By Dr. Emese Prihoda
The Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) has launched the fifth edition of its Proof of Concept innovation funding programme. In 2026, the programme reached an important new milestone by introducing a dedicated industry-driven funding scheme that brings university research teams and business partners closer together.
The new Industry Challenge PoC scheme enables researchers to develop solutions to commercially relevant problems and technological needs identified directly by companies. This development reflects MATE’s broader ambition within the Accelerate Future HEI project: to strengthen its entrepreneurial and innovation capacity, expand its collaboration with external stakeholders and improve the pathways through which research results can create economic, environmental and societal value.
Five Years of Supporting University Innovation
MATE has placed particular emphasis on supporting scientific research and encouraging innovation since the University was established. The Proof of Concept programme was created to help bridge the gap between early-stage research results and their practical or commercial application.
During its first two years, the programme was implemented with funding from the project entitled Development of the Innovation Ecosystem at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, supported by Hungary’s National Research, Development and Innovation Office. Since 2024, MATE has financed the programme from its central institutional budget, demonstrating its long-term commitment to innovation funding.
The continued operation and expansion of the Proof of Concept programme contributes to the objectives of the Accelerate Future HEI project by strengthening the university’s innovation ecosystem and creating new opportunities for knowledge transfer and market-oriented research. Furthermore, the number of supported Proof of Concept projects serves as one of the project’s monitoring indicators, reflecting the university’s progress in fostering innovation and entrepreneurial activities.
Over the course of the programme, the number of applications has increased considerably. While 14 proposals were submitted in 2021, the annual number of applications reached 29 in 2024, 33 in 2025 and 28 in 2026.
The growing interest in the programme shows that researchers and students increasingly recognise the importance of validating their ideas, exploring potential applications and considering the future users of their results at an early stage.
Opening Innovation Opportunities to Students
The programme has also evolved in terms of who can participate. Initially, it was available exclusively to researchers and research groups. Since 2024, MATE students have also been able to apply through a dedicated student scheme.
Supporting student-led innovation is aligned with the Accelerate Future HEI initiative, which aims to develop entrepreneurial competences among students and researchers while encouraging the creation of innovation-driven academic communities.
As a result, the programme now supports innovation across the full academic career path. BSc and MSc students can develop their ideas through the Student PoC scheme, while researchers and academic staff can further mature research outcomes with dedicated Proof of Concept funding.
