RENEWAL

A new chapter in the development of Hungary’s research and innovation ecosystem: the establishment of the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network

In December 2024, the Hungarian Parliament adopted the HUN-REN Act to ensure a more efficient, transparent and predictable framework for research activities while preserving the autonomy of scientific research. The Act created one of the most significant institutions within Hungary’s scientific and innovation ecosystem with a special legal status and ensures its organisational, asset and operational independence.

When planning Hungary’s annual budget, a key consideration is ensuring the funding conditions required for HUN-REN to carry out its public functions. The aim is to strengthen the performance-based research network, place it among Europe’s best by 2030 and respond to national and global challenges through impact-oriented research.

Key milestones in HUN-REN’s legal and organisational renewal:

1 September 2025

First stage of a significant pay rise for researchers implemented

In 2025, the Government provided HUF 18 billion in additional funding to HUN-REN for pay rises. This was paid to researchers and other employees in September, backdated to 1 January 2025. From October onwards, everyone received the higher monthly salary.

This year’s average 30% pay rise for researchers at HUN-REN has opened a new era of predictable, well-defined and internationally competitive research careers. The Government has also guaranteed the additional funding required for the next steps in the pay programme over the following two years: a further HUF 18 billion in 2026 and HUF 12.5 billion in 2027. As a result, by 2027 HUN-REN’s direct budgetary support will more than double compared with the 2024 baseline.

HUN-REN’s pay programme, together with capacity building and infrastructure upgrades, is an investment in the future. It helps create a research environment in which new scientific results are integrated into the value chain and have an immediate impact on the Hungarian economy and society as a whole.

Read more: Breakthrough in researchers’ career path: the first step of a historic pay rise has been implemented at HUN-REN

27 October 2025

Registration of the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network

The Budapest-Capital Regional Court registered the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network, which now continues to operate as a legal entity with a special legal status, as set out in the HUN-REN Act. This change marks a defining milestone in HUN-REN’s multi-year organisational renewal process, enabling more stable operations and greater flexibility in financial management. The new, unified HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network employs around 5,000 people and aims to strengthen the presence of Hungarian science nationally and internationally, and its value to society.

Read more: Court registers new HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network

24 November 2025

Inaugural meeting of the Governing Board and Supervisory Board

In a new organisational framework, HUN-REN’s highest strategic governing body, the seven-member Governing Board—made up of leaders from science and the business community—held its inaugural meeting in a ceremonial setting alongside the three-member Supervisory Board, which oversees the network’s operations. The CEO of HUN-REN and three delegates representing the Directors General of the research institutions participate in the Governing Board’s work in a consultative capacity. Under the HUN-REN Act, the Governing Board exercises the founder’s rights and is responsible for strategic decisions concerning the organisation. With HUN-REN’s renewal, a paradigm shift has taken place in Hungary’s scientific life. The establishment of the Governing Board is a milestone in this process and marks a new era for the flagship of Hungary’s research and innovation ecosystem.

Read more: HUN-REN’s renewal reaches another milestone

15 December 2025

Long-term agreements signed to ensure HUN-REN’s stability

The HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network and the Government have signed a 25-year framework agreement and a six-year public function funding agreement. Under the agreements, HUN-REN’s funding will increase to HUF 76.8 billion in 2026 and reach HUF 89.3 billion from 2027 onwards. Half of this funding will be provided by the State on a performance-related basis. The six-year funding agreement makes HUF 523 billion available to HUN-REN, setting out a transparent, performance-based funding model and the priority research areas.

Aligned with Hungary’s innovation strategy and the John von Neumann Programme, the priority research areas are healthy living, the digital transition, energy and environmental security, and security and defence. The indicators underpinning performance-related funding are based on four main pillars, each tied to clearly defined, quantified annual targets; performance is assessed annually. With the signing of the agreement, scientific considerations, research freedom, economic and financial considerations and policy priorities were brought into alignment. This creates a model that enables HUN-REN to fulfil the mission set out in the Act: generating new scientific and innovation results, preserving and nurturing Hungary’s national culture and enriching the universal body of science and culture.

Read more: Long-term agreements to ensure HUN-REN operates predictably and stays competitive

The legal and funding framework ensures HUN-REN’s predictable, efficient and competitive long-term operation. The new system brings together research excellence, international cooperation, the strengthening of the research talent pipeline and innovation within a single, measurable, incentive-based framework. The aim is to recognise and motivate the research community, strengthen Hungary’s scientific performance internationally and secure HUN-REN’s long-term operation.