munich

Biological research at institutes of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences is generally of a “high standard”, and one-third of the research groups are of international standard, according to an international evaluation committee.

But the committee, which was chaired by Kai Simons, head of cell biology at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, warns the Hungarian government that standards will collapse if investment in research continues at a low level.

The evaluation was requested by the academy last year and organized by the European Molecular Biology Organization. The committee of 12 scientists from around Europe judged 16 out of the 46 groups it assessed — predominantly in plant biology and developmental genetics — to be “world class”.

The committee said this was a remarkable achievement given the low level of funding. But it warned that “it will not be possible to maintain this level of excellence in the future if funding is not increased”.

“There are already some visible signs of deterioration which do not bode well for the future,” it said. The panel found that the best scientists are still going abroad, leaving behind a lack of potential young group leaders, while the standard of equipment is generally low.

The two most urgent problems, it said, are the very low wages and the small size of the average research grant. With salaries ranging from US$240 to $660 per month, most researchers have to take second jobs.

The committee recommends that the government establishes a programme of generous grants to allow young researchers to work to international standards.