After having completed a national consultation forum the Government may discuss the National Research, Development and Innovation Strategy - Minister of State for Economic Strategy and Parliamentary Affairs Zoltán Cséfalvay from the Ministry for National Economy announced on Thursday at a conference in Szeged.

Establishing a production system of high added value in Hungary has been in the focus of this strategy, the politician said at a conference organized by the University of Szeged.

The Government has introduced several measures so far: the National Innovation Office has been founded, a transparent and clear regulatory system regarding research and development has been put in place and a compact financing scheme was also created.

The Minister of State stressed that the goal of increasing the number of domestic researchers from the current 37 thousand to 56 thousand is within reach. As from next year, enterprises employing a researcher with a PhD title, estimated to be applicable to 1300 employees, will be exempt of paying social contribution tax, which step will facilitate reaching this goal.

In 2012, R&D expenditures amounted to 1.2 percent of GDP or 336bn HUF, the highest figure in two decades. The share of the private sector in this regard has been increasing steadily, last year it was 160bn HUF; 120bn HUF originated from the state and the rest came from international resources, Minister of State Cséfalvay added.

It has been the strategic objective of the Government that R&D expenditures shall reach 1.8 percent of GDP by 2020, and aim to get thirty significant R&D centers enter the world league as well as to help the same number of multinational enterprises establish development facilities in Hungary.

(Ministry for National Economy)