Prof. József Pálinkás

PRESIDENT

HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Assessment of science and technology policy in the Hungarian Parliament

THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTE OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

June 2008: EU decision about EIIT HQ in Budapest

15 September: first meeting of the Steering Committee of the EIIT in Budapest

Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Debrecen

University

Hungarian Parliament

•Acts IV and V of 1848: a real representative Parliament was established

•Its main task was to create the public law framework.

•The issues were widely discussed in the society -the public was informed through the elected representatives and the press.

•1880: Law to build a permanent building for Parliament (1885 – 1904)

•October 1902: The House of Representatives assembled for the first time in the new building

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT

National Assembly•Legislative power •Unicameral•Its members are elected for four years•submitted proposals debated in plenary sessions

The Government •accountable to Parliament •needs the support of the majority of votes in the plenary sessions

MPs: free mandate

Political consensus between the party groups in Parliament→ election of the officers of Parliament → composition of committees

FRAMEWORK OF OPERATION TODAYHungary: independent democratic state,

parliamentary republic

•Act No. XL of 1994 on the Hungarian Academy of Sciences•Act No. XXXIII of 1995 on the Protection of Inventions by Patents•Act No. XC of 2003 on Research and Technological Innovation Fund •Act No. CXXXIV of 2004 on Research and Technological Innovation•Act No. CXXXIX of 2005 on Higher Education

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN THE

LEGISTLATION

RELEVANT STANDING COMMITTEES

RESEARCH, DEVELOPEMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE

MPs, COMMITTEES AND THE SOCIETY

Despite all of these efforts MPs and the Parliament are distant from the society

• Different lobby groups, civil societies, interest groups are trying to influence the decision making

• NO well established mechanism exists to separate competent and naive advising, pressure group actions

• In Hungary there is a non-governmental organization, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, one of its objective to provide a learned advisory body for the Parliament and the government.

THE QUESTION OF COMPETENCE

THE HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Foundation of the AcademyVince Katzler’s lithograph (1861)

Count István Széchenyi at the 1825 Diet in Pozsony (Bratislava)

TRADITION AND DYNAMISM at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

1827 Act XI: an independent society aimed at cultivating the Hungarian language, promoting humanities, social and natural sciences, and thus, the growth of the nation

1994 Act about the Legal Status of the Academy : → Self governing→ Public body→ Operates as a legal entity→ Performs public duties for science

•establishes and maintains research institutes•supports research groups affiliated with universities •continuously adapts itself to the changing conditions•regularly reforms its structure and operation•ensures that only the best science is supported•regularly reviews the focal points of its activities, in order to harmonize it with the national goals taking into account the objectives of the European Research Area•provides special support for talented young scientists•maintains co-operation with universities and industry

THE SPECIAL ROLE OF THE ACADEMY

•Non-governmental organization

•Its budget is appropriated by the Parliament.

•The president of the Academy reports directly to the Parliament in every second year on the state of scientific research in Hungary

•Possesses its own properties (buildings, research infrastructures, etc.)

•Runs a research institute network

•Advises the government on various matters

•Assumes cross-border responsibilities for Hungarian science abroad

Facts and Figures

• The public body of the Academy has ~13,000 members

• The chain of 38 research institutes are active in the field of – natural sciences

(research staff ~1200), – life sciences

(research staff ~600), – and humanities

(research staff ~700)

• The Academy supports ~70 research groups at universities (research staff ~500)

•2007 budget of the research institutes (~120 M. € in total)

1: state budget 54.5%; 2: industrial contracts 9.5%; 3: national grants 11.2%; 4: international grants 11.5%, 5: other incomes 13.3%

THE BIG ISSUES

• Energy• Food• Environment• Development of

the economy• Jobs• Health• Education• Safety

Means and structures of the Hungarian Parliament to incorporate scientific and

technological knowledge

• The Hungarian Parliament adopts National Strategy Plans to address the long term questions (energy, environment, GMO, etc.)

• The Academy is partner in the preparation of the strategies and the public debates that precede adoption, appreciated not only by the government, but by the public as well.

• Committees of the Academy really gathers the best experts of the country

However, plans and reality differs in our country as well….

Is the impact of science and technology sufficiently taken into

account in the drawing-up of public policies?

Science can advise the final decision,

responsibility belongs to the

politicians!

The parliament can gather more information through continuous deliberations that involves specialists and non-specialist.

„How to survive technology development?” by John von Neumann

Neumann János , the founding father of modern computing and game theory wrote at the down of nuclear and space age :

„The technology development can’t be stopped. We are unable to provide ready-made solutions and remedies for the challenges of the future. We can only define the human characteristics for survival. Namely:

intelligence, tolerance, patience and flexibility.”

... And a good sense of humor, he adds later

WORLD SCIENCE FORUM SERIES

World Conference on Science 1999, Budapest - a new commitment

Common undertaking of UNESCO and ICSU, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Hungarian Government

New partnership between science and society

2002 United Nations Organization declares November 10 the World Day of Science

2003 November: First World Science Forum in Budapest – „Knowledge and Society”

2005 – „Knowledge, Ethics and Responsibility”

2007 – „Investing in Knowledge: Investing in the Future”

2009 – „Knowledge and Future” – Ten Years After the WCS

World Conference on Science 1999, Budapest - a new commitment

Common undertaking of UNESCO and ICSU, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Hungarian Government

New partnership between science and society

2002 United Nations Organization declares November 10 the World Day of Science

2003 November: First World Science Forum in Budapest – „Knowledge and Society”

2005 – „Knowledge, Ethics and Responsibility”

2007 – „Investing in Knowledge: Investing in the Future”

2009 – „Knowledge and Future” – Ten Years After the WCS

WORLD SCIENCE FORUM SERIES

Thank you for your attention

OPECST, Paris September 22, 2008 Prof. J. Pálinkás