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Hungarian science has undergone rapid changes

2026-04-28 | original
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Why This Matters

The rapid reforms in Hungary's research system highlight the country's efforts to modernize and improve its scientific infrastructure, which is crucial for fostering innovation and international competitiveness. These changes are significant for the global tech industry and consumers as they can lead to more advanced research, technological breakthroughs, and increased collaboration within the scientific community. Strengthening Hungary's research capabilities may also influence regional and European scientific development, benefiting broader technological progress.

Key Takeaways

I appreciate the mention of recent efforts to strengthen the research system in Hungary in your News article on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s fall from power (see Nature 652, 839–840; 2026). Following my appointment as president of the Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN) in May 2023, this self-governing research organization of 15 institutions performed a comprehensive international scientific audit. It involved around 100 global experts and conducted independent benchmarking exercises against more than 20 comparable organizations. These analyses showed structural and cultural shortcomings in the country’s research system, including the lack of systematic evaluation, international peer review, performance-based funding and internal collaboration.

Nature 652, 1420 (2026)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-01367-1

Competing Interests The author declares no competing interests.

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Explore topics: hungarian research network viktor orbán international scientific audit hun-ren research system
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