents required in Point “J” of the call to be submitted by regular mail / with electronic signature must be signed electronically as specified in Point “J” of the call and attached to the application on the Online Application Portal by the deadline for electronic submission, that is, by 18 February 2021 at 16:00 (CET).
Please note that all documents required to be submitted by regular mail/with electronic signature must be submitted in the same way, that is, all documents must be submitted to the NRDI Office either by regular mail or electronically provided with electronic signature.

In the case of regular mail, the submission is successful if the proposal was finalised electronically by the applicant and approved by the head of the host institution by the deadline for E-submission, and the documents required in Point “J” of the call were submitted by regular mail to the Customer Service of the NRDI Office by the deadline. In the case of electronic submission, the submission is successful if the proposal was finalised electronically by the applicant and approved by the head of the host institution by the deadline for E-submission, and the electronically signed versions of the documents required in Point “J” of the call to be submitted by regular mail / with electronic signature have been through the Online Application Portal.

All applications must be submitted in English irrespective of the field of science. Applications in Hungarian are only allowed on the basis of prior approval (so-called Hungaricum permission) requested by no later than 1 February 2021.

Eligible applicant

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

• higher education institution, research centre, research institution, budgetary organ or an institution thereof having legal personality zhat 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 and is not subject to small taxpayers’ itemized lump sum tax (KATA) 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, works contract or other contract aimed at performing work.

Further eligibility terms for principal investigators

Only those postdoctors are eligible for the funding whose doctoral degree (PhD/DLA) was issued not earlier than 1 January 2016. Researchers with child(ren) born after the date of degree can apply for preferential terms in this respect. Further relief from the rule may be granted in special circumstances, upon individual considerations.

No more than one proposal can be submitted to this call, and FK_21, K_21, ANN_21 or SNN_21 proposals are not allowed in parallel. Awarded postdoctors must undertake to work 80% of their time (0,8 FTE) on the tasks defined in the project proposal.

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. Those actions are eligible which aim to achieve the key objectives developed on the basis of the research and work plan specified in the proposal, in any field of science and set out in the research project plan submitted to the NRDI Office.