Hungary adopts science, technology and innovation strategy
The Hungarian Government has adopted a mid-term science, technology and innovation (STI) policy strategy covering the period 2007 to 2013. The paper sets out a number of goals intended to help Hungary on its way to becoming an innovative, knowledge-based and highly developed country by 2025. 'The Hungarian economy and society must step into new fields of development based on knowledge and innovation in order that Hungary can, with knowledge-intensive and innovative activities, giving to its products the greatest added value, become connected with the world economy,' reads the paper. Mid-term goals include the expansion of companies' research and development (R&D) activities; the establishment of internationally recognised R&D and innovation centres and research universities; enhancing regions' R&D and innovation capacity; investment in large scientific facilities, primarily in regional centres and the development poles, aiming to reduce regional differences; and the dynamic increase in annual R&D expenditure, with most of the new money coming from the private sector. The paper talks of the need to encourage Hungarian researchers to participate in the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), as well as the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP). This can be done by providing incentives for Hungarian participation, and by ensuring that project results are applied within Hungary, the strategy suggests. The strategy paper defends state intervention in science, technology and innovation policy: 'The aim of state intervention is the adjusted, effective operation of the national innovation system' it reads, adding that state intervention is also justified in the development of high-expenditure research infrastructure. In addition: 'The more complex the solution of a problem is, the less a domestic organisation is able to guarantee the costs of a project on its own.' In order to realise the strategy's goals, the Government pledges to enforce a number of strategic principles: quality; open distribution; state reform; the handing down of knowledge; public control; national traditions; cooperation; focus and the application of results.
Countries
Hungary