Aim for Hungary to be strong in innovation, says Ministry

The government aims for Hungary to become strong in innovation, a Ministry of Innovation and Technology official told a conference on Wednesday.

Tibor Gulyás, the deputy state secretary of innovation, said in his speech opening the 7th Automotive Hungary Trade Exhibition in Budapest that Hungary is currently listed 23rd on the European Commission’s Innovation Index.

He said state financing of R+d+I was being increased, adding that next year this would rise by 25 percent, or 32 billion forints (EUR 96m), compared with this year.

Government funding for R+D will reach 1.8 percent of GDP by 2020 from the current 1.5 percent, he said.

Hungary’s R+D system is undergoing reform, he noted, adding that this process is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year with the planned adoption of a new R+D+I law. In January next year, the National Science Policy Council will start its work with a discussion of a new R+D+I strategy, he said.

Gulyás said that innovation would be boosted thanks to the transfer of higher education to the innovation ministry as well as proposals to develop research infrastructure and create innovation centres of excellence and science parks. Industry 4.0 will have more than 2 billion forints in funding at its disposal in support of innovative re-industrialisation, he added.

Source: MTI