Deadline: 30-Sep-2026
The National Research, Development and Innovation Fund has launched a call to support researchers in accessing national and international research infrastructures and measurement opportunities. The call focuses on helping domestic researchers, early-career scientists, PhD students, MSc/MA students and international researchers use major research facilities, strengthen scientific networks and improve knowledge exchange.
The total available budget is HUF 87.3 million, with non-refundable grants ranging from HUF 800,000 to HUF 5 million per project. Projects may last up to 24 months and receive 100% funding intensity.
Call Overview
The National Research, Development and Innovation Fund supports projects that improve access to research infrastructures and measurement opportunities.
The call is designed to strengthen the use of national and international research facilities by researchers connected to Hungary’s research and innovation ecosystem.
It also supports early-career researchers and student pipeline development by enabling research visits, study trips, measurement activities and knowledge exchange.
Funding Available
The total available budget under the call is HUF 87.3 million.
Each project may receive funding ranging from:
- Minimum grant: HUF 800,000
- Maximum grant: HUF 5 million
The funding is non-refundable and provides 100% funding intensity.
Project Duration
The maximum project duration is 24 months.
Applicants should design projects that can be completed within this timeframe and clearly link activities to research infrastructure access, measurement opportunities or knowledge exchange.
Main Objective
The main objective of the call is to support researchers in accessing research infrastructures and measurement facilities that strengthen scientific work, research quality and international cooperation.
The call aims to:
- Support domestic researchers in using research infrastructures
- Improve access to measurement opportunities
- Strengthen the use of infrastructures where Hungary is a full member
- Support early-career researchers and student development
- Promote group study trips connected to research facilities
- Enable international researchers to access major domestic research infrastructures in Hungary
- Strengthen integration into international scientific networks
- Encourage the flow of knowledge between researchers and institutions
Key Focus Areas
The call supports access to research infrastructure, researcher mobility and scientific cooperation.
Key focus areas include:
- Research infrastructure access
- Measurement opportunities
- Domestic researcher support
- International researcher support
- Researcher pipeline development
- Group study trips
- Scientific mobility
- International research networks
- Knowledge exchange
- Research dissemination
- Research infrastructure usage fees
- Major domestic research facilities
- International scientific collaboration
What Are Research Infrastructures?
Research infrastructures are advanced facilities, equipment, databases, laboratories, instruments or services that researchers use to conduct high-quality scientific work.
They may include:
- Large research facilities
- Scientific instruments
- Measurement laboratories
- Experimental platforms
- Data infrastructures
- Specialised equipment
- International research facilities
- National research centres
Access to these infrastructures can help researchers conduct experiments, collect data, test ideas and strengthen scientific results.
Why Research Infrastructure Access Matters
Research infrastructure access is important because many scientific projects require advanced equipment or specialised facilities.
Researchers may not always have these resources at their own institutions.
This call helps reduce access barriers by supporting travel, infrastructure use, measurement costs, dissemination and related project activities.
It also helps Hungarian researchers connect with international scientific communities and supports international researchers in using Hungary’s major research facilities.
Sub-Programme A: Support for Domestic Researchers
Sub-programme A supports domestic researchers, PhD students and MSc/MA students who need access to research infrastructures.
This sub-programme helps Hungarian researchers use national and international facilities, especially infrastructures where Hungary is a full member.
Eligible Activities under Sub-Programme A
Eligible activities may include:
- International travel
- Stays abroad
- Project-related travel
- Dissemination of results
- Research infrastructure usage fees
- Access to measurement opportunities
- Use of international research facilities
- Activities connected to research infrastructures where Hungary is a full member
These activities should clearly support scientific work and knowledge development.
Researcher Pipeline Development
Sub-programme A also supports researcher pipeline development through group study trips.
Eligible participants may include:
- Domestic researchers
- PhD students
- MSc/MA students
- Secondary school students
- BSc/BA students
Support for secondary school students and BSc/BA students is available where proposals are connected to research infrastructures in which Hungary is a full member.
This helps introduce younger students to advanced research environments and encourages future scientific careers.
Sub-Programme B: Support for International Researchers
Sub-programme B supports international researchers and PhD students who want to access major domestic research infrastructures in Hungary.
This sub-programme helps attract international scientific collaboration and promotes the use of Hungarian research facilities by foreign researchers.
Eligible Activities under Sub-Programme B
Eligible activities may include:
- Inbound travel to Hungary
- Accommodation during measurement periods
- Project-related travel
- Dissemination of results
- Material costs
- Equipment usage costs
- Instrument usage costs at host institutions
- Access to major domestic research infrastructures
These activities should directly support research work carried out using Hungarian research facilities.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include legal entities registered in Hungary or entities from the European Economic Area with a branch office in Hungary.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Businesses
- Higher education institutions
- Budgetary institutions
- Research organisations
- Knowledge-dissemination organisations
Applicants must be able to manage project implementation and demonstrate a clear link to eligible research infrastructure activities.
Eligible Beneficiaries and Participants
The call can support a wide range of research and education participants.
These may include:
- Domestic researchers
- Early-career scientists
- PhD students
- MSc/MA students
- BSc/BA students
- Secondary school students
- International researchers
- International PhD students
- Host institutions
- Research teams using domestic or international infrastructures
Expected Results
Funded projects are expected to strengthen scientific cooperation, research capacity and knowledge exchange.
