It
was exactly one year ago today when the Academy received an email from
the Ministry for Innovation and Technology regarding a new law
amendment. The government provided a mere 54 minutes for evaluating the
proposed changes that would fundamentally affect the operation of the
Academy.
During
the last year we made the utmost effort to keep the debate between the
MTA and the ITM on professional grounds. Meanwhile, members of our
5000-strong research network felt a steadily growing unease because of
the events, costing the Academy some of its best researchers, and
pushing more to the brink of leaving.
We
kept on negotiating relentlessly, but our efforts proved futile. The
Ministry for Innovation and Technology submitted its draft bill, which
was most likely being discussed during the exact same time as this very
press conference was taking place.
Following is a summary of president László Lovász's speech during the press conference.
Government plans on a „new” research network
The
backbone of the Government’s plan is to strip the learned society of
the MTA of all its research institutions, and create a new one under the
name „Eötvös Loránd Research Network” (ELKH). The operation of ELKH
will be controlled by a Governing Board with delegates from the Ministry
of Innovation and Technology and the Academy in equal numbers (6+6) and
a jointly selected president, while all members would be appointed by
the Prime Minister. The “new” research network will use existing
properties of the Academy, a part of its existing central administration
and its successful grants and fellowships for its operation. State
support will be maintained, but no guarantees for basic operational cost
(staff and tenured researchers, etc.), previously guaranteed by the
Academy law.
Forced transformation without any valid reasoning
The
MTA has been successful in running its research network, as proven
unwaveringly by the fact that based on output/resources it ranks among
Europe’s finest. Besides, the MTA is responsive to new challenges, it
has prepared several strategic documents that comply with government
demands for boosting innovation. In contrast however, the Government has
not presented any strategy that could justify the separation. The often
mentioned low innovation performance will not be improved by putting a
successful basic research network under government control.
Why should the research network stay with the Academy?
Contemplating
this question one can point out the well established high level quality
control, important synergies between research institutes and the
learned society and the internationally recognized „brand” of the
Academy. Furthermore, the separation of the research network from the
Academy would cause an extremely complicated legal situation, let us
just consider the number of existing contracts.
Why should the network be separated from the Academy?
The
Government gave no viable reasons for the separation. The exact
rationale behind the creation of this new system is still a mystery to
this day, also there is no indication how these changes would benefit
Hungarian science.
Stronger government control
While
reasons and foreseeable benefits are seemingly lacking, there is an
obvious increase in government control. The Governing Board has a 50%
Government representation, all decisions are made by simple majority
voting. No representation is guaranteed for members of the research
network. National RDI priorities are set by the Minister of Innovation
and Technology advised by the National Science Policy Council all
members of whom are invited by the minister and only 1/3 of them are
scientists. Last but not least, national RDI funding is distributed by
the National Research Development and Innovation Office under the
control of the Minister of Innovation and Technology.
No guarantees for basic funding
Government
control aside, the new system does not provide a stable basis for
research. In contrast to the guarantees described in detail in the Law
on the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, basic funding to cover the cost of
permanent staff, long-term contracts, etc. are not laid down in the new
law. The research network will be increasingly reliant on project-based
funding available for government priorities. Long-term research
agendas, blue sky research and any research beyond government priorities
will be increasingly difficult to follow.
Highly questionable methods in the course of negotiations
While
the MTA has been trying to participate in the negotiations in a
constructive and professional way, the same could not be said of its
governmental negotiating partners. The series of unfriendly moves began
with a 54 minute deadline to give expert opinion on the amendments of
the law on the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 2018. The research
budget of the Academy was promptly transferred to the ITM last summer
and during the following months several attempts were made on the
Government’s side to unlawfully withhold the release of funds. The
Government has disregarded resolutions of joint ITM-Academy committees,
and also ignored the proposal of the General Assembly of the Academy
providing more room for government involvement in the research network.
Conclusions – a system unsuitable for the research community and against European principles
The
above elaborated Government plans were clearly and loudly refused by
the Hungarian scientific community, some of the most excellent
researchers have already left the country. The separation of the two
missions of the Academy will inhibit the preservation of existing
synergies. The new institutional and financing framework is against
European principles of research funding and threatens academic freedom.
Besides, a change in the name and government control will not increase
the innovation capacity of the country. There is also a concern, that
an unbalanced role for government priorities and control in science may
soon become an alarming example that could be followed by other
governments in the EU.
In
response to a journalist’s question president Lovász stated that for
him the first priority is that the necessary conditions be provided for
the continuous operation of the research network. Alongside the
better-known issue of researcher emigration, László Lovász directed the
attention to a more elusive group of scientists hesitating to return or
move to Hungary because of the current situation.
On
seeking the roots of the misunderstandings, the president remarked that
the difference between policy and politics is not always understood by
decision makers. Researchers are quite willing to give expert advice to
politicians, however for this to work seamlessly specific communication
channels are required.
As
for the possible role of EU-institutions in the debate between the
ministry and the Academy, Mr. Lovász said that direct support cannot
come from their direction, however some elements of the draft bill could
be altered as a consequence of international attention.
We would like to kindly request all mediums present at the press conference to send us their published articles if it is not too much trouble.
Thank you and all the very best,
SECRETARIAT OF THE HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
H-1051 Budapest, Széchenyi István tér 9. (1245 Budapest, Pf. 1000)
We would like to kindly request all mediums present at the press conference to send us their published articles if it is not too much trouble.
Thank you and all the very best,
SECRETARIAT OF THE HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
H-1051 Budapest, Széchenyi István tér 9. (1245 Budapest, Pf. 1000)
