Government files criminal complaint over AI Research Centre's state grant

The Hungarian government announced on Thursday that it has filed a criminal complaint with the Nemzeti Nyomozó Iroda concerning the state grant awarded to the Mesterséges Intelligencia Kutató Központ Nonprofit Kft. (MIKK). The filing follows a review of documents gathered by Ruff Bálint, which raise suspicions of budget fraud, misappropriation and abuse of office related to the grant’s use and the associated procurement process.

MIKK, established in December 2024, obtained the grant in February 2025 via Bethlen Gábor Alapkezelő Zrt. after a proposal by Szalay-Bobrovniczky Vince, the deputy state secretary for social affairs. Authorities note that the organisation had no verified research staff or track record at the time. A subsequent allocation by the former government was returned in April after several researchers left, citing inability to carry out the project.

The ministry claims the 2025 funding may have been accounted for with non-research activities, including outsourcing tasks and paying salaries from the grant. Earlier reporting linked the centre to a disputed aerial photo and to a prior grant from Gulyás Gergely. The complaint seeks investigation into these alleged irregularities.