Basic principle

Regional and local development based on a solid scientific background is the key to a competitive and highly developed Europe.

Strategic objectives

• The Institute for Regional Studies contributes to development in the theories and methodology of regional science;
• As a member of the international network of regional scientific research, the Institute supports regional policy decisions; through research on territorial processes, it contributes to the theoretical background and the implementation of national and European regional policy decisions;
• The Institute’s scientific results are highly valuable in the formulation of the European Union’s regional strategy, the enforcement of structural policy principles, the adaptation of European development practices in CES countries;
• It organises research on Central-Eastern European spatial processes and the area’s specific territorial phenomena;
• It functions as the centre of regional development research in the Carpathian Basin;
• It enforces the EU-compatibility and competitiveness of Hungarian regional policy. It presents Hungarian practices and results throughout Europe, popularises the idea of regionalism, the results of the European Structural and Cohesion policies and the spirit of European integration among domestic professional circles;
• Through research conducted in domestic regions, the Institute contributes to strengthening the foundations of regional development;
• It supports academic university programmes in regional science and participates institutionally in doctoral programmes;
• Serving as the forum for the dissemination of regional development innovations, it maintains the following scientific periodicals: Space and Society scientific journal, Discussion Papers series in English language, the Great Plain Studies yearbook, Studia Regionum (Regional and urban research), “Regions of the Carpathian Basin” and “Europe of the Regions” series. 

Public tasks

• Development tendencies of the European spatial structure
• The spatial structure and settlement system of Hungary
• Territorial institutional system regulations and strategies
• Regional transition in the Carpathian Basin, (cross)border research
   

 Research directions

• International environment of regional development, EU cohesion policy and funding
• Regional development in Central-Eastern Europe
• Territorial processes and regional policy in Hungary
• Factors influencing the territorial structure of the economy
• Typology of spaces and network of settlements
• The impact of the system of public administration and institutions on competitiveness and territorial cohesion
• Human resources and social environment, human capital
• Territorial aspects of environmental protection
• Methodology of regional research