MTA Presidium: research network should remain under the supervision of the Academy

The Presidium of the Academy, which is the main legislative body of the Academy between two General Assemblies, had its latest meeting on 26 February 2019. The leaders of the research network (i.e. the director-generals of the research centres and the directors of independent research institutes) were also present for the meeting.

After debating the first item on the agenda, i.e. the on-going negotiations between the MTA and the ITM, the Presidium adopted the following resolution.

The draft proposal entitled “Proposal for an agreement between the Government and the MTA for the restructuring of the management structure of the MTA’s research network”, which was sent to the minister for innovation and technology by the president of the Academy, is regarded by the Presidium as a basis for further negotiations.

The Presidium requests the minister of the ITM to elaborate on his ideas concerning the restructuring of the MTA’s research network, and to support his suggestions with professional, legal and economic justification.

• The Presidium wishes to emphasize the following points in order to ensure the future scientific independence and professional excellence of the research network: the research network remain under the supervision of the MTA;
• In the committee(s) directing the scientific research network, the scientific community have a significant majority;
• In order to ensure scientific excellence in the future, audits should be made regularly with the assistance of international experts.

As it is suggested in the “Proposal for an agreement between the Government and the MTA for the restructuring of the management structure of the MTA’s research network”, an organization as an independent legal entity in the MTA chapter of the government budget should be established to manage the research network.

The Presidium did not alter any of the resolutions adopted during their previous meeting. On 12 February 2019, the majority of the Presidium voted for the resolution that calls upon the director-generals of the research centres and the directors of research institutes that they send their funding requests under the title “Thematic Excellence Programme” and announced by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH), to the President of the Academy. The directors have duly submitted these requests to the President.

At the same 12 February meeting, the Presidium requested the President that he only forward the funding requests from research institutions to the minister for innovation and technology and to the president of the NKFIH if he has received a written guarantee from the minister that the institutions will receive the amount of funding certified by the 2019 government budget.