The Governing Board of the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network decided that Professor Balázs Gulyás's term as President will end by mutual agreement with effect from 21 October 2026, and that he will leave the Governing Board at the same time. Chief Executive Officer Roland Jakab will likewise step down from his leadership position by mutual agreement, with effect from 21 October. Acting on a proposal from the government, the Governing Board elected Dr András Stipsicz, until now Director General of the HUN-REN Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics, as a new member of the Governing Board and President of HUN-REN with effect from 22 October. He will hold these positions until the planned amendments to the legislation governing HUN-REN have been made and the leadership position has been filled through an open application process.

The Governing Board expresses its recognition and gratitude to Balázs Gulyás and Roland Jakab for their decisive leadership in the comprehensive renewal of the Hungarian research network. Through their efforts, HUN-REN has been placed on new legal, institutional and operational foundations, its international ties have been strengthened, and substantially increased long-term funding for its research institutions has opened up new opportunities for Hungarian researchers.

A major milestone in this renewal was the establishment of HUN-REN on 28 October 2025 as an independent organisation with special legal status. Within the research network, which operates independently of the government and is founded on the principle of freedom of science and research, the research institutions have retained their autonomy, legal continuity and independence in scientific and innovation matters, alongside their shared objectives and mission. At the same time, operating as a network enhances organisational efficiency, knowledge sharing and the societal impact of research findings. As a result of the work begun by Balázs Gulyás in May 2023 and by Roland Jakab in July 2023, and building on an international scientific evaluation, the constraints of the previous budgetary operating model have been removed, creating the conditions for a more flexible, performance-oriented and internationally competitive research network. Further strengthening scientific performance remains an important priority, while the achievements to date also deserve objective recognition and due appreciation.

An outstanding achievement of Balázs Gulyás's presidency has been the exemplary way in which the financial foundations of Hungarian research have been strengthened. Thanks to his successful negotiations with the government, HUN-REN's annual government funding more than doubled between 2024 and 2026, rising from HUF 40 billion to HUF 89 billion. The 25-year financing framework agreement signed in December 2025, together with the six-year public task financing agreement worth a total of HUF 523 billion, provides long-term stability for the research institutions. The increased recognition of researchers is reflected in the 61 per cent rise in the total pay bill of HUN-REN research institutions in a single year. Taken together, these developments represent a major step forward in strengthening research careers, scientific excellence and international competitiveness.

The strategic objectives set out by the President are exemplary and forward-looking, focusing on the continuous improvement of scientific and innovation performance, the expansion of international partnerships and research outcomes that deliver tangible benefits to society. He aimed to build a modern, dynamic research network whose knowledge and capacity for innovation make a genuine contribution to addressing the most pressing social, economic and global challenges of our time.

Chief Executive Officer Roland Jakab played a pivotal role in the organisational and operational renewal of the research network. Under his direction, the findings of the international review were assessed with the involvement of the research institutions, and new organisational and operational frameworks were established both for HUN-REN as a whole and for the individual research institutions, with the agreement of their directors-general. He also provided outstanding support for the work of the Governing Board and Supervisory Board of HUN-REN, which now operates on an independent legal footing. Under his leadership, artificial intelligence became a key driver of scientific renewal, with strategic plans translated into a tangible support system spanning the entire research network. His work made a significant contribution to modernising institutional operations and strengthening the research and innovation ecosystem.

As a result of their joint leadership, HUN-REN has become more firmly integrated into the international research community, its scientific collaborations have expanded, and the continued participation of its research institutions in European funding programmes has been secured. The research institutions have also placed greater emphasis on industry partnerships and on attracting competitive research funding.

The Governing Board is convinced that the joint leadership legacy of Balázs Gulyás and Roland Jakab will be of lasting value to Hungarian science. Their professional expertise, strategic vision, international outlook and commitment have established a course of development that can be built on for decades to come and will help to strengthen Hungary's entire research and innovation ecosystem.

These leadership changes will not affect the smooth running of HUN-REN.