BME Builds a Bridge Between Research and the Market

BME is positioning itself not only as a research university but also as a proactive knowledge transfer partner: it operates 67 labs that accept market-driven R&D contracts, participates in 7 National Laboratories, and has won the most Horizon Europe funding among Hungarian institutions, Hassan Charaf, rector of BME, said at the Swiss-Hungarian Innovation Forum held at the university.

Charaf Hassan noted that scientific and technological excellence is supported by a strong institutional framework: BME’s Research and Development Directorate is specifically tasked with coordinating research and development, knowledge transfer, startup management, and partner network development. He added that at the forum, BME also demonstrates concrete mechanisms, meaning it not only provides a venue but also builds a platform between research and the market.

The event, co-organized by the Swiss Embassy in Budapest and the Swiss-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce, was timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Hungary.

“This anniversary year not only draws attention to the shared history of the two countries, but also to the fact that the next chapter in Swiss-Hungarian relations could be one of innovation, knowledge sharing, and competitiveness,” 

said Ambassador Alexander Renggli. He stated that the organizers’ primary goal is to bring together stakeholders from research, academia, industry, and the startup world.

In addition to domestic industry representatives, the forum was attended by Péter Horváth, State Secretary for Science Policy and Innovation, who — as reported by Index.hu — worked as a computer scientist in Switzerland for eight and a half years before taking office, so he is well acquainted with the innovation ecosystem there. The strength of that ecosystem is evident as the country has topped the Global Innovation Index compiled by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for 15 consecutive years.

The Hungarian government views Switzerland as a strategic research, development, and innovation partner and aims to establish a research system and conditions in Hungary similar to those in Switzerland, Péter Horváth was quoted as saying. The state secretary called it a historic opportunity that science policy, technology, digitalization, and artificial intelligence have been consolidated into a single ministry in the new government. He believed this creates the conditions for rapid decision-making, strategic management, and effective implementation.

Rector’s Office, Communications Directorate