# Biological Research Centre

> research institute in Szeged, Hungary

**Wikidata**: [Q4914963](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4914963)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_Research_Centre_(Hungarian_Academy_of_Sciences))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/biological-research-centre

## Summary
The Biological Research Centre is a dedicated research institute located in Szeged, Hungary, and operated under the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Founded in 1971, it functions as a pure research organization without teaching obligations, housing multiple specialized biological institutes.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Biological Research Centre (Hungarian Academy of Sciences)
- **Type:** Research institute (instance of: research institute)
- **Location:** Szeged, Hungary (coordinates: 46.245533°N, 20.165215°E)
- **Parent Organization:** Hungarian Academy of Sciences
- **Year of Inception:** 1971
- **Subsidiary Institutes:** 
  - Institute of Biophysics (GRID: grid.481813.7)
  - Institute of Biochemistry (GRID: grid.481814.0)
  - Institute of Genetics (GRID: grid.481815.1)
  - Institute of Plant Biology (GRID: grid.481816.2)
- **International Identifiers:**
  - ROR ID: 016gb1631
  - GRID ID: grid.418331.c
  - VIAF ID: 159510880
  - ISNI: 0000000406209788 and 0000000121959606
  - Ringgold ID: 89241
  - Freebase ID: /m/0g57zc0
  - Library of Congress Authority ID: n85128464
  - IDREF ID: 109405358
  - Yale LUX ID: group/0da6bbc9-fce0-492c-a8aa-e40d58c073f4
  - EU Participant Identification Code: 999471996
  - EU VAT Number: HU15300564
- **Digital Presence:**
  - Official website: http://www.szbk.hu/
  - Wikipedia titles: "Biological Research Centre (Hungarian Academy of Sciences)" (English), "Szegedi Biológiai Kutatóközpontja" (Hungarian)
  - Wikimedia Commons category: Biological Research Centre in Szeged
  - Wikipedia language editions: commons, en, hu (sitelink count: 3)
- **Classification:** Mapped to schema.org/ResearchOrganization; Geonames feature code S.ITTR

## FAQs
**When and why was the Biological Research Centre established?**
It was founded in 1971 under the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to create a dedicated institution for fundamental biological research, separate from teaching universities. This structure allows for long-term, curiosity-driven investigation without academic curriculum obligations.

**What institutes operate under the Biological Research Centre?**
The centre administratively houses four specialized institutes: the Institute of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry, Institute of Genetics, and Institute of Plant Biology. Each functions as a distinct research unit under the centre's umbrella.

**How is the Biological Research Centre recognized internationally?**
It is identified by multiple global registry systems including ROR, GRID, VIAF, and ISNI, and has dedicated Wikipedia entries in English and Hungarian. These identifiers facilitate international collaboration, data sharing, and scholarly attribution.

**What is the relationship between the Biological Research Centre and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences?**
The centre is a constituent research institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, meaning it operates under the academy's governance and strategic direction while maintaining its focus on biological research.

**Where is the Biological Research Centre physically located?**
It is situated in Szeged, Hungary, with precise geographic coordinates of 46.245533°N latitude and 20.165215°E longitude, as recorded in institutional databases.

## Why It Matters
The Biological Research Centre exemplifies the dedicated research institute model, which is critical for advancing fundamental science without the competing demands of teaching or commercial application. By concentrating resources and talent solely on investigation, it enables high-risk, long-term projects in biology that might not fit within university or corporate timelines. Its structure, housing multiple specialized institutes under one administrative roof, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration across biophysics, biochemistry, genetics, and plant biology. This model accelerates breakthroughs in understanding living systems, with outcomes that inform medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. As a key component of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, it strengthens national scientific capacity while its international identifiers and multilingual presence integrate it into global research networks, facilitating partnerships and knowledge exchange that address worldwide challenges from health to sustainability.

## Notable For
- **Pure Research Focus:** Operates exclusively for research, distinct from universities that combine teaching and research missions.
- **Interdisciplinary Structure:** Unifies four specialized biological institutes (Biophysics, Biochemistry, Genetics, Plant Biology) under one administrative centre.
- **National Academy Affiliation:** Functions as an integral part of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, linking it to a prestigious national scholarly network.
- **Global Identifier Integration:** Recognized by major research organization registries (ROR, GRID, VIAF, ISNI), enabling precise international attribution and collaboration.
- **Multilingual Documentation:** Has established Wikipedia presence in three languages (English, Hungarian, Commons), reflecting its international relevance.
- **Long-Term Stability:** Founded in 1971, demonstrating sustained institutional commitment to biological research over decades.
- **Distinct from Policy Think Tanks:** Focuses on fundamental scientific inquiry across all biological disciplines, not policy-oriented research.

