A Breakthrough for Research Careers: the First Stage of a Historic Pay Reform at HUN-REN is Complete

04.12.2025

The average 30% pay rise awarded this year to researchers working at the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN) has ushered in a new era of predictable, planned and internationally competitive research careers. Following the pay adjustment implemented in September, HUN-REN researchers’ salaries have increased significantly. Contrary to information that has recently appeared in the public domain, the additional government funding has raised the average basic salary of HUN-REN researchers to HUF 850,000, while the average total monthly income now exceeds HUF 900,000.

For 2025, the government allocated an additional HUF 18 billion to HUN-REN for pay development. This was paid to researchers and staff in September, retroactive to 1 January 2025, and from October onwards everyone has been receiving the increased monthly salary.

The government has also guaranteed continued additional funding for the next phases of the pay reform over the coming two years: a further HUF 18 billion in 2026 and HUF 12.5 billion in 2027. As a result, compared with the 2024 baseline, the network’s direct budgetary support will more than double by 2027.

By 2027, a performance-based pay system will be in place that properly reflects the achievements of Hungarian researchers and is comparable with practices at Western European research institutes. The pay reform programme will provide a predictable and competitive career path and reinforce the future of Hungarian research.

In 2026 and 2027, the scheme will place particular emphasis on recognising research performance. Assessment will take into account not only the number and quality of international scientific publications, but also registered patents, the uptake of innovation outcomes, the volume of industrial collaborations and contracts, and success rates in international grant competitions. Training the next generation of researchers, attracting and retaining talent, and making research careers more attractive will be key priorities.

Alongside pay reform, the substantial additional funding provided by the government to HUN-REN in its role as a public research organisation will also support infrastructure development and capacity building. The aim is to strengthen the network’s ability to attract capital, further enhancing broad-based collaboration with industry and economic stakeholders.

Further opportunities for research and innovation-related infrastructure development will be available next year under the GINOP Plus programme. Through a funding envelope of HUF 26 billion, a development programme at an unprecedented scale in the network’s history will be launched. Over the next three years, state-of-the-art technological infrastructure will be established in fields including artificial intelligence, nuclear medicine, materials science and biotechnology.

HUN-REN’s pay reform programme, together with capacity building and infrastructure development, represents an investment in the future. It is helping to create a research environment in which new scientific results are embedded in the value chain and generate an immediate impact on the Hungarian economy and society as a whole. Priority areas identified under the John von Neumann Programme – healthy living, the green transition and sustainability, digitalisation, energy security and cyber defence – will play a central role in the work of the network’s researchers.