National Research Excellence Programme (NKKP)

NKKP ADVANCED_26 — Advanced Research Projects

Supports established Hungarian researchers through self-directed fundamental research funding in multiple domains.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

ADVANCED_26 is the mid-career and senior researcher track of Hungary's National Research Excellence Programme (NKKP), one of six sub-programmes administered by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH) under the successor structure to the legacy OTKA competitive research grant system. The full NKKP suite is backed by a combined HUF 40 billion budget for 2026–2030, drawn from Hungary's National Research, Development and Innovation Fund as part of an approximately HUF 120 billion 2026 call portfolio aligned with the John von Neumann Programme strategic framework. ADVANCED_26 is designed for established researchers who lead independent research lines and have a demonstrable track record of publications and prior competitive funding.

Awards under ADVANCED_26 reach up to HUF 120 million per project for a fixed 48-month duration, with projects starting 1 January 2027. Experimental research projects qualify for an optional 25% supplemental allocation for material costs on top of the base maximum. Eligible applicants must hold a position at a Hungarian university or recognized research organization; for-profit entities are excluded. The 2026 submission deadline was 24 February 2026 at 16:00 — this cycle is closed. The next cycle is expected in 2027, consistent with NKKP's annual cadence through 2030.

ADVANCED_26 sits in the middle of the NKKP award hierarchy: above the early-career STARTING_26 track (HUF 100 million) but below the flagship EXCELLENCE_26 (HUF 160 million) and HIGHLIGHT_26 (HUF 320 million) tracks. Researchers positioning for ADVANCED_26 in the next cycle should document independent research leadership — separate from a senior supervisor's program — and ensure their track record is clearly distinguishable from the starting-researcher profile. Applications are submitted via palyazat.gov.hu after registering through Hungary's unified login interface.