1. Sofia, 5th December, 2013 Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA) Promoting Excellence in Research László P. Kollár President

2. OTKA = Hungarian Scientific Research Fund LIFE SCIENCES Brain research Agriculture Etc. SCIENCE & ENGINEERING Physics Mathematics Etc. SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES Literature Archeology Etc. Founded: 1986 (independent institution) Councils:

3. BASIC RESEARCH APPLICATION-DRIVEN RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY Sponsor? Publicly Industry- funded

4. APPLIED – BASIC (DISCOVERY) RESEARCH Yes Application No Deep scientific under- standing Yes No Pure basic research (Bohr) Application driven basic r. (Pasteur) Pure applied research (Edison)

5. Top quality, curiosity- driven research IMPACT Stimulate higher education Promote research career Scientific impact VISION

6. MAJOR ACTIVITIES 90%  Research projects (4 or 3 years) < 24 (40) M Age HUF > 24 (40) M < 35 (40) No age limit Postdoc Starting Grant K Publications International Bilateral (lead-agency) etc. NF NK PD

7. Electronic proposal submission & review system Language: English International referees/International panels Support of open access New funding mechanisms MAJOR CHANGES in the last ten years

8. MAJOR STEPS - EVALUATION Decision-making Scientific excellence Potential scientific & societal impact Monitoring Final report - evaluation

9. Decision-making (Excellence & impact) 3 anonymous reviewers Panel ranking Council/Board decision Transparency Known rules and decision-making mechanism Strict rules: conflict of interest Applicants get: reviews + panel evaluation Council/Board “does not” change the ranking (experts on narrow field) (experts on broader field)

10. Decision-making (Excellence & impact) Special procedures Large projects Interdisciplinary proposals High risk/high gain proposals International collaborations

11. Problem: Small country – Small scientific community Conflict of interest „Friend” – „enemy” – independent Solution: international reviewers /panels

12. Step 1 English proposal 2005 Physics 2008 Life sciences 2009 Science and Engineering 2010 Social Sciences & Humanities (1% Hungaricum) Step 2 English reviews (2005 – ) 2013 With FWF – no Hungarian reviews 2013 Life sciences – foreign r. are required 2014 …. Step 3 International panels 2006 Hungarian speaking foreigners 2013 Few English s. panels (~50% foreigners) Evolution in OTKA

13. –Stimulate higher education –Research career –Reduce brain-drain (“Brain-gain” – Hungarian Academy of Sc.) 60 % to Universities and Colleges IMPACT – Societal impacts < 24 (40) M Age HUF > 24 (40) M < 35 (40) No age limit Postdoc Starting Grant K NF NK PD

14. IMPACT – Societal impacts Support for “young” researchers (%) + Employment in project ~ 8% Norwegian EURYI PostDoc Start. Grant

15. Conclusion – Promoting Excellence Transparency / conflict of interest International decision making Excellence & impact (high risk/high gain) Research career Young researcher (early independence) International collaboration Interdisciplinary research Decision making Priorities

16. Top quality, curiosity- driven research IMPACT Stimulate higher education Promote research career Scientific impact CONCLUSION (Vision)