Extraordinary General Assembly of the MTA – Statement by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

The Presidium (the main decision-making body of the Academy between two general assemblies) of the Academy convened on 30 October 2018. Besides the members of the Presidium, the heads of the MTA research network were also invited to discuss the agreement proposal between the MTA and the Ministry for Innovation and Technology (ITM).

As published earlier, the members of the Presidium and the leaders of the research network have made their proposals for revising the MTA’s strategic concept bearing in mind the ITM’s preliminary proposal for the innovation network in Hungary. The document prepared based on these proposals entitled MTA’s strategic proposal for the revision of the Hungarian innovation system was sent to the ITM on 15 October 2018. The members of the Presidium and the leaders of the research network received the document together with its annexes prior to the meeting of the Presidium, on 26 October.

The Presidium unanimously agreed on the following decision concerning this item on the agenda.

During the discussion of the agreement preparation between the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the ITM, the members of the Presidium reviewed the preliminary proposal “MTA’s strategic proposal for the revision of the Hungarian innovation system”, and they specifically support the following three points of the document.

The basic research segment of the research network of the MTA is at the forefront of the European Union, based on objective measurements. Excellent research should not be jeopardized, on the contrary it should serve as a firm base.
The tasks of academic research institutes or independent research centers is threefold. (1) pursue basic research (the inherent development of science, based on the latest results from across the globe); (2) pursue applied (targeted) research (ordered by the competitive sector or the government); (3) offer public services (counselling on scientific problems, popularization of education and science, fostering national inheritance and archives, preservation of cultural heritage, special tasks of public interest). Basic research, targeted research and public services should be pursued in the same research centers, financed through different channels, if needed.
More direct and effective channels should be formed between research of social sciences and political decision makers so that research results important for policy makers can reach them in a comprehensive manner and without distortion.

The Presidium supports the leaders of the Academy to continue negotiations with the Ministry for Innovation and Technology.

The following points of “MTA’s strategic proposal for the revision of the Hungarian innovation system” were highlighted by the members of the Presidium during the meeting, which should be promoted consistently during negotiations.

The basic budget for the financing of the research network should be reinstated in the MTA’s budget chapter in the future agreement between the MTA and the ITM.
Significant restructuring of the research network of the MTA is not justified.
The following principles should be followed during the restructuring of the Reseach–Development–Innovation network:

personal issues (researchers and developers with appropriate education);
planned and significant rise in the budget for financing the system;
the avoidance of excessive centralization and bureaucracy;
building on existing excellence, provision of a clear and long term career model;
simultaneous strengthening of all members of the Hungarian “innovation ecosystem”;
facilitation of cooperation between different fields of science;
acknowledgement of the differences of research fields and aims;
step-by-step change, predictability and planning security.

Basic research should not be weakened but strengthened.
The planned audition process must be carried out along uniform criteria, and should also include state-owned research centers and businesses taking part in innovation.
Academic research centers independent of universities should be preserved.
The Research Fund serving basic research should be expanded.
The ITM/NKFIH (National Research, Development and Innovation Office) should create research groups that are connected to one of the Academy’s research institutes or to a department of a university.
Studying our national cultural heritage is an everlasting obligation that should never be forsaken.

At their meeting on 30 October, the members of the Presidium agreed to the agenda of the extraordinary General Assembly scheduled for 6 December 2018:

The status and future of the Academy’s research network. The president’s report on negotiations between the MTA and the ITM.
The MTA’s strategic proposal for the revision of the Hungarian innovation system.
Report on the meeting of the Scientific Presidential Committee of the Research Network (KTEB).
Other suggestions.

Our previous statement includes the list of scientists delegated by the MTA and the ITM, respectively, to the Scientific Presidential Committee of the Research Network (KTEB). The first meeting of the Committee will take place in the main building of the Academy in the middle of November. The main objective of this committee is to determine the main points of view and methods for the screening of the Academy’s own research institute network.