Call for Entries for the János Ujvári Thesis Award
for graduating students in the spring semester of the 2025/26 academic year
The purpose of the János Ujvári Thesis Award competition is to assist students nearing the end of their higher education studies in examining the topic of their thesis from an intellectual property protection perspective with appropriate professional support, and to explore the intellectual property protection aspects and potential for protection of their chosen topic.
While writing their entries, students can learn the theoretical foundations of intellectual property protection and gain practical insight into the economic and legal significance of its tools. By participating in the competition, students gain knowledge that they can later apply in the job market as researchers, engineers, or in any other profession.
Eligibility
The competition is open to students enrolled in undergraduate and master’s degree programs who will complete their studies by the end of the spring semester of the 2025–26 academic year.
Contents of the competition
Graduating students may enter the competition with a thesis or term paper they have written, in which they explore the intellectual property protection aspects of a chosen topic in at least 10 pages, or with a thesis or term paper entirely dedicated to a selected issue of intellectual property protection. When evaluating the applications, both approaches will be judged equally; choosing either option will not result in a disadvantage when ranking the papers.
The thesis must demonstrate that the student has a basic understanding and interpretation of the intellectual property protection system, and is able to situate the examination of their own topic and solution within this framework. The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (HIPO) supports the writing of the thesis by providing intellectual property protection training and assigning an individual academic advisor (exceptions may be made in specific cases), whose role is to guide the student throughout the thesis preparation process and assist with the writing of the thesis.
The competition is based on a contest format; students may submit entries in four categories:
- patent/utility model protection,
- trademark and design protection,
- copyright,
- the economic role of intellectual property protection.
Only one category may be selected per entry, and the application will subsequently be evaluated in that category. However, if the subject of the thesis or dissertation is the result of creative work that spans multiple categories, the application must include an analytical examination of each relevant form of protection. In such cases, the evaluation also covers knowledge of the interrelationships between the forms of protection. The HIPO is entitled – in justified cases – to classify the thesis differently from the category designated by the student.
The Amount of the Prize and the Evaluation Process
Entries are evaluated by a committee composed of experts appointed by the HIPO. In each of the four announced categories, the top three winners will be awarded prizes as follows:
- first prize: 250,000 HUF,
- second prize: 200,000 HUF,
- third prize: 150,000 HUF.
The HIPO reserves the right to modify the categories and the number of prizes awarded based on the content and quality of the entries.
(The prize amount is taxable income; the tax credit for individuals under the age of 25 does not apply.)
Conditions for winning the competition prize
- Completion of a 20-hour distance learning course on intellectual property protection, unless the student has previously completed a minimum of 20 hours of intellectual property protection training certified by the university.
- An exploration of intellectual property protection aspects related to the topic of the thesis/dissertation, with a minimum length of 10 pages. While writing the thesis, the student must consult with the academic advisor assigned by the office at least three times. The student may obtain information about the specific evaluation criteria from their advisor.
Application Process
- Express your intention to apply by sending an email to the central application address ujvaridiplomadij@hipo.gov.hu with the following information by the registration deadline:
- applicant’s details: name, email address, name of educational institution (including the faculty),
- the title and a brief outline of the thesis/dissertation,
- an indication of the intellectual property protection category in which you wish to compete and the intellectual property protection topic your thesis addresses.
- Fulfillment of the application requirements detailed above.
- Preparation and submission of the competition paper integrated into the thesis by the specified deadline. The HIPO will evaluate the content of the thesis solely based on the extent to which the student has successfully explored potential intellectual property protection aspects.
Please submit your materials electronically in PDF format to the central application email address. For any questions regarding the application, please contact the central application email address for further information.
Applications will be evaluated by an independent committee of experts composed of HIPO staff members. All students will be notified of the evaluation results.
Deadlines
Deadline for registering your intention to apply: 5 May 2026
Deadline for submitting the thesis award application: 31 July 2026
Applications submitted by graduating students in the spring semester of the 2025–26 academic year will be evaluated together with applications submitted by graduating students in the fall semester of the same academic year. All students will be notified of the results of their applications by 30 September 2026.
Award Ceremony
The awards will be presented at a formal ceremony held at the HIPO headquarters. The award funds will be transferred to the winning applicants at the same time as the award ceremony. All participating students will receive an invitation to the award ceremony.
Budapest, March 2026
