Submissions open for Life Sciences Catalyst Programme – Target to PoC (Hungary)

Focus Areas: Promote the implementation of jointly implemented drug development projects that foster cooperation among the actors of Hungary’s research, development and innovation ecosystem; support organisations with proven scientific or technological achievements in the field of drug development; harness Hungary’s life sciences research and development potential by supporting internationally competitive translational projects focused on solving unmet medical needs and aiming for market exploitation; support the preclinical development of high value-added healthcare innovations emerging within the RDI ecosystem; provide targeted support for the research phase of drug development and the initiation of preclinical studies; reduce the risks associated with entering clinical trials and accelerate progress towards market validation of developments; support early-stage life sciences R&D projects with translational potential offering therapeutic solutions for previously unmet critical clinical needs; progress projects from initiation of exploratory research to Proof of Concept (PoC) stage.

This programme is designed to encourage both individual applicants and consortia to participate. Eligible applicants include legal entities with proven scientific or technological results in drug development, registered either in Hungary or in the European Economic Area with a branch office in Hungary. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises with at least one closed full business year are eligible, while start-ups established no later than 1 June 2025 are exempt from the financial statement requirement. Research and knowledge-dissemination organisations may participate as consortium members in effective collaboration with applicants or as R&D service providers.

Consortia may consist of a maximum of three members. For two-member consortia, the consortium leader must apply for at least 60% of the total funding, and for three-member consortia, at least 51% of the total funding. Eligible project objectives include basic research and applied (industrial) research, while project activities such as hardware or software purchases, project management, publicity, general costs, public procurement, intellectual property protection, dissemination, travel, publication, or preliminary studies are not independently eligible.

Applicants must commit to increasing the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) from at least sector-specific TRL 2 to TRL 4, increase research staff with at least one PhD-level researcher, employ at least two young researchers, and file a patent application by the end of the project. The maximum project duration is 36 months, and maintenance obligations last until the end of the second year following the physical completion of the project. The total budget available for this call is HUF 5 billion, with expected funding per project ranging from HUF 400–800 million, supporting an estimated 6 to 12 projects.

For more information, visit NRDI Office.