From this spring onwards, Corvinus University of Budapest will launch a program called „Institutional Developments for Smart Specialisation”. Within the EFOP 3.6.1 project grant the university can carry out basic and applied research that underpins the economic and social development of the Central Transdanubian region. What is the project about? How can it contribute to both regional and academic growth? We interviewed Miklós Rosta head of the project on the details.

The three-year project that was launched in February 2017 has a double objective. On the one hand, it is a unique initiative built on an exceptional cooperation and knowledge-base that fosters the development of the economic and social environment of the Campus in Székesfehérvár . On the other hand, it helps to recruit an upcoming generation of researchers. The 326 million HUF (1 million EUR) grant will be used for ambitious, forward-looking plans.

The umbrella concept of the many-fold project is network: it will help to improve the competitiveness and the standard of living of the Central Transdanubian region through the research of market, public-service and social innovation networks. Researchers from all the three faculties of Corvinus are involved in this project, a fact that truly shows its network orientation. The questions and issues to be tackled during the project period are based upon the needs and necessities of local communities, of the local governments and businesses that will be identified through interviews, surveys and workshops.

Another positive aspect of the project is that it creates opportunities for young researchers and PhD students to choose scientifically challenging topics that are at the same time socially relevant. Owing to the project, they can also get access to empirical data and research grants, something that might motivate them to continue their career as researchers.

Corvinus University of Budapest will play a role of knowledge-creator and mediator within this project in order to support the Székesfehérvár region’s development by bringing together the actors of business, public administration, civil society and science. For this to happen, a multifunctional lab will be established at the Székesfehérvár Campus which will function as a creative research space for cooperation. The smart systems facilitating smart specialisation, among them the “Talk Lab”, the “Social Lab” and the “Behavioral Economic Lab”, all serve the purposes of conducting cutting-edge research in the social sciences.

The three sub-projects are led by Andrea Gelei (networks generating market products and services), Márton Péti (networks establishing public services and policies) and Balázs Hámori (social innovation networks). The researchers have three years of inspiring work ahead of them. The various stages of the project and interesting findings will be regularly presented by the editors of Corvinus Kiosk.

Máté Baksa