Call 2026

Utolsó frissítés: 2025 október 14.

Call for proposals

Flagship Resarch Groups Programme 2026

 

The main goal of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the University or MATE) is to become one of the leading agricultural universities in the region and to support the achievement of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. In line with the "MATE 2030" strategy, various programs are designed and implemented. These include programmes established to enhance research and publishing performance, as well as to increase the international visibility of MATE.   

The Flagship Research Groups Programme (hereinafter referred to as the Programme), developed based on the experiences of the Research Excellence Programme (REP), is one of the most important representatives of these programs.   

Aim of the Flagship Research Groups Programme

Outstanding researchers who conduct internationally high-quality research either individually or in groups already exist at our University. The Flagship Research Groups Programme aims to support these researchers, joining efforts in research groups, by providing financial resources, among other forms of support, to accelerate their further scientific advancement and self-financing capacity during the three-year funding period.  

One of the most important aims of the Programme is to establish and operate research groups capable of acquiring international research funding grants (e.g., ERC, Horizont Europe, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, etc.), as well as obtaining national resources from governmental or business organizations, thereby enhancing the creation of high-quality research, publications and intellectual property rights, as well as ensuring greater self-sustainability and collaboration of our University in terms of research funding.   

Further goals of the Programme are to generate economic and societal impact by utilizing the findings of research in various ways (e.g. practical applications, contracts, spin-off companies through collaboration with public- or private sector; utilization of the results in specialized further education, establishment of joint research- or double degree programs with prestigious international institutions, etc.) thereby further increasing self-sustainability, ensuring academic post-graduate education through high-quality and more sustainable research, and increasing the international reputation of MATE.  

Important information about the Programme:

• Program period: 3 years 
• Number of groups can be supported under the Programme: maximum 5 Research Groups *
• Annual funding of the Programme: HUF 20 - 30 million gross 
• Application opening date: October 15, 2025 
• Deadline for submission of the applications: November 10, 2025, 23:59 
• Estimated date of start of the Programme: January 1, 2026

*Based on the quality of the applications, the budget plans and the results of the evaluation, it is possible that fewer applications will be funded, or that certain applications will be accepted with a reduced budget.

Research topics of the call

Research teams applying for funding under the Programme may submit proposals in pre-defined thematic areas. Our university aims to contribute to promoting sustainable management of scarce natural resources, aligning with efforts to reduce environmental degradation, halt biodiversity decline, and better manage resources through transformative changes in economy and society. Applications of Research Groups are therefore expected in at least one of the following research areas:

1. Promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, preserving biodiversity, and restoring the functioning of natural ecosystems.  
2. Research and innovative developments that help adapt to climate change, reduce harmful emissions, and increase the resilience of agricultural and natural ecosystems  
3. Optimization of food supply systems, focusing on any elements or aspects of the chain, towards healthy and environmentally friendly solutions from farm to fork.  
4. Digitalization for the support of sustainable development and the improvements of efficiency in production and processing technologies, environmental monitoring and the advancement of innovative analytical methods and data-driven decision making.  
5. Research to support innovative development and the liveabilityof rural and urban areas.  
6. Agricultural engineering research supporting the complex utilization of biomass and research fostering the development of a circular economy, ensuring innovative solutions for the education of the future agricultural generation.  
7. Internationally recognized outstanding fundamental research across different scientific disciplines.

Forms of the support under the programme

1. Financial support
2. Community discussion of scientific activity
3. Professional workshops
4. Supporting the improvement of scientific visibility
5. Involvement of Research Group Leaders in Research Strategy and Representation of the University

Application procedure and deadline

Applications can be submitted by email to kutatasi.kivalosag@uni-mate.hu.

The deadline of the application is:  November 10, 2025, 23:59

When preparing the application, it is required to submit information related to the following main points via the application form and budget plan (download at the bottom of the page), as detailed in the call for proposals:

• Composition of the Research Group, professional resumes,  
• Presentation of the alignment of the proposed project with the key research areas,  
• Research plan,  
• Milestones,   
• Detailed plan of dissemination (i.e., publications),  
• Financial plan. 

The evaluation process of the applications

The applications undergo an initial formal review, followed by the preparation of a scientific metric report by the Scientific strategic analyst of the Programme, based on the Scopus profile of the Research Group members that meet the formal requirements. Subsequently, the application materials and the scientific metric report are evaluated by an international reviewer committee. Detailed information can be found in the Call. The results of the evaluations will be announced to the Research Group Leaders who submitted the applications via email. 

The call is open from October 15, 2025:

Call for proposals (English version)

Call for proposals (Hungarian version)

Application form

Annex 1 of Application form (Budget plan)

Application form questions in PDF (updated)

Evaluation criteria

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