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Although only 15% of domestic businesses with more than 10 employees are large companies, 60% of innovative firms fall into this category, NRDI Office notes. Large corporations employ more than one-third of the total workforce in the business sector and account for over 30% of the national R&D workforce. The top 100 companies alone contribute 52% of all R&D expenditures in the Hungarian business sector.
In view of the sector’s importance to national innovation, the NRDI Office announced a dedicated program at the end of last year, called the Large Enterprise Focus Area Innovation Program.
The scheme aims to boost corporate R&D and innovation activity by actively involving the country’s innovation ecosystem: the six winning companies will work closely with 10 universities and three research institutes.
“Alongside the intensive support for the SME sector, linking domestic large companies with universities and research institutes is also key to increasing the competitiveness of the Hungarian economy,” said László Bódis, deputy state secretary for innovation at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, at the award announcement.
He added: “Our strategic goal is for Hungarian universities and research institutes to play a central role in solving economic and social challenges, and this requires cooperation with the corporate sector. The supported developments are expected to generate significant economic impact and make everyday life easier for Hungarian people.”
Among the winning projects, Richter Gedeon Nyrt. will focus on effective drug therapies for psychiatric and gynecological diseases; MOL Nyrt. will develop renewable and waste-based energy and chemical products; 3DHISTECH Kft. will work on advanced generative AI-based diagnostic and therapeutic procedures; GE HealthCare Kft. will address infertility treatments; Mediso Kft. will create a theranostic product line linking diagnostics and therapy; and HM Elektronikai, Logisztikai és Vagyonkezelő Zrt. will develop AI-based models capable of predicting geopolitical crises, as well as self-learning drone reconnaissance and defense platforms.
The large enterprise program is significant on its own, but its multiplier effect is equally important: innovation programs led by major companies can accelerate the development of other players in the innovation chain and further strengthen the competitiveness of the entire ecosystem.
The full list of supported projects is available on the NRDI Office website:
https://www.nkfih.gov.hu/palyazoknak/nkfi-alap/tamogatott-projektek-2024-112-nagyvall-fokusz
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