1. Objective of the Call

The overall objective of this programme is to promote the establishment of world leading scientific and technological university innovation centres university named Regional University Knowledge Centers in order to establish professional and regional centers of gravitation that perform outstanding research and development activity and technological innovation, strongly cooperate with the industrial sector, stimulate the technological and economical development of the given region, thereby improving the competitiveness of the country.

2. Activities eligible to be supported

Within the programme, grant can be provided to the following activities:

a) R&D activities and activities exclusively related to R&D support (individual activities excluded)

• basic research;
• applied research, as well as technology transfer and innovation closely related to applied research;
• participation of university and PhD students in R&D, educating a new generation of young scientists;
• refreshing education of teachers, researchers and industrial specialists;
• services related to R&D and innovation;
• presentation of schemes, strategies, studies and analyses serving for the basis of R&D and innovation activity of the Knowledge Centre;
• encouraging the establishment of spin-off and start-up companies in order to exploit R&D results;
• supporting the registration of intellectual property rights (patents, prototypes, trademark and design applications), except for enterprises;
• demonstration and presentation of R&D results at conferences and exhibitions concerning innovation;
• organization of scientific conferences and other professional meetings;
• presentation and publication of bulletins about the Knowledge Centres;
• domestic and international mobility of participants, exchange of experience;
• international cooperation in science and innovation
• participation in international research and technologic development programmes and competitions
• surveying the R&D and innovation development possibilities of the regions, seeking for partnership relations,
• using consultancy relating to law, industrial property rights, innovation and technology transfer.

b) Investment activities related to R&D support

The investment activities are allowed to be related exclusively to some research and development program; therefore, the intensity of supports relating to the research and development and the range of accountable cost, respectively, shall be used.

• Construction, purchase, reconstruction or renovation of buildings and laboratories, necessary for the operation of Knowledge Centres, research and development and the innovation activities.
• Purchase of scientific tools and equipment serving for research and development purposes;
• establishment of pilot systems and test environment;
• purchase of software, third party licenses and know-how

3. Eligible applicants

For the establishment of Regional University Knowledge Centres, Consortia established for the implementation of tasks set by the program, composed of universities and cooperating economic associations incorporated and settled in Hungary with or without legal entity, higher educational institutions performing research and development activity, other budget financed non-profit research workshops not belonging to the competition sphere as well as other organizations engaged in innovation are eligible to submit proposals.

Priority shall be given to project proposals that aim at establishing knowledge centres in regions in which were no winner proposals for Regional University Knowledge Centre in 2004.

4. Financing

In order to achieve the goals, the National Office for Research and Technology(NORT) provides six Billion HUF from the Research and Technology Innovation Fund (hereinafter: Fund).

5. Form of project funding, duration of the project

Type of support: grant without repayment obligation.
Period of support: maximum 36 months.

6. Expected number of projects

The number of projects to be supported: maximum 6.

7. Reasons for disqualification

Excluded from submitting proposals and granting support are those:

• under bankruptcy-, liquidation - or final settlement proceeding;
• have not fulfilled entirely the contract concluded under the winning application for reasons attributable to them, or provided false or misleading data in any project announced for implementing the objectives laid down in the Fund or the Act XC of 2003 on the Research and Technology Innovation Fund (hereinafter: Atv), section 16, paragraph (2) prior to the publication of the given tender;
• have overdue public dues exceeding 60 days;
• have expired payment obligation against the Fund and the objective laid down in the Atv., section 16, paragraph (2) exceeding 60 days.

8. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

The aspects of evaluation of proposals found to meet the formal requirements and the maximum scores are as follows:

a) Professional and scientific aspects (maximum of 65 scores)

• harmonization of the proposed project with the goals of the programme (15 points)
• professional content, significance and novelty of the proposed project (25 points)
• enforcement of priorities in the proposed project (10 points)
• competency of the participants to carry out the planned tasks (10 points)
• international relations and the opportunities of cooperation (5 points)

b) Economical and regional aspects (maximum of 45 scores)

• Industrial background, existing industrial relations in the field of activity of the Knowledge Centre (10 points)
• Economic importance of the project, cooperation with enterprises (15 points)
• Regional effects of the knowledge centre (10 points)
• Justification of planned expenses and the claimed support (10 points)

c) Organizational and operational aspects (maximum of 10 scores)

• Suitability of the proposed organizational structure to achieve the goals set by the proposed project (10 points)

The maximum number of points that can be given: 120 points.
The minimum number of scores necessary for support: 80 points. In the case that the applicant does not receive minimum 50% in each criteria (under a), b) and c) subpoints), the proposed project will not be accepted.

Date of announcement: 23.05.2005
Deadline for submission: 21.06.2005