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Hungarian Spectrum of
University–Enterprise
Cooperation
Prof. György BAZSA
University of Debrecen, former Rector;
Hungarian Higher Education and Science Council, President;
European Centre for Strategic Management of Universities
Brussels, Board Member
TEMPUS IN TOUCH Seminar
AMMAN (Jordan) – 9/10 April, 2006
Europe – Hungary - Jordan
Hungary
~ 93.000 km2
~ 10 million inhabitants
Education:
- 12 years obligatory
public education
- 18 state, 5 church, 2
private universities
- 12 state, 23 church,
11 private colleges
~ 200.000 state funded,
~ 200.000 fee paying
students
University of Debrecen
11 faculties – 28.000 students
Hungary – social conditions
• until 1990: state centralized economy
• early 1990-s: society in transformation to a
market oriented democracy
• since 1996/97: market based economy in
function – but a present only in midway
• privatisation nearly complete
• 2004: full right EU membership
General background of R&D&I:
• High growth of GDP (4%) and export (17%)
• Low R&D expenditure, mainly by public funding
• Low innovation intensity of enterprises,
especially of SMEs,
• Some MNEs have R&D units in Hungary
• Strong science base (universities and HAS),
but inadequate linkages with industry
• Regional disparity, Budapest predominates
EU vs. Hungary in R&D&I:
Regional distribution
of R&D expenditure
Budapest region:
All others:
population
20 %
80 %
R&D
52 %
48 %
Actors of R&D&I in Hungary
State: interested in R&D&I, has good
regulatory forces, but it is poor (GDP ~1%);
Universities: state funded, traditionally basic
research oriented, less innovative, without
market experience, no capital;
Enterprises:
• partly big multinational firms – R&D units at
headquarters, some already in Hungray
• a lot of SME-s, but with small research and
innovation abilities;
Venture capital: first spots already active
State policy:
to promote and accelerate the economic
growth by investing in research, development and innovation, strengthen regions.
Applied methods:
• general policy supporting R&D&I
• National Development Plan/EU
• legal framework
• funding policy and structure
Act of Research and Innovation
Fund (2004)
• ensures predictable and reliable financing of
implementation of R&D
• consists of mandatory contributions of
enterprises calculated on tax base
(0.1-0.3 % of net adjusted revenues)
• matching resources from state budget
• to be spent directly or indirectly on R&D and
innovation goals
• 25 % dedicated to regional innov. objectives
• 75 % merit based competitive funding
Act of Innovation (2004)
• enables creation of innovative firms,
e.g. spin-offs, innovation parks etc.
• strengthens R&D adoption capacities
• increases attractiveness of research carriers
• supports industry-university relationship via
regional centres & networks
• supports provision of innovation services
(lack of bridging institutions)
• Tax incentives: double amount of R&D
expenditure (common with universities)
can be accounted.
National Development Plan
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Increase GERD/GDP to 1,5% by 2006
Shift R&D to innovation
Stimulate more enterprise R&D expenditure
Helping SMEs to catch up innovation
Enhancing regions
Setting up Regional Innovation Agencies
Promote industry-academia collaboration
University: produces new, disseminates/
applies (old and new) knowledge –
mainly in a scientific interest (curiosity)
driven (non-profit) way. Published results!
Enterprise: applies (old and new) knowledge in
order to produce goods – mainly in a financial
profit driven way. Confident results!
University–Enterprise cooperation: a good
synthesis of these functions, to achieve a
common goal – in the interest of both parties
– in general serving society (mankind)
[We consider mainly hard sciences.]
U&E self-initiatives in R&D field
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Access to special equipment of enterprise/
university with or without assistance of the
owner’s organisations
Deposition of hardware and software at universities
– for research and for advertisement reasons)
Donation of modern instruments, complete laboratories) for training and research (e.g. IT, medicine)
Research contracts financed by enterprises
„Outplaced” U-chairs with collaborative research
Joint patents and their realisation (rare in H/EU)
Consultation services (e.g. agriculture, technology)
Cooperation initiated by state
programme funding:
Hungarian Central Development Fund
(KMÜFA) – supports U&E cooperation,
requires measurable impacts. E. g.
• Biotechnology 2000;
• Technology for environmental protection;
• Infocommunication techn. and applications
• Up-to-date equipment purchase (for uni-s);
• Setting up high tech R&D laboratories
These represent mainly infrastructure support
for research, which develops cooperations
Cooperation forms forced by state
programme funding:
• Cooperative Research Centre-s (KKK) – uni
based, but with enterprises (5 examples);
• Széchenyi Plan – National Research and
Development Programme – R&D projects of
consortia led by HE or R&D institutes;
• A broad system of R&D&I programmes –
introduced by National Research and
Development Office – since 2003.
