A unified Hungarian research network under the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) could be established as early as October – Joint press release from the Ministry of Science and Technology and MTA
On 14 July, the leadership of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences met at the Academy’s headquarters to discuss the establishment of a unified Hungarian research institute network and a proposed timetable for its implementation. Based on both the previous and latest round of discussions, the Ministry will draft legislation for the reorganisation and submit it for public comment in early September. The legislation is scheduled to take effect by the end of October, which means that the research network – which was separated from the Academy in 2019 – could be reunited with MTA before the end of this year.
According to the draft proposal, upon the legislation’s entry into force, the four research centres in the humanities and social sciences previously affiliated with Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) will come under joint management by MTA alongside the research centres currently operating within HUN–REN.
The restructuring is intended to establish a unified, transparent and accountable organisational and operational framework for Hungary’s research institute system across all fields of scholarship. According to the proposal, the new system will operate under a special legal status and will cover research institutes in the life sciences, natural sciences, humanities and social sciences alike.
Under the agreement, the founding rights over the research network will be transferred to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. This arrangement ensures the scientific autonomy of the research network while enabling uniform, transparent and accountable operations.
A key consideration in designing the new organisational structure was to preserve the ability of Hungarian research institutions to apply for European Union grants. A temporary transfer of founding rights to the state would pose a risk that could jeopardise the research network’s access to certain European Union funding opportunities. The Ministry of Science and Technology and MTA have therefore worked to develop a framework that simultaneously ensures the transparent use of public funds, safeguards scientific autonomy, and preserves the conditions necessary for participation in international funding programmes.
Funding for the research network will total HUF 85 billion in 2026, and the Government’s goal is to ensure predictable long-term funding for the sector. The goal of this significant increase in state support is to provide researchers with more predictable career prospects, improve research conditions, and strengthen internationally competitive scientific performance.
The restructuring will affect approximately 5,000 employees, including approximately 4,000 staff members currently employed by the HUN–REN research network, as well as about 1,200 employees of the reinstated humanities and social sciences research institutes returning to the academy.
The Ministry of Science and Technology and MTA have recently been engaged in ongoing technical and legal consultations regarding the development of the new operating model. The Ministry will submit the draft legislation to the Government this summer, and, following Cabinet approval, the revised draft will be released for public consultation in early September. The new legislation is expected to enter into force by the end of October.
The Ministry calls on the leadership of HUN–REN to cooperate in implementing the restructuring and not to obstruct the establishment of a unified research network.
The shared goal of the Ministry of Science and Technology and MTA is to restore Hungary’s research institute system as a unified network that is strong in its scientific autonomy, transparent in operation and internationally competitive.