Benchmark Study 1

IPP BENCHMARK REPORT
V. 1.0
Regionális Turisztikai Projektiroda (Lake Tisza Project Office for Regional Tourism) are responsible for
regional marketing aimed at the promotion of tourism.
R & D and Innovation System
Research and development, which is mostly closely related to higher education, is one of the
strengths of the Észak-Alföld Region. There 4.932 closely related employees in this sector (2008). At
the same time, however, it also raises certain concerns. The region ranks second in terms of the ratio of
R&D expenditure to the GDP, third in terms of R&D expenditure per resident and fourth in terms of the
share of R&D employees. Overall, by domestic standards, it has a very strong research base. Of the
problems R&D faces, the most important is the fact that there are no R&D institutions in most cases.
Nor are there networks connecting businesses, which could ensure the utilisation of research results
and increase the proportion of market-oriented applied research.
5. Accessibility & Transport Infrastructure (*)
Due to its geographical location, the Észak-Alföld Region could play a key role in freight transport
logistics. The size, economic activity, transport infrastructure and geographical location of the country
taken into consideration, a network of 11 logistics districts and 13 national logistics centres has been
delineated; of the latter, three (Záhony, Debrecen and Szolnok) are in the region. However, in order for
the relevant potential to be utilised, the transport network needs to be developed, which is, however,
hindered by the fact that transport corridors of European importance and routes with heavy traffic do not
always coincide in the Észak-Alföld Region.
A striking characteristic that the distribution of the road network by road types reveals is that, although
several TEN routes cross the region, the proportion of motorways and motor roads, which best ensure
fast access, is low. Although the new motorway sections (M3) opened in the course of 2006 and 2007
will improve accessibility, a significant part of the region – particularly its areas along the western,
southern and eastern borders – still have no connection with the Hungarian and international motor
roads, and is outside both the 15-minute and the 30-minute agglomerations. The region’s axis in
respect of road transport is Main Road no. 4, which is considerably overloaded by transit traffic.
Today, the cycle lanes of 6 national networks cross the Észak-Alföld Region. The total length of the
cycle lanes in the region (772.3 km) accounts for 14.1% of the main national network (5,493 km). Most
(52.8%) run along dykes; over one-third (or 37.4%) runs along public roads. The low number and
density of cycle lanes and the absence of environmental awareness of the regional population and
decision-makers seriously hamper the spread of this environment-friendly, sustainable and healthy
means of transport.
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