The Academy considers negotiations with the Ministry for Innovation and Technology stalled, but wishes to hold talks with the Government of Hungary

12 September, 2018

Following the final vote in Parliament about the 2019 budget on 20 July, negotiations continued between the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Ministry for Innovation and Technology along the lines of the resolution adopted by the Presidium at its extraordinary session of 25 July.

On 23 August, Academy President László Lovász sent a letter to Minister of Innovation and Technology László Palkovics, in which he outlined, in reply to the Minister’s request and based on the principles agreed during the negotiations, the proposals put forward by the Academy, in particular about the establishment of a Scientific Research Network Council.

Up until 10 September the Minister has given no formal reply to the above letter.

A verbal consultation did take place on 10 September between President Lovász and Minister Palkovics. During this session, the Minister presented a working paper, authorizing President Lovász to share it with the members of the Presidium.

From the working paper it is absolutely clear that it does not represent the Government’s position.

According to the working paper, which introduces completely new points as well, the control of certain research groups and even entire institutions of the MTA research network would be transferred to universities. Some of the research institutions would move to other research networks, while others would be disbanded altogether. Institutions remaining with the Academy would go through a “consolidation and streamlining” process. All this would be carried out by December of this year according to Mr. Palkovics.

At the Governing Board meeting on 11 September, President Lovász asserted that the violation of the integrity of the institutional network is unacceptable to him.

During a Presidium meeting held on the same day, President Lovász requested the members of the Presidium, which is the main decision-making body of the Academy between general assemblies, to release a joint declaration regarding the above.

Having familiarized themselves with the Minister’s new proposal, the Presidium consider the negotiations between the Academy and the Ministry stalled. Furthermore, the Presidium do not recognise the break-up of the research network as a basis for negotiations, even though they are determined to continue talks with the Government directly. The Presidium also agreed that it would be imperative to convene an extraordinary general assembly before the end of the year. They would propose a date and an agenda for the assembly later as the negotiations move forward.

The Presidium adopted the following resolution unanimously:

Resolution of the Presidium of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences on 11 September 2018

Upon studying the proposition put forward by the President regarding the negotiations with the Ministry for Innovation and Technology concerning the planned change in the financing of the research institutions of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Presidium hereby decides to stand by its earlier declarations 31/2018 (VI. 15.), 32/2018 (VI. 26.) and 42/2018 (VII. 25.). The Presidium holds that dismantling or even restructuring of the Academy’s research network through unilateral measures is unacceptable. Should a justified request for institutional restructuring arise, any substantial changes in the institutes’ basic functions and funding can only be accepted subject to appropriate screening to be carried out in line with international standards and with the involvement of international experts.

The presidium will reconvene on September 25^th.