Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HCEMM (Establishing the Hungarian Center of Excellence for Molecular Medicine in partnership with EMBL)
Teaser
The University of Szeged, the Semmelweis University, the Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the University of Debrecen together with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and under the coordination of the National Research, Innovation and...
Summary
The University of Szeged, the Semmelweis University, the Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the University of Debrecen together with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and under the coordination of the National Research, Innovation and Development Office united to create the Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine and to develop a ‘game changer’ organization in Hungary. The Centre has the mission to become an internationally recognized institute of excellence promoting molecular medicine, providing autonomy, transparent policies, financial stability and modern infrastructure for excellent scientists. HCEMM research groups will be active in cross cutting fields and will be reviewed every 5 years in order to ensure their scientific excellence. Advanced core facilities, effective technology transfer and vibrant links to industry will also be provided. The headquarters and HCEMM research groups will be hosted in Szeged in an international campus with new state of the art facility, while other groups will be located in Budapest. The cooperation between EMBL and HCEMM will ensure a continuous transfer of institutional, research and collaborative expertise, and access to the EMBL partnership network in Europe and beyond.
Work performed
Since the start of the project several preparatory steps have been taken to establish the framework for the operation of the centre of excellence. The University of Szeged, the Semmelweis University and the Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences founded a new research institute for molecular medicine in the form of a non-profit company (HCEMM Non-profit Ltd.). The Director General of the company was selected via an international recruitment process. The recruitment of the key personnel for the Headquarters’ is ongoing. First research groups will start their operation in January 2019.
A Partnership Agreement between EMBL and HCEMM Non-profit Ltd. was signed to facilitate scientific exchange and support, including guidance on a new research culture, scientific and management approaches and on setting up the Advanced Core Facilities and internationalization of research groups.
A negotiation on the contract between the founding institutions to ensure the conditions for the operation of the centre of excellence and its research groups is ongoing.
Also, some fundamental documents supporting HCEMM Non-profit Ltd. to become operational were drafted: Guideline and policies related to scientific HR management and procedures, Communication and dissemination strategy.
Final results
The Consortium expects that, due to the project implementation, the scientific capabilities of Hungary will increase and therefore it will improve its chances to seek competitive funding in the international fora. It is also expected that Hungary will engage in a strategic growth path pointing to long-term opportunities for economic development. It will significantly improve its research and innovation culture and benefits will also accrue to the institutions from the more intensive research and innovation performers, in terms of access to new research avenues, creativity and sources for increased mobility (inwards and outwards) of qualified scientists.