Commission Report 2002 (Hungary)

• Progress since the last Regular Report
• Overall assessment
• Conclusion

Chapter 17: Science and research

Progress since the last Regular Report

Continued progress has been made in this area since the last Regular Report.

Supporting R&D and innovation has become one of the declared national priorities in the Hungarian National Development Plan. In this framework, new National R&D Programmes were launched in 2001 to support the implementation of comprehensive research, development and innovation projects with much higher grants. Significant salary increases were introduced for universities and R&D institutes in 2001. Budget resources for competition-based national R&D support schemes were increased in the 2001/2002 biannual budget.

In February 2002, the Hungarian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Transport launched a 10-year development plan, including sub-programmes such as the Human Resources sub-programme, which will focus on closer collaboration between universities and multinational enterprises. The sub-programme for R&D and Innovation Management aims at creating the infrastructure conditions for this.

In order to support companies in their efforts to increase their research activities, the government introduced some further tax benefits. In detail, up to 200% of a company`s research expenditure has now become deductible from tax, which will be of particular use for SMEs, given that they are normally not in a position to conduct expensive in-house research.

During the reference period, Hungary has continued to be associated with the Fifth EC Framework Programme and with the Fifth Euratom Framework Programme. Hungary has expressed interest in being associated with the Sixth EC Framework Programme (2002-2006).

Overall assessment

The framework for co-operation in the field of science and technology (including National Contact Points) is well established. Although Hungary`s participation in the relevant Community R&D programmes can be considered as successful, further efforts should be made to increase the participation of SMEs. The gross domestic expenditure on R&D is still relatively low and needs to be increased, which is envisaged by the Ministry of Education.

The departments in the Ministry of Education responsible for Research and Science policies provide sufficient and skilled staff. In general, Hungary has a long tradition of Research and Science and a well-functioning network of institutes, universities, academies and company R&D facilities. At some laboratories, the infrastructure necessary for the given research has been developed. However, in most of the laboratories the state of equipment is dilapidated, and its use and maintenance pose a problem, which needs to be addressed. A programme for large instruments and measuring facilities for research institutes and research groups is provided by the Central Fund for Technological Development.

Conclusion

In its 1997 Opinion, the Commission concluded that for Hungary no major problems were expected in this field and that accession would be of mutual benefit.

Since the Opinion, Hungary has made continuous progress and strengthened the co-operation with the EU in this field.

Negotiations on this chapter have been provisionally closed. Hungary has not requested any transitional arrangements in this area and is generally meeting the commitments it has made in the accession negotiations in this field.

In order to complete preparations for membership, Hungary`s efforts now need to focus on further reinforcing research-related administrative capacity and infrastructure, as this is a key factor in ensuring Hungary`s successful association with the relevant Community Framework Programmes.

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