EU projects open up for Hungary The EU has given Hungarian stakeholders in research and academia the tools and knowledge to participate more effectively in EU projects. A strong national consortium has been involved in the process. Climate Change and Environment © Thinkstock When Hungary joined the EU in 2004, the European Commission intensified efforts to ensure that the new EU nation would participate more effectively in the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) projects. One of these efforts is embodied in the EU-funded initiative Hungary FOR FP6. The initiative aimed to provide information to stakeholders nationwide regarding participation in EU projects, at the same time upgrading knowledge exchange and training staff in Hungary's EU support organisations. It also worked on raising the visibility of Hungarian research institutions and researchers on the European stage, thus encouraging joint projects with the rest of the continent. To achieve its aims, Hungary FOR FP6 brought together several partners from across the country, forming a formidable consortium to conduct major networking and training activities. The consortium comprised four universities, two industry chambers, a research institute and the Hungarian Science and Technology Foundation (TETALAP). Apart from the main partners, it also worked closely with industrial and scientific associations, as well as with regional development agencies and other valuable stakeholders. This powerful set of key players has helped provide pivotal guidance to the country's organisations in the quest to increase the number of Hungarian stakeholders in EU projects. It supplied detailed and tailor-made information and support to the research community to promote this ambitious objective. Thanks to this effort and other similar ones, Hungary is now a very active member in EU-funded projects, learning from the wider European research landscape but also providing its own valuable input.
