The Current Status and Future Objectives of Research and Development in the Areas of Environmental Conservation and Water Affairs [antikvár]

In a modern knowledge-based economy, to preserve competitiveness while at the same time caring for the environment requires innovation, education, and advanced technology. The importance of research and development to the national economy is indicated by the fact that somé 50% of the annual increase in Hungary's GDP can be attributed to achievements in these areas. The figures with regard to the country's environmental performance are similar. Moreover, societal returns on environmental research and development greatly exceed those achievable at the corporate level, or any other type of demonstrable profit. The legal framework under which environmental and natural protection research and technical development activities must operate is set forth under Act LIII of 1995 on the General Rules of Environmental Protection: "Article 53, par. (1): The solution of environmental protection problems is to be promoted through scientific and technological development, the organisation of scientific research and technological developmentprojects, the promulgation ofdomestic and international research achievements, and the application of the same in practice. Article 53, par. (2): Research aimed at understanding the state of the environment, or at producing developments targeting protection of the environment, is to be treated and subsidised as a highpriority. It is the role of the Minister of the Environment to co-ordinate, support, and assess such research, and to ensure fulfilment of state environmental protection research objectives, in cooperation with the minister responsible for scientific research." Under the by-laws of the Ministry of the Environment and Water, the creation of guidelines for research and technological development in special areas under the direction of the ministry is presented as a matter of high priority, as are the establishment of directions for development, and the co-ordination of various national state research and technological development projects in compliance with the generál system employed for their overall management. Primary objectives of this publication: To contribute to laying the technical groundwork for the national co-ordination of environmental and natural protection and water-related research and development projects. To enforce express points ofconsideration related to environmental and natural protection and water affairs in national research and development grantprocedures.