MTA head, minister sign letter of intent on future of Academy research network

The network of research institutes of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) will be separated from the MTA but its structure will otherwise remain unchanged, said a letter of intent signed by MTA head László Lovász and László Palkovics, the minister of innovation and technology, at their talks on Friday.

The research institutes will operate independently from the MTA as of January 1, 2020, MTA said in a statement. In the future, structural changes will be decided by a new governing body to which the government and the MTA will both delegate members in a way that ensures a majority representation of the scientific community, the letter of intent said.

The assets used by the institutes will remain MTA’s property, it said.

“The minister of innovation and technology provides funding for the operation of MTA’s research institutes between January 1, 2019, and May 31, 2019,” the document said. “Funding will continue at a 2019 level after an agreement has been concluded and until the new administrative system starts operation”, it said.