Under the programme, basic and/or applied research can be carried out in the innovation focal areas defined in the John von Neumann Programme (digital economy and society, healthy living, green transition and circular economy, security and safety), provided that the project proposal complies with the call terms.

The call includes two sub-programmes:

1. Short-term Research Grant Hungary (RGH_S_24)
2. Long-term Research Grant Hungary (RGH_L_24)

Total budget

The total budget for the period 2024-2029 is HUF 6 billion, of which HUF 500 million is available for disbursements in 2024.

Duration of the projects

1. Short-term Research Grant Hungary (RGH_S_24): 5 to 24 months
2. Long-term Research Grant Hungary (RGH_L_24): 3 to 5 years

The implementation of the funded project must start within 9 months after the decision to funding support, as set out in the funding declaration.

The amount and intensity of funding:

1. Short-term Research Grant Hungary (RGH_S_24): HUF 50 to 400 million per project
2. Long-term Research Grant Hungary (RGH_L_24): HUF 100 to 1000 million per project

In addition to staff allowances and employer’s contributions, certain specific material costs are eligible, and 40% of direct costs can be accounted for as general costs (overheads). The earliest date for reporting costs is the project start date specified in the funding declaration.

Eligible applicants

The principal investigator may apply jointly with the host institution, which must be a state-recognised higher education institution, research centre, research institute, budgetary organ or an institution with legal personality of a budgetary organ based in Hungary, provided that it qualifies as a research and knowledge-dissemination organisations within the meaning of Article 2(83) of Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014.

Requirements for principal investigators:

• The application requires a prior recommendation (policy recommendation) that the research and innovation cooperation between the principal investigator and the host institution can contribute to the objectives of the call and to Hungary’s development as a regional RDI hub. This is initiated by the host institution with the Funder.
• The principal investigator have not been employed as a researcher in Hungary during the 5 years preceding the submission of the proposal.
• After the funding has been awarded, the principal investigator must be employed by the host institution as a civil servant or other employee (at least 0.4 FTE) and must undertake to stay in Hungary during the project implementation period.

Application for a policy recommendation

The application for a policy recommendation must be completed and submitted using the on-line application tool, accessible via https://kfivelemeny.nkfih.gov.hu/, after registration and login, as described in the instructions for completing the application for an RDI policy recommendation.

Submission of proposals

Proposals must be submitted in English. Proposals must be prepared and submitted via the NRDI Office’s Electronic Proposal Management System (EPR) (https://www.otka-palyazat.hu/). Only one proposal can be submitted per sub-programme.

In the case of electronic submission, a proposal is considered to have been submitted if it has been finalised electronically by the principal investigator, approved by the head of the host institution and accompanied in the Proposal Administration and Evaluation System by the electronically signed documents required in section K of the call to be submitted by post/electronic signature.

In the case of submission by post, a proposal is considered to have been submitted if it has been finalised electronically by the applicant, approved by the head of the host institution and the documents required in section K of the call to submitted by post have been sent to the NRDI Office’s customer service address within 7 calendar days of the electronic submission.

The electronic submission of the proposal will be possible from the opening of the online application form until 30 September 2024, 16:00 (CET).

Download document: Research Grant Hungary Programme - Call for poropsals (RGH_24) PDF (530 KB)