Successful Horizon Europe Brokerage Event in Brussels Co-organised by MATE’s IMPAKT Programme

A Horizon Europe brokerage event held in Brussels on 12 October attracted considerable international interest, bringing together nearly 100 participants. The event was jointly organised by the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), Lithuanian, Polish and Slovak research, development and innovation offices, the University of Pannonia and the University of Zagreb. MATE contributed as a co-organiser through its IMPAKT Programme, which also supported the participation of its researchers as part of the MATE 2030 Strategy.

The event, entitled “Horizon Europe Cluster 6 Brokerage Event: Partnering for Nature, Agriculture and Resilience”, aimed to foster international networking, facilitate discussions on project ideas and support preparations for Horizon Europe calls in 2027. With the involvement of international co-organisers, the event provided a valuable opportunity for researchers and potential partners to connect and explore future collaborations. The focus was on developing partnerships in agriculture, food systems, environmental sciences and the bioeconomy. The exchange of expertise and networking activities continued on 13 October at a conference dedicated to the future of sustainable agriculture.

The programme featured presentations by a policy officer from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) and a Horizon Europe proposal evaluator, offering participants first-hand insights into Cluster 6 policy priorities and proposal evaluation criteria. The presentations provided practical guidance on project development and the preparation of competitive funding applications.

Through short project pitches and thematic consortium-building workshops, participants had the opportunity to discuss research ideas and potential roles in future partnerships, focusing on specific funding calls. Topics included biodiversity conservation, the circular bioeconomy, sustainable agriculture, digital innovation and the resilience of rural communities.

As Hungary’s largest agricultural university, MATE had the opportunity to showcase its research capacities, project ideas and expertise to an international audience. Face-to-face discussions helped highlight the University's diverse knowledge base, identify complementary research strengths and lay the groundwork for joint project proposals.

The conference held on 13 October, entitled “From Soil to Systems: Living Labs and Artificial Intelligence for a Sustainable Future of Agriculture”, focused on soil and plant health, Living Lab collaborations and the application of artificial intelligence in agriculture. It provided further opportunities for professional exchange and international networking.

The Brussels event was closely aligned with the objectives of MATE’s IMPAKT Programme, particularly its commitment to strengthening cooperation between institutes, promoting interdisciplinary project development and expanding the University's participation in international funding programmes. With support from the programme, MATE researchers were able to engage directly in international consortium-building activities.

The event was particularly timely in light of the decision taken by EU Member States at the General Affairs Council on 13 October 2026 to lift the conditionality measures imposed on Hungary. As a result, the restrictions on EU funding agreements affecting Hungarian universities maintained by public interest trusts have been lifted.

This development also opens up new opportunities for MATE, enabling the University to participate once again in EU-funded programmes as a direct beneficiary or consortium coordinator, subject to the conditions of individual calls. The partnerships established in Brussels could therefore pave the way for MATE to take on a more prominent role in international research collaborations.