METROPOLITAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE (MRI) was established in Budapest in 1989 and has since become a recognized institution working in the areas of housing policy and urban development in Hungary and throughout Europe. MRI undertakes research and consultancy assignments, organises both national and international conferences and designs and provides training in these areas.
Metropolitan Research Institute operates with 15-20 employees and associated researchers holding postgraduate degrees in economics or sociology.
MRI, as a partner, participated in FP5, FP6 and FP7 research projects in the fields of urban regeneration, urban development and housing policy (E.g. UGIS, RESTATE, OSIS, DEMHOW, PLUREL).
As a leader of Work Package 2 (SME business models) MRI is responsible for coordinating a team in charge of developing innovative network business models for both construction and retrofitting of energy efficient CSO housing.
Based on international experience on the operation and retrofitting of multi-family housing, MRI plays an important role in defining the potential market segment for the retrofitting and construction of CSO housing and developing models for optimal retrofitting processes.
MRI – in cooperation with Energosys Co - coordinates the demonstration project in Hungary, providing direct feedback to the development of process and business models.
MRI is also a research partner in evaluating financial and legal regulations both on national and local level.
Éva Gerőházi has 15 years of experience in research and consultancy in the field of regional development, housing policy and urban renewal. In the 90s she was the leader of the programme of USAID in Hungary in the field of renovation of multi-family residential buildings. She has worked in several international projects in the European Commission 5th and 6th Framework research programmes. She has been conducting research on issues about social housing reconstruction and rehabilitation, suburbanisation and urban and regional development. She carried out special surveys on evaluating the social and living conditions of run down urban areas. She prepared feasibility studies of socially sensitive urban regeneration programmes in Hungarian cities. She also prepared policy recommendations for Habitat for Humanity Hungary in order to strengthen its role in financing the renovation of multi-family residential buildings in segregated urban areas. She has conducted research on broader aspects of urban development (E.g. the evaluation of the Hungarian regional operational programmes of 2007-2013, preparation of a study on the demographic future of the European cities).