Interview with H.E. Hankó Balázs, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Culture and Innovation of Hungary

28 Apr Interview with H.E. Hankó Balázs, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Culture and Innovation of Hungary

Could you briefly introduce yourself and your work so far?

I love football and support the Hungarian national team and Ferencváros. Following international leagues isn’t easy with four children—one girl and three boys—especially since even my wife and daughter are passionate fans. We have two kids in university and two in secondary school. By profession, I am a pharmacist, having earned my degree from Semmelweis University, the top medical university in Hungary and one of Central Europe’s best, ranking in the top 1% globally. I started my career there, later becoming Chief Pharmacist. Semmelweis is also Hungary’s largest hospital, with over 2,000 beds. I am a researcher and professor in pharmaceutical care and pharmacology and previously served as Strategic Vice Rector at Semmelweis. The government later recruited me as a ministerial commissioner, then deputy state secretary, then state secretary and now Minister of Culture and Innovation. I come from a family of pharmacists—both my parents and my wife share this profession. I work from 6 AM to 8 PM, often attending cultural events in the evening. When possible, I bring my wife and children, making these moments both official and family time. I owe a big thanks to them—they put up with me, even though I’m not always easy.

Can you share the history, legacy and key objectives of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation?

The Ministry of Culture and Innovation is built on key pillars: professions, youth policy, research and innovation, family policy and culture. We oversee higher education, vocational training, and lifelong learning—shaping identities and careers. With over 500,000 young people in these programs, youth policy is crucial. Their success defines Hungary’s future. Our second pillar, research and innovation, drives progress and keeps Hungary competitive. The third, family policy, reflects our pro-family values. Hungary is committed to protecting children and strengthening families, as seen in our policies and even at our airports, where “family-friendly” is a core message. Culture is the foundation of our national identity. Our Christian roots, heritage and traditions define us. Hungarians live beyond our borders, yet our culture unites us. This is why we call ourselves the Ministry of Everyday Patriotism. Our stance often clashes with Brussels, as we believe strong nations create a strong Europe. Defending national identity, families and Christian values is at the heart of our policies. During our EU Council leadership, we pushed for a competitiveness deal to strengthen Europe. Through this ministry, we continue to work toward a resilient and thriving Hungary.

Hungary has seen significant success in the area of family affairs in recent years, with strong support systems for education and young parents. Can you share more about the government’s policies and stance on these issues?

Hungary is the most family-friendly country in Europe. A European comparison showed that 98% of Hungarians are highly supportive of families, well above the EU average of around 88%. Family is our passion and way of life. Our family policy is built on three key points, starting with protecting the traditional family model. This is why we clash with Brussels—we stand for traditional values, while they take a different path. We were proud to have the Trump administration as an ally in this, as they supported the pro-family Geneva Consensus, which the Biden administration later withdrew from. Second, we support families in all situations—whether they have one child, two or more. That is why our family policy includes over 30 measures to provide comprehensive support. Third, having children should not be a financial burden. Since coming to power in 2010, our policies have led to over 200,000 additional births. While fertility rates have declined across Europe—and we have seen some impact in the past two years due to the war in our region—Hungary’s family policies have made a significant difference in boosting birth rates. Our family support policies combine work, parenthood and tax reductions. Prime Minister Orbán called this the “year of breakthrough,” and we have recently introduced new family measures. Thanks to the family friendly tax system, there is no personal income tax for young people under 25, mothers under 30 with children and mothers with four or more children. This October, we are extending this to mothers of three children and mothers with two children will also benefit from lifelong income tax exemption, which will be introduced in four steps: first, from January 2026, it will be available to women under 40, then a year later, from January 2027, to those between 40 and 50, from 2028 to those between 50 and 60, and finally from 2029 to those over 60. This means that from next year, half a million Hungarian mothers will pay no income tax. More than just a policy, this reflects the core philosophy of Hungary’s family-first approach. Our 30 family measures cover work-life balance, housing loans, real estate transfer tax and rural home loans for families moving to the countryside. We also introduced a new workers’ loan, similar to U.S. policies. Young people aged 17-25 starting their careers in Hungary can receive 4 million Forints (around $8,000) at zero interest. The only requirement is to work in Hungary. This ties into our family policy—repayment is delayed by two years for one child, reduced by 50% for two and fully waived for three. Our focus is clear: work, family and children. Birth rates are declining across Europe, with 25% of mothers being foreign-born, signaling both falling fertility and mass immigration. In contrast, Hungary has zero migration and a birth rate above the European average because we prioritize families over migration. Brussels takes the opposite approach—supporting migration while neglecting families. To counter this, we recently organized a conference titled For a Stronger Europe with Normality, advocating for pro-family policies instead of migration-driven solutions. This will be an ongoing initiative to promote a family-first vision for Europe. Brussels and its bureaucrats oppose Hungary’s Child Protection Law, mainly due to two measures: banning LGBTQ content for minors in media and other platforms, as we believe it is the role of parents to guide their children and launching a crackdown on pedophilia. Because of this, Brussels has withheld EU funds and taken legal action against Hungary, with 18 EU member states and the European Parliament opposing our law. This highlights the importance of strong U.S. cooperation, as the future depends on upholding pro-family values. Hungary supports work-family balance by offering mothers six months of tax-free salary after childbirth, with no income tax and delayed other taxes. Starting July 1st, income taxes will also be waived during this period. After six months, mothers receive a 70% allowance for an additional 18 months, with the option to return to work part-time or full-time while keeping their salary and allowance. Hungary’s family policy gives families the freedom to choose—whether to stay home or balance work and family. Over the past years, part-time work among mothers has increased by over 10%, and access to preschool has also expanded, making it easier for parents to combine work and childcare.

