Hungarian Academy of Sciences: Supporting women’s advancement through targeted grants
On 11 February 2026, the International Science Council (ISC), in collaboration with the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) and the Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science (SCGES), published the report “Towards Gender Equality in Scientific Organisations: Assessment and Recommendations”. It offers the most comprehensive global review to date of gender equality in scientific organisations.
The report is based on global research conducted by the three organisations in 2025. It draws on institutional data from 136 scientific organisations, responses from nearly 600 researchers, and insights from numerous interviews with representatives of scientific organisations. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of gender equality, persistent challenges and potential institutional solutions.
On behalf of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Professor Enikő Bollobás, Chair of the Presidential Committee on Women in Science, gave an interview at the request of the ISC.
Enikő Bollobás Photo: mta.hu / Tamás Szigeti The resulting case study presents the Academy’s efforts to advance women in scientific careers. It highlights organisational measures such as targeted scholarships and support programmes designed specifically for women, aimed at enhancing participation, visibility and career progression within the academic community. The case study also outlines the Committee’s future recommendations for further promoting gender equality. The full case study is available below.
Towards Gender Equality in Scientific Organisations: Assessment and Recommendations
CASE STUDY 4
Hungarian Academy of Sciences: supporting women’s advancement through targeted grants
The Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) has doubled its proportion of women members in the past decade (from 5 to 10%). Progress accelerated after a turning point in 2016, when no women were nominated for election - a moment described as a “shock” that triggered deep institutional reflection.
Following this, the Academy established a high-level Committee on Women in Science, initially chaired by Professor Vanda Lamm and later by Professor Enikő Bollobás. The Committee developed concrete measures to address gender imbalance, focusing both on the pipeline (supporting women’s progression to nomination eligibility) and visibility (making women’s scientific contributions more recognized).
Key Initiative: grant for women scientists with young children
A flagship initiative is the one-year grant for women scientists with children under 14 pursuing the advanced “Doctor of the Academy” title - a key criterion for election as a corresponding member to the Academy.
The grant provides a full-year salary to enable recipients to take time off research, professional or teaching duties and focus on completing their dissertation. The program is open to men in similar caregiving circumstances (e.g., single fathers or parents of children with disabilities).
The grant programme has achieved a 92% success rate: within two years of completion, nearly all recipients had defended their dissertations and obtained the title. To date, more than 100 scientists have benefited from this scheme, supported by a dedicated budget for gender equality from the Academy.
Additional measures
- Sections that nominate women candidates receive extra membership seats, incentivizing gender balance in elections.
- The Committee has published three volumes documenting the lives of Hungarian women scientists, enhancing historical visibility and recognition.
- Ongoing dialogue with the leadership has secured sustained political and financial support, with the Academy’s president publicly committing to fund promising equality initiatives.
Remaining challenges and next steps
An independent study used national bibliometric data to analyze gendered publication and citation patterns. Their findings showed a widening gap: by mid-career, women’s average publication and citation numbers lagged roughly 10 years behind those of men, and by age 70, women’s output equaled that of men at around age 50 – a 20-year difference.
In response, the Committee plans to submit future recommendations to the Academy’s Presidency, such as removing informal age limits for nominations and aligning national grant schemes with European programs that better account for parental leave.
Key takeaways for other institutions
- Targeted grants that give researchers protected time to focus on critical career milestones can have immediate, measurable results.
- Formal budget allocation and leadership endorsement is critical to success and sustainability.
- Visibility efforts, such as documenting women’s scientific contributions, help change institutional culture and inspire future generations.