National Scientific and Innovation Olympiad opens applications for Hungarian students

Applications have opened for the 36th National Scientific and Innovation Olympiad (OTIO), a competition designed for students aged 14 to 20. The event seeks creative ideas, inventions, and research projects in fields such as natural sciences, mathematics, and environmental protection. Participants may enter individually or in teams of up to two people by submitting a project plan of no more than two A4 pages.

The competition utilizes a regional selection system held in Budapest and six other major cities: Debrecen, Győr, Kaposvár, Miskolc, Szeged, and Veszprém. Deadlines for these regional rounds vary, with the earliest being November 1 in Győr and the latest being November 24 in Budapest. Those who miss the regional rounds can still apply directly until December 7.

Selected participants will enter a four-month development phase featuring mentorship and training in science communication, presentation techniques, intellectual property protection, and entrepreneurship. The competition concludes with a two-day final event including an exhibition, where judges evaluate originality, scientific value, and the clarity of results.