Initiated by and with professional support of the Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH) Secretariat, a two-tiered ELKH innovation managers’ network was established at the end of 2022. The ELKH Secretariat organized a "Meet & Greet" event for the innovation managers of the 19 research sites to present the processes related to intellectual property protection and utilization and to encourage knowledge sharing and networking. The aim of this event was to enhance the research utilization awareness within ELKH.
During her opening speech at the forum, Dr. Viktória Eszter Zalányi, the Secretary-General of ELKH, emphasized that the ELKH Secretariat aims to examine research results from multiple perspectives beyond scientific excellence. This includes identifying potential opportunities for utilization and innovation in research institutes and projects, as well as promoting the societal and economic utilization of intellectual creations. The establishment of the two-tiered innovation managers’ network, which marks an important milestone in this process, serves this goal among others.
At the event, participants were presented an overview of the roles and responsibilities of innovation managers, the renewed processes of intellectual property management, and the central intellectual property management software currently in the final testing phase. In addition, the innovation managers of the research sites engaged in analyzing short practical case studies with colleagues from the ELKH Secretariat's Department of Innovation. Attendees were also briefed on the 2023 call for proposals for the Proof of Concept Program launched at the end of 2021, which aims to raise promising research results from the ELKH network to a higher level of technological maturity, thereby promoting utilization.