Service centres underlying competitiveness– the first pole calls have now been announced23 October 2007
Applications can be submitted from 10 December 2007 to 15 January 2008 under the call for applications announced by the National Development Agency for the establishment of research and development and innovation service centres operating on a business basis. Hungarian business organisations in which the local government or university of either one of the pole cities have a minimum 5% share of ownership are eligible to apply.
Approved applicants are eligible to invest the EU funding in infrastructure and property investments, purchase and installation of technological equipment, acquisition of licenses and know-how, as well as IT development. The funding ensures the opportunity for these beneficiaries to introduce quality, environmental and other control systems and standards that help operate the service centre.
The rate of funding that can be secured in Budapest and Gödöllő will be between half a billion and three billion Forints. The rate of approved funding in the case of the projects of other poles will vary between 1 and 5 billion HUF, however, must not exceed 50% of total investment expenditures.
The endeavour of Hungarian development policy is for pole cities to become the country’s development centres, therefore becoming centres underpinning the impetus of regional growth. In addition to Budapest, the Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs, Miskolc, Győr and Székesfehérvár-Veszprém axes will give impetus to the Hungarian economy. The first step involves granting billions of Forints to these pole cities for research and development and innovation, in order for these cities to integrate more easily in European circulation.
All information and documents needed for compiling applications is accessible on the National Development Agency’s website: www.nfu.hu