The execution of the bilateral intergovernmental agreements on co-operation in S&T is regulated by the Decree of the Government no 3061/91. According to this decree, the agreements are prepared and concluded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whereas their implementation is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, namely the Section of Bilateral S&T Co-operation of the Department for International R&D Affairs of the Research and Development Division.

The Section functions therefore on the basis of the above governmental decree on one hand, on the other hand on the basis of the bilateral agreements on co-operation in S&T. As of December, 2002, the Government of the Republic of Hungary has concluded such agreements with 33 countries.

The Ministry of Education together with the foreign governmental body in charge of the co-operation sets up the Joint Committee on Co-operation in Science & Technology. These committees meet annually, or every two years, or every three years and beside an exchange of views on S&T policies, they approve the programme of co-operation for the next period of time. As a rule, the programmes of co-operation set out the general framework of co-operation, specifically the kind of support provided for joint research & development projects and organisation of scientific and technological symposia, conferences and workshops.

Governmental support is provided in the form of financial grants by both of the co-operating governments. Scientists may get grants by competing in a bidding system. Institutes and companies, governmental or private, dealing with basic sciences and/or applied research may apply for grants to support the exchange of scientists, as needed to achieve predetermined objectives.

Procedures, as well as forms to be filled in and timing regarding the call for proposals, are agreed upon by the governmental bodies, which manage the co-operation. The agreed project proposal must be submitted simultaneously to both of the governmental bodies. The governmental bodies review, assess and rank the project proposals according to their internal procedures, but basically using the following criteria:

• the scientific merits of the proposals, as measured by a peer review,
• the national priorities with regard to scientific & technological co-operation.

The decision regarding the projects to be jointly funded is taken by the Joint Committee.

In Hungary, the approved projects are funded by the Central Technology Development Fund (known in Hungary as KMÜFA). The total amount of grants available in 2002 was 320 million HUF (1.6 million USD).

The programmes of co-operation are managed by the Section of Bilateral S&T Co-operation of the Department for International R&D Affairs of the Research and Development Division of the Ministry of Education. This section is in charge of:

• publication of the call for proposals;
• the administration of the peer reviewing process;
• organisation of the meetings of the Hungarian Committee on International Co-operation in S&T (made of representatives of the ministries concerned, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and various non-governmental bodies dealing with S&T);
• links with the foreign governmental bodies in charge of the co-operation;
• organisation of the Joint Committees’ meeting.

The Science and Technology Foundation (a non-governmental body set up by the National Committee for Technological Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) is in charge of the following administrative aspects of the co-operation:

• conclusion of the funding contracts with the grantees;
• remitting the grants to the scientists;
• financial supervision of the projects;
• collection of the annual as well as of the final reports pertaining the co-operative projects.