Draft:HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network

HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network

The HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN) is an independent public budgetary institution in Hungary. HUN-REN manages and operates the publicly funded independent research network in Hungary, contributing to the country’s scientific research infrastructure.

History

The research network was established by Parliament and became effective on August 1, 2019. Initially, it operated under the name Eötvös Loránd Research Network. In September 2023, the name was changed to the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network. The first president of the network was Miklós Maróth, a classical philologist, Arabist, and academician.  Governance

HUN-REN is governed by an independent Governing Board, primarily consisting of academicians, including a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. This governance structure aims to ensure effective operation of the research infrastructure while maintaining academic freedom.

Role and Integration

HUN-REN collaborates with various stakeholders in the Hungarian Research & Innovation (R&I) ecosystem, including government agencies, universities, and private companies involved in R&I, such as those in the pharmaceutical and IT sectors.

HUN-REN Headquarters

The operational management of HUN-REN is conducted by its Headquarters, which handles resource allocation, research infrastructure, and professional development support.

Leadership

President: Balázs Gulyás

Balázs Gulyás was appointed President of HUN-REN on May 1, 2023. He has held positions at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. His research areas include molecular neuroimaging, neurological and psychiatric diseases, and cognitive neuroscience.

Chief Executive Officer: Roland Jakab

Roland Jakab has a background with Ericsson Hungary Ltd. and has held positions such as Managing Director of Ericsson Hungary and Head of Strategy for Central Europe. His roles involve technological innovation, especially artificial intelligence and university-industry collaboration.

Scientific Scope and Structure

HUN-REN conducts research in the humanities, life sciences, and natural sciences, focusing on five strategic areas aligned with European Union priorities:

Environment & Safety: Research on climate change, ecology, agriculture, and food safety.

Energy: Studies in material structure, energy research, space research, and nanotechnology.

Health: Research in pharmaceuticals, molecular biology, microbiology, neurobiology, and psychology.

Human Resources: Studies in society, economy, history, archaeology, humanities, and languages.

Digitalisation: Research in mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, IT, quantum technology, and automation.

Research Network

HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network consists of:

19 Research Institutions (11 independent Research Centres + 7 Research Institutes + 1 Office for Supported Research Groups)

42 Research Institutes affiliated with the 11 Research Centres

116 Research Groups affiliated with Universities or Public Institutions

HUN-REN Research Institutes

HUN-REN Institute for Nuclear Research (HUN-REN ATOMKI)

Founded in Debrecen in 1954, conducting interdisciplinary research in nuclear and quantum physics, radiochemistry, medical imaging, space research, hydrological research, and environmental science.

HUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute (HUN-REN VMRI)

Focuses on molecular microbiology, and veterinary medicine developing diagnostic methods, vaccines, and defense strategies against diseases.

HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute (HUN-REN BLRI)

Located in Tihany, focusing on freshwater research, particularly the biota of Lake Balaton and its catchment area.

HUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science (HUN-REN EPSS)

Conducts geodetic and geophysical research, operating the national seismological network.

HUN-REN Institute of Experimental Medicine (HUN-REN IEM)

Focuses on neuroscience research.

HUN-REN Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics (HUN-REN Rényi Institute)

Established in 1950 and named after its first director, Alfréd Rényi, the institute engages in mathematical research and manages the National Mathematical Library.

HUN-REN Institute for Computer Science and Control (HUN-REN SZTAKI)

Conducts research in information science and IT.

Research Centres

HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research (CAR): Founded in 2012, engaging in agricultural and environmental research, and managing the Agroverzum Centre of Science and Fun

HUN-REN Research Centre for the Humanities (RCH): Conducts research in fields such as archaeogenomics, literature, history, and musicology, philosophy, and art history.

HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences (CSFK):

Focuses on basic research in in astronomy and Earth sciences. The Svábhegy Observatory, opened in 2019, features Hungary's largest historic telescope and offers public lectures and sky observations.

HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research (EK-CER):

Researches materials science, nuclear safety, and renewable energy. The Budapest Neutron Centre (BNC) is a key facility for neutron research.

HUN-REN Centre for Economic and Regional Studies (CERS): Conducts research in economics and regional studies.

HUN-REN Hungarian Research Centre for Linguistics (NYTK):

Conducts research in Hungarian linguistics and general, experimental, and applied linguistics.

HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research (CER):

Focuses on biodiversity and ecosystems research, especially on freshwater and terrestrial habitats.

HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged (BRC Szeged):

Conducts research in biophysics, biochemistry, genetics, and plant biology. It hosts the European Social Survey in Hungary.

HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences (CSS): Conducts research in in political science, sociology, minority studies, and legal studies.

HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences (RCNS):

Engages in multidisciplinary research in organic chemistry, materials and environmental chemistry, protein research, cancer research, pharmaceutical research, and cognitive neuroscience.

HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics (Wigner RCP):

Conducts exploratory research in various fields, including particle physics, nuclear physics, space physics, solid-state physics, quantum technology, and computational sciences.

HUN-REN Office for Supported Research Groups:

The HUN-REN Office for Supported Research Groups manages independent research groups at universities and public institutions, supporting diverse research fields in natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and humanities.