## Body

### History and Founding
The Biological Research Centre was established in 1971 as a research institute under the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Its creation reflected a strategic decision to develop a dedicated institution for fundamental biological research, separate from the teaching obligations of universities. This model allowed for the concentration of resources and scientific talent on pure investigation, aligning with the global recognition of research institutes as engines of discovery.

### Organizational Structure and Parentage
The centre is a constituent institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, which provides its overarching governance and strategic framework. Administratively, it is structured as an umbrella organization for four specialized research institutes:
- Institute of Biophysics (GRID: grid.481813.7)
- Institute of Biochemistry (GRID: grid.481814.0)
- Institute of Genetics (GRID: grid.481815.1)
- Institute of Plant Biology (GRID: grid.481816.2)
This multi-institute design enables focused expertise within sub-disciplines while promoting interdisciplinary synergy across the biological sciences.

### Geographic and Institutional Location
The centre is physically located in Szeged, Hungary, with its precise geographic coordinates recorded as 46.245533°N latitude and 20.165215°E longitude. These coordinates are used in institutional databases like GRID for precise mapping. Its national context is defined by its operation within the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, positioning it within Hungary's public research infrastructure.

### Identifiers and Cataloging
The Biological Research Centre is cataloged across numerous international knowledge systems, ensuring unambiguous identification:
- **Research Organization Registries:** ROR ID (016gb1631), GRID ID (grid.418331.c)
- **Authoritative Identifiers:** VIAF ID (159510880), ISNI (0000000406209788 and 0000000121959606)
- **Library Classifications:** Library of Congress Authority ID (n85128464), IDREF ID (109405358), Ringgold ID (89241)
- **Schema.org Mapping:** Classified as a ResearchOrganization (schema.org/ResearchOrganization)
- **Geographic Coding:** Geonames feature code S.ITTR for research institutes
- **Other Systems:** Freebase ID (/m/0g57zc0), Yale LUX ID (group/0da6bbc9-fce0-492c-a8aa-e40d58c073f4), EU Participant Identification Code (999471996)
These identifiers support data integration, funding applications, and scholarly communication across platforms.

### Digital and International Presence
The centre maintains an official website at http://www.szbk.hu/ for public and academic engagement. Its digital footprint includes a Wikimedia Commons category ("Biological Research Centre in Szeged") and Wikipedia articles in three languages: English ("Biological Research Centre (Hungarian Academy of Sciences)"), Hungarian ("Szegedi Biológiai Kutatóközpontja"), and the Commons repository. This multilingual representation (sitelink count: 3) indicates its recognized role beyond national borders.

### Administrative and Fiscal Details
For administrative purposes, the centre holds an EU VAT number (HU15300564) and is registered with the Hungarian tax authority. Its historical record includes a discontinued Microsoft Academic ID (2800351701), reflecting its inclusion in now-defunct academic databases. The Ringgold ID (89241) carries a qualifier linking it to its Hungarian name, "Szegedi Biológiai Kutatóközpontja."

### Distinction from Related Organizational Forms
As a research institute, the centre is explicitly differentiated from other knowledge-producing entities. Unlike universities, it does not grant degrees or provide undergraduate education. Unlike think tanks, its research is fundamental and disciplinary, not policy-oriented. Unlike scientific societies, it is an operational research entity, not a membership organization. Its standalone status distinguishes it from research centers that might be subunits within larger universities or corporations. This pure research focus is central to its institutional identity and operational model.

### Role within the Hungarian Scientific Ecosystem
As part of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Biological Research Centre contributes to the nation's scientific excellence and capacity. Its institute-based structure allows for deep specialization in key biological areas while leveraging the academy's network for broader collaboration. The centre's long history since 1971 demonstrates its enduring importance in Hungary's research landscape, providing stable infrastructure for experimental biology.

### Global Integration and Data Interoperability
The centre's extensive set of international identifiers (ROR, GRID, VIAF, ISNI, etc.) ensures it is precisely referenced in global research databases, funding portals, and publication systems. This interoperability is essential for cross-border research partnerships, data citation, and assessment of scientific output. Its presence in Wikipedia's multilingual ecosystem further amplifies its visibility to international scholars, students, and the public.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. GRID Release 2015-12-14
4. GRID Release 2016-12-06
5. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
6. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)