Our vision for the future is to have a scientific and educational ecosystem that provides equal opportunities for all young researchers.
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We, the undersigned members of the Hungarian Young Academy wish to express our solidarity with all those young researchers employed by the Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN) who, despite their expectations and all preliminary information received, could not benefit from an increase of basic salaries as of 1 April 2025. Nevertheless, we hope that in accordance with the open letter of the HUN-REN leadership dated 31 March 2025, the pay rise will be implemented later on this year and with retroactive effect, albeit at a later date.
As the voice of Hungarian young researchers, the Hungarian Young Academy advocates for a scientific and educational ecosystem that provides equal opportunities for all young researchers. In line with our vision, we published a statement almost a year ago reflecting our opinion that respect and appreciation for professors and researchers is the foundation of quality higher education and research and development.
“However, our experience shows that the situation of the young researchers’ community and the next generation of scientists in Hungary is desperate. Low basic salaries and the precariousness of supplementary incomes on the one hand, discourage talented youth from embarking on a career in research, and on the other, many young researchers who are currently active in the field leave the academic and research career paths for reasons of livelihood. The missing volume of researchers cannot be quickly and easily replaced later on because of the 5-10 year time span required to become a researcher, which is likely to put Hungary at a disadvantage for several decades in the very near future”, were the concerns formulated by the Hungarian Young Academy last year. Unfortunately, over the past twelve months, the above described situation of young researchers within the HUN-REN not only failed to improve, but rather, it further deteriorated.
Just as in the past, the Hungarian Young Academy will remain at your disposal regarding any issues pertaining to young researchers. In that spirit, we feel compelled to express our concerns over the fact that the situation of young researchers working within the HUN-REN has reached a critical point. As pointed out by our academy before, although low basic salaries are equally typical in higher research positions, it is the very livelihood of young researchers that is jeopardized by the present circumstances. And now the uncertainties surrounding the transition set to take place in April are also deterring future young researchers from research careers and especially from HUN-REN, as not even the most important milestone has yet been reached in the life of the new organisation.
In light of the fact that the date when operation under the new organisational setup is to begin is still rather vague and may depend on several external factors, we urge you to take the above arguments into consideration, and secure the funds required to carry out the salary increase of the employees of the HUN-REN already in this preparatory phase of transformation. We are hopeful that this transition will come to completion in the very near future, and the damage caused by uncertainty and the lack of financial appreciation in HUN-REN institutions can now begin to be addressed with urgency.
Budapest, 9 April 2025
This HYA statement has been forwarded to Minister Balázs Hankó and Deputy State Secretary László Bódis (Ministry of Culture and Innovation), as well as to President Gulyás Balázs and Chief Executive Officer Roland Jakab (Headquarters of the Hungarian Research Network).
Signatories: