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Funding Basic Research in Hungary: The Hungarian Scientific Research Fund

The governmental research funding in Hungary is allocated through the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund (NRDI Fund), which funds applied research, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS) as well as the Ministry of Human Resources (EMMI) that support basic research.
The National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDI),  which is a national strategic and funding agency for scientific research as well as the primary RDI funding agency in Hungary, runs the NRDI Fund since 2015. The NRDI and its predecessor, Organisational Evaluation of the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA), introduced an OA mandate in 2014.  According to the NRDI, the obligation to make publications open access is integrated into the text of the grant agreements if the projects have publications expected as research outputs. The Grant agreement states that it is the responsibility of the project leader to provide open access to publications funded by NRDI (OTKA). Approximately 2.5% of the funding for all research projects is dedicated to open access costs. In addition, if further funding is needed, up to 5% of the project funding could also be used to cover APCs. On the basis of the administrative funder regulations, the costs have to be justified by invoices.
HAS introduced its open access mandate in 2013. Publications based on research results funded by HAS have to be openly available either via the green or the gold open access route. HAS funds research projects through its research institutions and research groups. The 2016 Decree by the President of HAS makes a strong reference to the Commission Recommendation of 17 July 2012 on access to and preservation of scientific information (2012/417/EU). Based on these recommendations, the Presidential mandate applies to all research outputs that receive public funds from HAS. An embargo period of two years applies in SSH and of one year in STM.

RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES IN HUNGARY

In order to achieve the objectives aimed at enhancing the research-development and innovation performance of Hungary undertaken in the National Reform Programme related to the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Government has negotiated and adopted the Research Infrastructures in Hungary document.

National Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3)

In order to achieve the objectives aimed at enhancing the research-development and innovation performance of Hungary undertaken in the National Reform Programme related to the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Government has negotiated and adopted the National Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3).

National RDI strategy

  • Investment in the future
  • National Research and Development and Innovation Strategy (2013-2020)

funder policy