Hungary will celebrate 2025 and 2026 as the “Year of Hungarian Science,” building on its strong legacy of Nobel Prize-winning scientists and world-class research institutions. Can you tell us more about this initiative, how you promote it and your approach?

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, so we have declared it the Year of Science and Innovation. Globally, Hungary ranks 96th in demographics, 49th in GDP, and 33rd in innovation output. However, we are 13th in Olympic medals and 11th in Nobel laureates per million. Recently, Hungary celebrated two Nobel winners: Katalin Karikó for COVID-19 vaccine research and Ferenc Krausz for laser physics. Krausz’s work holds potential for early diagnosis systems in healthcare, showcasing Hungary’s contributions to global innovation. Hungary ranks 7th globally for high-tech companies, reflecting our commitment to innovation. Two years ago, we launched the John von Neumann Program, aiming to position Hungary in the top 10 innovative countries in Europe by 2030 and globally by 2040. To achieve this, we restructured our higher education system, moving to a foundation-owned model instead of state control. This change has sparked conflict with Brussels, which seeks centralized control and European diplomas. We believe universities and research should serve Hungary’s needs, which is why we involve industry leaders, like the CEO of Hungary’s largest pharma company, in university boards to ensure innovation is practical and impact driven. We have restructured Hungary’s higher education and innovation systems. Over the past 10 years, we have doubled the number of researchers per million people, now at around 6,500, with a focus on research in companies rather than universities. To foster more patents and income from them, we have introduced cooperative PhD programs, combining university and company work. We have also tripled funding for research and innovation, with two-thirds coming from the private sector. Our national research fund supports collaborations between universities and companies, and we have reduced taxes on research and innovation to encourage growth. We encourage collaboration between universities and companies like 4iG. For example, Budapest University of Technology and Economics partners with 4iG on satellite innovations. Additionally, we have launched space-related programs with 12 universities, covering fields like space engineering, medicine and agriculture, positioning Hungary at the forefront of this emerging sector. In early February, we met with Western Balkan ministers of research, innovation, education and culture to strengthen the “normality league” by including more countries. We signed a joint declaration to establish an impact-driven innovation fund and promote double and joint degree programs. We believe in university autonomy and want to create programs tailored to our needs, not dictated by Brussels. We also discussed cultural heritage and the importance of historical films, similar to the U.S. approach. Next week, we are launching a series on Hungarian hero John Hunyadi, a co-production with the Western Balkans and Italy. Our cooperation extends to folk culture and museums, fostering connections with countries that share our values.

You are planning a trip to the U.S. soon. Can you briefly share the purpose and goals of your visit?

The new U.S. government under Donald Trump aligns with our values, which is why we seek greater collaboration in higher education, research, innovation, family policy, child protection and culture. As patriots, we aim to strengthen our cooperation with the U.S. Our upcoming trip on April 4th will further this partnership.

What is your final message to our readers about why investing in Hungary’s innovation landscape is an opportunity not to be missed?

Visit Hungary to experience its rich culture, traditions and way of life. You will see firsthand that we are a safe, pro-family, creative and flexible country, with excellent support for those seeking work and productivity. Taxes are lowering and everything is adaptable. We are here to help.