Hungarian Academy Staff Forum (HASF)

The ADF (HASF in English) is a civil initiative of the researchers from the former research institute network at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS).

We started our movement (not without pioneers) in early 2018 when it became obvious to us that the Hungarian government was introducing a new system of research financing, in a way which in itself contradicted the appropriate manners of policy making, and which, we were convinced, would have after implementation disastrous effects on the autonomy of scientific research and scholarship in the entire country as well as our work and life altogether. Given that our voice had not been heard either in public or during the negotiations between the HAS and the government, our initiative was meant to express our opinions about the situation and the whole process.

In the meantime, the situation has changed radically. The Hungarian Academy of Sciences lost its entire research network as the Hungarian government passed a law that deprived the independent Academy of its research network and placed it under governmental control.

Summary of the situation:

Summary of the Situation of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

For a detailed history of the process:

WAR ON THE ACADEMY: The Hungarian Government’s Crackdown on Research Freedom
by Stefano Bottoni, Hungarian Academy of Sciences

For the latest developments:

International press conference at the Academy (June 12 2019) The Hungarian Scientific community has made it clear that they refuse the Government’s draft bill regarding the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. László Lovász, President of MTA, indicated in his speech that the planned institutional and financing framework goes against European principles of research funding and threatens academic freedom. The president added that passing the draft bill would not increase the innovative capacity of Hungary, while an unbalanced role for government priorities and control in science may soon become an alarming example that may be copied by other governments in the EU. All press materials, including photos and video footage of the event are available here.
Parliament votes to give Hungarian government control over Academy of Sciences, Science Business, 04 Jul 2019, by Florin Zubașcu, New law will hand oversight of research institutes to a new agency headed by minister of innovation and technology. Researchers say that limits academic freedom; the government says it will modernise the system
ALLEA’s reaction to the Parliament’s bill concerning the Hungarian Academy of Sciences7. July 2019
Hungarian government takes control of research institutes despite outcry, Nature, 08 July 2019, by Alison Abbott, The international scientific community continues to protest against the takeover, saying it will harm science.