Government commissioner József Pálinkás said the plan to be presented to the government in mid-November, building on a new type of European Union knowledge-based economic development strategy, would ensure R+D+I activity is less centralised and focuses on the health-care, vehicle and IT sectors nationwide.

Pálinkás, responsible for setting up the National Research, Development and Innovation Office, told a news conference that the goal of the smart specialisation “S3” strategy was to ensure that new EU financing over the next seven-year period should be used in the most effective way possible so that Hungary, improving its competitiveness, should get in the centre of innovation rather than on its periphery. Another aim is to make sure that the distribution of funds is as geographically widespread as possible.

Currently up to 65% of funding is focused on Budapest even though only 20% of Hungary’s inhabitants live in the capital. In the course of designing the S3 strategy, experts will take into account the advantages of a given region, its value, its deficiencies as well as its future potential, he said.

The government has pledged to supplement the EU funding by 70-80 billion forints, he noted, adding that consultations would be held before the strategy is promulgated.

Source www.hungarymatters.hu

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