We are strongly concerned about the plans of the Hungarian government according to which the supervision and budgetary control over the research institutes of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) is going to be taken over by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology from the MTA.
The MTA TK “Lendület” Research Center for Educational and Network Studies (RECENS) unanimously supports the decree of the Presidency of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences accepted on 15 June, 2018 by 100% of the members of the Presidency, in which it unconditionally insists upon the maintenance of the freedom of scientific research, on keeping the operational independence of the institutions of the MTA, and stands for the integrity of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
http://mta.hu/english/the-academy-stands-by-its-independence-and-the-freedom-of-research-108816
The members of RECENS unanimously condemn every attempt that restricts academic freedom and the autonomy of scientific research. An open intervention into the fundamental operation of the institutes of MTA and the perspective of “governmental demand” violate the international and until now also Hungarian practice of scientific research, and fundamental scientific research in particular. Scientific practice should be based on scientific excellence, autonomy, and independence.
Therefore, RECENS by rejecting compromises expresses its unconditional support for academic freedom, for the independence of scientific research, and for the integrity of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.