Budapest plans to be science-based ‘Davos’

Date: 30/04/03

BUDAPEST, the capital of future EU member state Hungary, is bidding to appoint itself the science policy capital of the new enlarged Union, with the launch of a showpiece conference.

Organisers hope November's inaugural Budapest Science Forum will be as important to top thinkers, business leaders and politicians as the annual Davos World Economic Forum, which focuses on ways to boost the global economy.

Professor Norbert Kroó, secretary-general of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and chair of organising committee, said the forum will help bridge the huge gap between science and mainstream business and politics.

Non-scientific academics would also be encouraged to take part, he said.

"Everyone talks about the knowledge-based society - but when it comes to real action people are tempted to forget that the basis of everything is science," said Kroó.

He added that the forum, which will be held every three years, will be open to input from across the world, but would have a strong EU flavour.

Budapest, the capital of future European Union Member State Hungary, is bidding to appoint itself the science policy capital of the new enlarged Union, with the launch of a showpiece conference. The inaugural Budapest Science Forum will take place in November 2003.