of universities with the specific demand of the business sector. The
matchmaking function of the platform makes it easier for businesses to
contact and partner with universities.î
In addition, to create an even tighter connection between education
and industries in science and technology, Hungary is building science
parks around some of its universities. In these science parks, SzabÛ says,
ìa business enterprise can move in and have the necessary resources to
bring its research to maturation.î
This industrialñeducation connection reveals Hungaryís focus on
creating new generations of scientists. Citing one example of this
focus, SzabÛ says, ìWe have formed a sort of researcherís life plan, so
that each young student already sees what awaits them if they become
researchers.î He adds, ìThis means that from the point of entering the
university, you can have a dedicated grant scheme that supports your
research activities.î As these students advance in their education, they can
present their work at Hungaryís National Scientific Studentsí Associations
Conference.Second step: Creating cooperation
With challenges in cooperation impeding improvements in R&D
innovation in Hungary, many of its programs (ht tps://nk fih.gov.hu/
english/forefront) ófrom R&D investment goals and science parks to
national laboratories and educational programsóaim directly at improving
the teamwork within and across many related sectors of Hungarian
societ y.
SzabÛ says that ìcooperation between existing laboratories forms a
critical mass of researchers and a critical mass of infrastructure, as well.î
In the near future, he hopes to see just as much cooperation in the RDI-
related business sectors. ìBuilding trust between the business sectors can
play a key role in actually making sure that innovation happens,î he says.
ìThey will see that innovation helps them sell their products much more
effectively.î
Summing up his thoughts, SzabÛ says: ìWe hope these initiatives and
programs will enable us to take our innovation ecosystem to a higher level
on the value chain. When we reach this goal, the national economy will
also enjoy the advantages of all these efforts.îProduced by the Science
Sponsored byecosystem in creating and maintaining this cooperation. Therefore,
we are currently establishing an infrastructure network to ensure that
cooperation happens.î
Whereas increasing cooperation in RDI is a main goal, the NRDIO also
supports many other objectives. For instance, at present, Hungary invests
1.5% of its gross domestic product in R&D. Although SzabÛ calls this a
nice investment, he adds that Hungary is ìeager to increase this to 3%
by 2032, which is ambitious.î Still, he sees this as an achievable goal,
ìespecially with the measures we are introducing now with the system
of national laboratories, which can serve as single points of contact for
international partners.î
Besides the academic sphere, the private sector also invests a lot in
R&D activities. ìThe businesses in Hungary are spending on R&D,î SzabÛ
says. ìAlso, we see that more and more foreign enterprises are coming to
Hungary and bringing their R&D activities here.î SzabÛ points out how
these activities contribute to the value chain in science infrastructure.
To explain this, he mentions the ìsmile-curveî concept used in business
management theory, in which a graph depicting the value-added versus
the stages of production, or the value chain, forms the shape of a smile
(the curve is highest on either end of the value chain, at the conception
and marketing stages, and lowest in the middle, or manufacturing stage).
He says that Hungary is pushing toward the part of the smile curve where
the value-added starts to climb.
In terms of scientific and technological innovation, SzabÛ also envisions
a big climb for the country. Currently, Hungary ranks 22nd in innovation
among EU countries. By enhancing cooperation among Hungarian sectors
in R&D, SzabÛ and his colleagues aim to improve Hungaryís innovation
ranking in the EU by 10 places by 2030. ìWe have a solid strategy
for reaching this aim, and in close cooperation with the Ministry for
Innovation and Technology, we can provide all parties in RDI with financial
and professional support,î he says.First step: Linking education and industry
ìWe have to build up a diverse system with several different pillars,î
says SzabÛ, outlining the governmentís strategy to reach a higher ranking
in the EU.
ìFirst, as mentioned before, the government created a network of
national laboratories,î he says. The scientific mission of these labs is
to invite the most recognized researchers from all over the country to
conduct high-quality research. Hungaryís system of national laboratories
covers many topics: agriculture, artificial intelligence, autonomous
systems, biotechnology, climate change, IT, lasers, light, virology, and
more. ìEach of these national laboratories has a single point of contact,
which means that if someone from abroad would approach Hungary
about interest in, say laser technology, then they know who to approach,î
says SzabÛ.
Second, enhancing Hungaryís future innovation potential also
depends on the visibility (https://nkfih.gov.hu/openscience) of services,
infrastructures, RDI portfolios, and the skills and competence of the
academic sector. So, in 2020, Hungaryís NRDIO launched the University
Innovation Ecosystem program. As was noted at the launch of this
program, one of its objectives is to ìalign the portfolio of RDI services1112Product.indd 789 11/4/21 7:56 AM