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Our latest paper examines the growing politicization of research funding in Europe by comparing the European Union’s flagship program, Horizon Europe, with Hungary’s recently launched HU-rizon Research Program.

While Horizon Europe is promoted as a defender of academic freedom and scientific excellence, our analysis shows that it increasingly embeds political priorities, particularly in areas related to governance, identity, and socio-cultural agendas. These ideological requirements carry practical consequences: since 2023, several Hungarian universities have been excluded from Horizon consortia on the basis of unresolved procedural concerns, placing entire research communities at a structural disadvantage.

HU-rizon, introduced by the Hungarian government in 2024, emerged in this environment of restricted access. Instead of mirroring Horizon Europe’s political conditions, HU-rizon adopts a neutral, problem-driven funding model focused on applied science, biomedical innovation, and technological development. Its aim is not to replace European collaboration but to ensure continuity for Hungarian researchers and strengthen international partnerships at a time when access to EU programs has become increasingly uncertain. Early evidence indicates that HU-rizon has already enabled high-level cooperation despite operating with a far smaller budget.

The paper argues that the contrast between the two programs reflects a wider debate about the direction of European research: whether funding frameworks should prioritise political objectives or uphold scientific autonomy. This tension is becoming more pronounced as the next EU budget cycle (2028–2034) is expected to intensify pressure on civilian scientific funding, particularly for smaller or less established institutions. It also raises important questions of national sovereignty. Under the EU Treaties, particularly Article 4(3) and Articles 179–190 TFEU, the Union may support, coordinate, and complement national research policy but cannot replace or harmonise it. Research therefore remains an area in which Member States retain primary responsibility for organising their own systems, setting priorities, and designing funding instruments.

In this context, HU-rizon represents more than an interim solution: it illustrates how national initiatives can legitimately reinforce research capacity when access to EU funding becomes constrained, while fully respecting the Treaties’ division of competences. As Europe confronts a period of budgetary tightening and political uncertainty, the Hungarian model highlights the importance of safeguarding scientific autonomy and preserving the pluralism of national research frameworks within the European Research Area.