The need for establishing a scholarly society was first mentioned by Act VIII of 1808 and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences was finally formed in 1827 with the passing of an Act of parliament. New laws were passed in 1994 to create its present structure.
The RSE signed a bilateral agreement with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in September 2005 in Budapest to encourage greater collaboration between researchers in Hungary and Scotland. Over the years, there have been many inventions from both countries so it is hoped that this agreement will be a stimulus for innovation in the future. The bilateral agreement covers exchange visits to institutes and universities throughout Hungary.