Supporting and Strengthening the Research Excellence and Performance of HUN-REN Research Institutions Remains a Priority

On 30 July 2026, the Governing Board and Supervisory Board of the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network, together with the Directors General of its research institutions, met to discuss HUN-REN's current situation, the safeguarding of its operations, and the development opportunities available across the Network under the 2026 Business Plan and the Public Service Funding Agreement concluded with the Government, which defines the Network's public service responsibilities. They also discussed measures to promote researchers' performance and excellence.

There was a shared agreement that HUN-REN's stable operations and sound financial position provide a solid basis for continuing the implementation of the Network's 2026 Business Plan, approved in March 2026, while also respecting the Government's ongoing efforts to transform HUN-REN.

It is in the interest of HUN-REN's research institutions and researchers to pursue their research and innovation activities at the highest possible standard even within the current operational framework, supported by the funding allocated by the 2026 Business Plan of the Network.

In accordance with HUN-REN's 2026 Business Plan, and based on the common positions of the Governing Board and the Directors General, the research institutions will receive an additional two months' worth of salary budget across the Network, on top of the one month's salary budget that was already disbursed across the Network in February 2026. The Directors General will decide how these additional funds are allocated based on the circumstances and priorities of their respective research institutions. This may allow the ongoing adjustment of salary levels within the institutions to continue. Following the Network-wide average salary increase of 30% implemented last year, institutions – upon the decision of the Directors General – will have the opportunity to provide a further salary increase of up to 25% this year or to employ additional staff.

To support the continued development of the HUN-REN Network, enhance its research infrastructure and operations, and advance the strategic priorities of promoting research excellence and innovation, HUN-REN will focus on internal programmes and grant schemes supporting its research institutions and researchers. The agreement was made that HUN-REN will launch HUN-REN Infra 2026, a grant scheme supporting the development of HUN-REN research infrastructure and operations; HUN-REN Proof+ 2026, a grant scheme designed to assist HUN-REN researchers in their innovation goals; HUN-REN Connect 2026, a grant scheme promoting collaboration among researchers across different HUN-REN research institutions and strengthening their joint research and innovation activities; and HUN-REN Move 2026, a grant scheme supporting HUN-REN researchers' international activities and partnerships. The HUN-REN Connect 2026 and HUN-REN Move 2026 grant schemes will also be open to the ELTE Research Centres to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthen internationalisation.

The financial resources required for all of these measures are available within HUN-REN's 2026 budget. The HUN-REN Governing Board and the Directors General of the research institutions are confident that the Government's science policy leadership also recognizes the importance of further strengthening HUN-REN's research institutions and implementing these measures and programmes. They trust that these initiatives will also receive the support of the Minister responsible for research and innovation and are convinced that, in the context of HUN-REN's ongoing transformation, they will further strengthen Hungary's scientific, research, and innovation ecosystem.

There was also agreement that a budgetary reserve should be retained within the Network's budget. This will ensure that, following HUN-REN's transformation, decision-makers have sufficient financial flexibility, including the possibility of providing salary increases for employees of the ELTE Research Centres. Should the Government's science policy leadership wish to provide such salary increases before the completion of HUN-REN's transformation, and should it choose to finance them not through additional state budget resources but by reallocating funds already allocated by contract to HUN-REN's research institutions, this could be achieved through a mutually agreed amendment to the Public Service Funding Agreement signed between the Government and the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network on 15 December 2025. If such an amendment is pursued, it must, on HUN-REN's side, be approved by the Governing Board following the opinion of the Supervisory Board. Any amendment to the Agreement must also take into account HUN-REN's organisational and financial stability.

Following the joint meeting of the Governing Board and the Directors General, this issue was also discussed at a meeting on 31 July 2026, initiated by Péter Horváth, State Secretary for Science, with Balázs Gulyás, President of HUN-REN, and Roland Jakab, Chief Executive Officer. The parties agreed to continue discussions on the details.