BME co-founds new space science network

Nine Hungarian universities, one research institute and two ministries have recently signed a cooperation agreement to create the Hungarian SpaceLab Network. The signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding set out to create a space industry network that will stimulate innovation and sustainable development.

BME, the University of Debrecen, Eötvös Loránd University, HUN-REN Computer and Automation Research Institute, the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFA), the University of Miskolc, the University of Óbuda, the University of Pécs, Semmelweis University, the University of Szeged and Széchenyi István University aim to strengthen Hungary's international role in space research, to develop the necessary knowledge, infrastructure and organisational framework.

“There is no 21st century science without space science”,

said Ms. Orsolya Ferencz, Ministerial Commissioner for Space Research of the MFA, in her speech before the signing ceremony. She said that after the successful space mission with the participation of Tibor Kapu, it is the task of the cooperating institutions to strengthen and further develop Hungarian space research. If we want to catch up with the space achievements of other countries with similar populations, we need more and more excellent researchers, and the creation of a network is an important step towards this, she added.

Orsolya Ferencz

Mr Balázs Hankó, Minister for Culture and Innovation, stressed that the success of the HUNOR programme was also due to the knowledge accumulated in Hungarian universities, noting that there are currently 140 instruments in space that was created with the involvement of Hungarian experts. He pointed out that one of the indicators of the country's scientific achievements is where it stands in a particularly important field such as space research.

The agreement was signed by Mr László Csernoch, Vice-Rector for Science at the University of Debrecen, Mr Lénárd Darázs, Rector of ELTE, Ms. Zita Horváth, Rector of the University of Miskolc, Mr Tamás Fedeles, Vice-Rector for Education at the University of Pécs, Mr Ferenc Friedler, Rector of Széchenyi István University, Mr Levente Kovács, Rector of Óbuda University, Mr Zoltán Kónya, Vice Rector for Science and Innovation of the University of Szeged, Mr János Levendovszky, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation of BME, Mr Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University, and Mr László Monostori, Director of the Research Laboratory for Engineering and Management Intelligence at HUN-REN.

Orsolya Ferencz, Balázs Hankó and János Levendovszky

Rector's Office, Communications Directorate
photos by Judit Sárai / Óbuda University