Nanoforum - Nanotech Regulatory Document Archive

development programs, on improving the quality of life; information and communication
technologies; environmental and materials research; research on agribusiness and
biotechnology; and research on national heritage and contemporary social challenges.
Nanotechnology, in particular manufacturing and analysis of materials on the molecular
level, is part of program 3 on environmental and materials research. Program 2 on ICT
includes application of molecular level information technologies. (Source: Research
and Development, http://www. om.hu/english).
There are three major sources of funding competitive R&D programmes. The aim of the
National R&D Programmes (NRDPs) is to support research, development and
innovation projects, focusing on interdisciplinary research. Special attention is given to
large integrated projects implemented by consortia comprising the higher education
sector, other public R&D institutions and industry. The National Scientific Research
Fund (NSRF) was first established in 1986 to support scientific research, to establish
conditions necessary for performing these activities and to publish results. Funding
concentrates on thematic programmes with a special focus on young researchers, on
scientific equipment and for post-doc support (for projects in Hungary only). The
National Technology Development Fund (NTDF) supports technological innovation,
the development of R&D infrastructure and the dissemination and economic application
of research results.
In connection with these objectives the government intends to bring the state and the
business sectors closer to each other since they have a role in ensuring that research,
development and production are closely intertwined and placed in the service of the
country's economic advancement. To achieve this, an attempt has been made to
establish co-ordinated education, research and innovation policies, as well as measures
to stimulate R&D activities of the private sector.
The Hungarian Science and Technology Foundation is a non-profit public foundation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary established the foundation in 1994. The
Foundation's aims and activity areas are to support scientific and R&D activities by
distributing funding to a variety of national and international co-operative research
efforts. Www.tetalap.hu
Hungarian R&D organisations have an increasing opportunity to participate in
multilateral and bilateral scientific programmes. Recent decades have seen an increase
in the opportunities available for international technology co-operation.
Hungary is a member of most European and Euro-Atlantic research organisations and
programmes (e.g. EU R&D Framework Programme, COST, EUREKA, CERN, EMBL,
ESA/PRODEX and the NATO Science Programme). According to the Hungarian
Central Statistical Office, about 10% of total GERD in Hungary came from abroad in
2001. Most of this has come from the EC Framework Programme in which Hungary has
participated as a full member. The Hungarian contribution to the Framework
Programme has been about 5% of the total budget of the Ministry of Education (in most
EU countries, contributions to the EC are paid by the Ministry of Finance). Until now the
Hungarian contribution and total grant awarded by the EC is approximately the same.
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