Since 2015, the HUN-REN TTK has been annually awarding researchers for their significant and outstanding scientific contributions, both nationally and internationally. The Péter Friedrich Prize is awarded every year to deserving RCNS researchers in the field of biological sciences, while the Géza Schay Prize is awarded to outstanding researchers in the realm of chemical sciences. Proposals for these awards are submitted by HUN-REN RCNS academics to the current Director-General.
In the field of chemistry, the prize is named after Géza Schay, the founding director of the Central Chemical Research Institute. The Péter Friedrich Prize, granted in the life sciences, is named in honor of the former director of the Institute of Enzymology of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
In 2023, the Géza Schay Award was presented to Zoltán Varga, the head of a research group at the HUN-REN RCNS Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry. The Péter Friedrich Award was conferred upon Katalin Monostory, a scientific advisor at the HUN-REN RCNS Institute of Enzymology.
The award ceremony held on December 11 attained a heightened significance as the relatives of the namesakes were in attendance, receiving a special welcome from Director-General László Buday.
During the ceremony, Zoltán Varga and Katalin Monostory delivered presentations.
