Exclusion of Hungarian universities from European funding: reasons behind and opportunities beyond

Invitation to participate in a panel discussion

Date: 20 November
Time: 15:00
Venue:  Liszt Institute Brussels
10 Treurenberg, 1000

In cooperation with Liszt Institute Brussels, EuroAtlantic Consulting invites you to a conference with universities and Hungarian representatives to find out more about the current situation concerning direct EU funding opportunities, and how can European universities and the RDI sector benefit from cooperation and participation in joint projects.

The aim of the event is to present the current situation of Hungarian universities, especially in view of the unfavourable situation of several Hungarian universities being excluded from important EU funds such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. According to the EU decision of December 2022, EU bodies can no longer conclude contracts with Hungarian academic entities legally operating as public trusts and the latter are therefore excluded from all EU grant programs and cut off from financing opportunities. This decision affects students, professors and researchers directly, although it is part of the political debate between the Commission and the Hungarian government. What are the exact circumstances and legal framework of the exclusion, and to which extent? Are there financial alternatives despite the current negative circumstances? What is the importance of matchmaking and networking activity at European level? What is the role of Hungarian and non-Hungarian universities in finding a solution

During the panel discussion, we would like to raise awareness among the international audience, in particular representatives of the RDI sector and universities, about the challenges Hungarian universities face and the opportunities for cooperation despite these constraints. Both Hungarian universities and international stakeholders can benefit from partnerships and cooperation between each other and participating in joint projects.

Programme:
16:00 – 16:05 Zsófia Kovács, director of the Hungarian Cultural Center Brussels opens the event
16:05 – 16:10 Opening speech by dr. Tamás Iván Kovács, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Belgium and Luxembourg
16:10 – 16:15 Opening speech by EuroAtlantic Consulting
16:15 – 16:30 Keynote speech – Rodrigo Ballester, Ministerial Commissioner at the Hungarian Ministry for Innovation and Culture, Head of the Centre for European Studies of MCC
16:30 – 16:50 Fireside chat with Rodrigo Ballester, Ministerial Commissioner at the Hungarian Ministry for Innovation and Culture, Head of the Centre for European Studies of MCC
Moderator: Kamilla Béres, senior manager at EuroAtlantic

16:50 – 17:10 Presentation of Prof. Dr. János Levendovszky, Vice Rector of Research and Innovation of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics
17:10 – 17:30 Presentation of Orsolya Jánosy, Head of the International Relations Office of the University of Debrecen
17:30 – 17:40 Presentation of Zsolt István, the Head of Innovation Management at University of Miskolc
17:40 – 18:00 Q&A
18:00 Zsófia Kovács, director of the Hungarian Cultural Center Brussels closes the event with a toast and refreshments

Looking forward to welcoming you at our event!