R&D&I Knowledge Centres – aims
• Regional concentration of skills and knowhow over critical mass
• Securing postdoctoral jobs
• Fostering new roles of universities in their
regions
• Collaboration between university + enterprise
• Encourage creation of innovative SMEs, startup, spin-offs, innovation parks etc.
• Strengthen research and technology adoption
capacities
R&D&I Knowledge Centres (2005) –
based on research universities
• e-Science – ELTE, Budapest
• Vehicles and Vehicle Control, BME, Budapest
• Infobionic Knowledge, SE Budapest
• GENOMNANOTECH – U Debrecen
• Mechatronic & Logistic Systems, U Miskolc
• Neurobiology, U Szeged
New Act on Higher Education
(effective March 1, 2006)
Cooperation in training – national level
Vertical structure of HE
• 3 linear cycles: Bachelor – Master – PhD
• professional skills (competencies) and
• HE qualification earned in parallel
• in most vocational (R&D related) fields:
+1 semester for work experience (in field)
Hungarian Bachelor welcome – March 2006.
Cooperation in training – national level
Horizontal structure of HE:
• degree programmes in training fields of
humanities, arts, social, religious, economic,
business, agricultural, natural, medical,
technical sciences
• distribution of state funded places among
training fields and institutions – based
(partly) on labour market demands
This is one of the main functions
of Higher Education and Science Council
New Act on Higher Education:
Cooperation of special Hungarian art
U-Senate (all decisions) – supported by an
U-Economic Council (Advisory Board) – in stateowned higher education institutions.
Aim of Economic Councils:
• separates academic and management affairs
• takes initiatives for strategic decisions
• controls measures for efficient management
• import of experience and mentality of excellent
leaders, experts in economy, business, public
affairs, institutional management etc.
New Act on Higher Education:
Never enjoyed high level of freedom in institutional economy and management (differs
from the provisions of public finances regulation)
• transfer appropriations,
• keep their own income in a separate account,
• pursue business activities without the obligation to
pay any taxes and duties,
• have the right to found businesses, economic
enterprises and foundations (without state permission),
• take out loans subject to certain conditions,
• launch investment projects with loans,
• subscribe government securities,
• set up risk funds.
Cooperation at individual level
– in training
• Lectures of enterprise experts held at universities
(honorary professor titles)
• Lectures of faculty members held at enterprise
(in field trainings organized by the firms)
• Joint supervision of Master or PhD theses
• Ad hoc consultations between the parties
• Joint publication of university and enterprise staff
Cooperation at institutional level
– in training
• second degree programmes (with tuition fee,
therefore labour market oriented)
• degree specialization programmes (chemical
engineer – specialist in plastics, pharmacy,
environmental analysis, silica etc.) – all fields are
covered
• support of innovative and outstanding research
students (with awards and money)
• R&D cooperation agreement in wide variety
Partnership with chambers, Hungarian Innovation
Association etc.
Evaluation of skills of graduates
by enterprises (scale 0 – 5)
Practical skills -------------------Computer knowledge ---------Technical skills -----------------Economic knowledge ---------Calculation skills ---------------Communication and writing -Foreign languages ------------Independent working ---------Work discipline ----------------Working culture ----------------Co-operative skills ------------Average - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Co-operation in international level
• Lisbon agenda
• European Hugher Educaion Area
• European Research and Innovation Area
• COST, ESF, EUREKA,
• EU frameworks (ERA-NET, INCO-NET)
Tempus: many actions (incl. this seminar)
+ Handbook University-Enterprise cooperation
Tempus Output Programme (Phare)
Kurt König, Head of the CORDIS Unit at OPOCE
(20-03-2006): there is currently a communication gap
between the science and business communities.
Random Hungarian media mirror –
in black and white
• The most creative researcher is lost in
business world
• Researchers don’t leave the professorship for
venture
• Stable civil servant payment is more attractive
than withdrawal from venture
• Venture is a hard task for European talents
Random European U-E examples –
in black and white
• Teknia – Kuopio (SF)
• Otaniemi International Innovation Centre – Helsinki,
HUT (SF)
• LU Innovation – Lund University (S)
• etc.
Please, continue!
My conclusion:
The spectrum and effectiveness of
University–Enterprise Cooperation
both in Hungary and Europe
is definitely in progress, but
could and should be broadened.
Thank you for your kind attention!