Focus on Education and Innovation
Minister of Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó joined AmCham on May 9 to share the government’s plans and priorities regarding Hungary’s education and innovation ecosystem. The discussion covered key areas such as higher education, vocational training, and R&D.
The Minister started by stressing the urgency of boosting Europe’s innovation performance, noting that only four of the world’s top 50 tech firms are European. He then outlined plans to strengthen the involvement of the business sector in higher education and vocational training through dual programs and internships, offering students hands-on experience alongside academic learning. He also highlighted Pannónia Scholarship Programme to broaden international exposure for students and teaching staff, though mobility programs, as well as the HU-rizon Programme, which aims to strengthen international research cooperation by supporting Hungarian-led projects involving top universities and research institutes worldwide. The National Research, Development and Innovation Fund, with a record HUF 215 billion budget in 2025, supports projects in key areas like health, digitalization, green transition, and defense – he added.
In a country like Hungary — where, unlike resource-rich nations, the most valuable asset is its human capital — investing in education and innovation is essential for long-term competitiveness. AmCham Hungary welcomes the government’s efforts and emphasize that business–academia cooperation is key to preparing a future-ready workforce. R&D must remain central to ensure long-term growth.
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