Technikatörténeti szemle 15. (1985)

TANULMÁNYOK - Móra László: Fejezetek a magyarországi tudományos kutatás történetéből I.

LASZLO MORA: THE EARLY STAGES OF HUNGARIAN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY Hungarian industrial development was greatly boosted after the compromise between Austria and Hungary in 1867, owing to purposeful industrial policies. Scientific research and development within industry did not, however, find its regular placeas yet, apart from some exceptions. Certain state and municipal institutions were established for material testing and product rating, and some research activities were continued within their frame. These institutions were first connected to universities and colleges and functioned as so-called experimental stations. Among the first, the Mechanical Experimental Station, the Experimental Station for Mechanical Technology, the Station for Machine Testing the Institute of Geodesy and the Observatory at the József Technical University, the Laboratory for Siderurgy at the Mining Academy of Selmecbánya and the Station for Agricultural Machines at the Agricultural Academy in Magyaróvár should be mentioned. Technological consultation, product rating and development activities were also assigned to the Technological Museum founded in 1883, and these activities soon prevailed over declining museum activities. Experimental work was performed in specialized laboratories and workshops. However, the organization was unsuitable to attend to the growing tasks; therefore the Ministry of Commerce established, in 1911, the Industrial Experimental and Material Testing Institute. This institute started functioning, and various plans for its development and reorganization also came to the fore, but their implementation was prevented by World War I. Independently from this institute, the large state companies established their own research stations, such as the Central Laboratory of the Hungarian State ailways founded in 1887 and the Post and Telegraph Research Station founded in 1891, both functionning successfully up to the present.