Expected results may include:
- Improved access to research infrastructures
- Greater use of international research facilities
- Increased use of major Hungarian research infrastructures
- Stronger researcher mobility
- Enhanced scientific networks
- Better dissemination of research results
- Stronger research skills among early-career scientists
- Improved researcher pipeline development
- Greater international visibility of Hungarian research facilities
- Increased knowledge flow between institutions and countries
Why This Call Matters
Access to advanced research infrastructure is essential for high-quality science and innovation.
This call matters because it helps researchers use facilities and measurement opportunities that may otherwise be difficult to access.
It also supports the development of future researchers by funding group study trips and opportunities for students to experience advanced research environments.
By supporting both domestic and international researchers, the call strengthens Hungary’s role in global scientific networks and promotes the exchange of knowledge.
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Proposal
Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains the research infrastructure need, planned activities, target participants and expected scientific value.
Step 1: Choose the Right Sub-Programme
Applicants should first identify whether their project fits Sub-programme A or Sub-programme B.
Choose Sub-programme A if the project supports domestic researchers, PhD students, MSc/MA students or eligible student groups accessing research infrastructures.
Choose Sub-programme B if the project supports international researchers or PhD students using major domestic research infrastructures in Hungary.
Step 2: Define the Research Infrastructure Need
The proposal should clearly explain which research infrastructure or measurement opportunity is needed.
Applicants should describe why the facility, equipment or measurement opportunity is important for the research activity.
Step 3: Explain the Scientific Value
Applicants should describe how access to the infrastructure will improve research quality, scientific results or knowledge development.
The proposal should explain the expected research outputs and benefits.
Step 4: Identify Participants
The application should clearly identify who will participate.
This may include researchers, PhD students, MSc/MA students, international researchers, secondary school students or BSc/BA students, depending on the sub-programme and activity.
Step 5: Plan Eligible Activities
Applicants should list the eligible activities they are requesting support for.
These may include travel, accommodation, stays abroad, dissemination, infrastructure usage fees, measurement fees, materials, equipment use or instrument use.
Step 6: Show Connection to Hungary’s Research Priorities
Projects connected to infrastructures where Hungary is a full member should clearly explain that connection.
Applicants should also show how the project supports Hungary’s scientific capacity and international research integration.
Step 7: Prepare a Realistic Budget
Applicants should ensure that the requested grant is between HUF 800,000 and HUF 5 million.
The budget should clearly justify each cost and link it to eligible activities.
Step 8: Plan Dissemination of Results
The proposal should explain how research results will be shared.
Dissemination may include publications, presentations, reports, workshops, scientific meetings or knowledge-sharing activities.
Step 9: Show International Networking Value
Applicants should explain how the project will strengthen international scientific networks or knowledge exchange.
This is especially important for projects involving international facilities, foreign researchers or cross-border cooperation.
Step 10: Ensure Completion within 24 Months
Applicants should prepare a timeline that allows all activities to be completed within the maximum project duration of 24 months.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Choosing the wrong sub-programme
- Failing to explain the research infrastructure need
- Providing weak justification for travel or measurement costs
- Not linking activities to eligible research infrastructure use
- Submitting a budget below HUF 800,000 or above HUF 5 million
- Ignoring the 24-month project duration limit
- Providing unclear participant information
- Failing to explain dissemination plans
- Not showing scientific value or knowledge exchange
- Treating group study trips as general educational travel without research infrastructure relevance
- Failing to explain the role of host institutions or facilities
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should:
- Clearly identify the research infrastructure to be used
- Explain why access is necessary for the research
- Show strong scientific or training value
- Choose the correct sub-programme
- Include eligible and well-justified costs
- Support early-career researchers where relevant
- Explain how knowledge will be shared
- Demonstrate international networking benefits
- Show how the project strengthens research capacity
- Include a realistic timeline and budget
- Align with the goal of improving research infrastructure use
FAQ
1. What is the purpose of this call?
The call supports researchers in accessing research infrastructures and measurement opportunities while strengthening knowledge, mobility and international scientific cooperation.
2. How much funding is available under the call?
The total available budget is HUF 87.3 million.
3. What is the grant range per project?
Each project may receive between HUF 800,000 and HUF 5 million.
4. What is the maximum project duration?
Projects may last up to 24 months.
5. What does Sub-programme A support?
Sub-programme A supports domestic researchers, PhD students and MSc/MA students in accessing research infrastructures through travel, stays abroad, dissemination, project-related travel and infrastructure usage fees. It may also support group study trips for researcher pipeline development.
6. What does Sub-programme B support?
Sub-programme B supports international researchers and PhD students in accessing major domestic research infrastructures in Hungary, including inbound travel, accommodation, project-related travel, dissemination and host institution usage costs.
7. Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include legal entities registered in Hungary or European Economic Area entities with a branch office in Hungary, including eligible businesses, higher education institutions, budgetary institutions, research organisations and knowledge-dissemination organisations.
Conclusion
The National Research, Development and Innovation Fund call provides targeted support for researchers and institutions seeking access to advanced research infrastructures and measurement opportunities.
With HUF 87.3 million available and grants ranging from HUF 800,000 to HUF 5 million, the call strengthens domestic research capacity, international cooperation, researcher mobility and knowledge exchange.
Eligible applicants should prepare clear proposals that identify the research infrastructure need, justify eligible costs, support scientific development and contribute to stronger integration into national and international research networks.
For more information, visit NKFIH.
