What is the call about?
Such R&D calls are rare — this one specifically targets large enterprises. The GINOP (Hungarian acronym for Economic Development and Innovation Operational Programme) Plus 2.1.6-25 program is designed for large companies. It supports industrial research, experimental development, and all related supporting activities — with an impressive amount of funding. A minimum of HUF 1.5 billion and a maximum of HUF 3 billion in non-refundable grant can be requested per project. This level of support is almost unprecedented in Hungary — although there are a few examples, they usually require additional (university consortium) conditions. While “unprecedented” sounds positive, it still invites some skepticism.
The total budget amount is HUF 10 billion, of which HUF 7 billion is reserved for projects implemented in less developed (rural) regions and HUF 3 billion for projects in Budapest. It is expected that only 5–6 projects nationwide will be funded. Those satisfied with smaller support may have better options (link here).
What the winners can expect:
- 30% advance payment from the grant, up to HUF 900 million at the start
- 36 months available to implement the project - no need to rush
- applications are only allowed in a consortium - at least one SME partner is required, but further that, an affiliated company from the corporate group may also be involved — this is easily manageable
- A few strong mandatory commitments (patent, revenue — must undertake 30–50% of the grant value)
What can the grant be spent on?
The focus is on research and experimental development — the following main activities are eligible for support:
- Industrial research - when new knowledge is required for development (wages, services, and materials are eligible)
- Experimental development - when the development is close to completion (wages, services, and materials are eligible)
- Further supporting activities — e.g. software and equipment procurement, research services, project management, intellectual property protection, market entry preparation, etc.
Who Can Apply?
Any large enterprise with at least two closed financial years and a minimum of 100 employees. Applications can only be submitted in consortiums: at least one SME is mandatory, and a research institute or university may also be included (optional). The consortium can have up to 4 members, and only a large company can act as the lead partner. Affiliated companies may also be included, but the involvement of an independent SME cannot be avoided.
Additional requirements for application
Applicants must obtain R&D certification from the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH) — this is a prerequisite, and the evaluation takes about 30–45 days. In practical terms, if one wants to submit the application by January 6, the certification request should be submitted to NKFIH around 20, November. The January deadline makes sense — evaluations can be completed before the elections (only a few applications), and advance payments can be issued. The key takeaway: hurry up — there’s only one month left for those starting from scratch.
Projects must align with one of the following themes: health industry and healthy lifestyle promotion, green transition and circular economy (especially energy), or the digital transition of the economy and society — plus “other” topics. These keywords may sound familiar from previous years’ calls. Note that “digital transition” does not refer solely to IT projects — a tangible equipment or hardware development component is required.
What is the application’s deadline?
From 9:00 AM on November 21, 2025 to 10:00 AM on January 6, 2026.
Opinion:
Many similar calls have been announced recently, and due to the mandatory commitments, there are already available options for large enterprises (link here) where no consortium or strict obligations are required. The HUF 1.5 billion entry threshold is quite high — assuming 50% funding rate, a minimum project size of HUF 3 billion is required, meaning roughly HUF 1 billion per year or HUF 83 million per month. The biggest challenge is obtaining R&D certification — having it already provides a significant advantage. The topics and expectations are very similar to current calls, both in terms of requirements and eligibility. Given the R&D certification condition, few applicants are expected, and there is still a month left — it’s absolutely doable. Due to the likely lack of over-subscription, the chances of winning are high.
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