Széchenyi University foundation to spin off ZalaZONE proving ground
The foundation that runs the Széchenyi István University will spin off the ZalaZONE vehicle proving ground in Zalaegerszeg (W Hungary), the city’s municipal council said on Monday.
They recall that Autóipari Próbapálya Zala Kft. (APZ), which built the automotive test track in Zalaegerszeg, is wholly owned by the Széchenyi István University Foundation and carries out the foundation’s public tasks in the field of automotive innovation.
The public tasks related to automotive innovation have resulted in the development of Széchenyi István University’s training programs and the expansion of its market opportunities, with new training programs launched at the university and a new innovation center established.
It was announced that the development of the ZalaZONE test track has reached a level that has made it a center of excellence in the field of automotive innovation and, following the planned further developments, it will also become nationally significant in the field of artificial intelligence. All this makes it necessary for the ZalaZONE test track to continue operating as an independent public asset management foundation performing a public service.
With the completion of the third phase of the test track investment this year, in addition to educational research objectives, the importance of market-oriented operation will also increase, the national and international usability of which will be best ensured if the test track operates independently with national jurisdiction in the future and is not linked to a regional or university ecosystem in terms of ownership. university ecosystem.
In order to further develop the test track, it is essential to establish even broader cooperation with universities, research institutes, state developers and private companies through research in the fields of energy, automotive, agriculture and defense.
The Board of Trustees of the Széchenyi István University Foundation, as the founder exercising its rights, has therefore decided to split the foundation, as a result of which APZ Kft. 100% of the business shares and related public tasks will be separated, and a new, independent public asset management foundation will be established, ZalaZONE, in which the state will participate as a founding member.
It is in the national interest of the state that Hungary plays a prominent role in automotive innovation in the globally changing automotive industry and that it is a key player in artificial intelligence-based developments in this field.
To achieve these goals, the Hungarian automotive industry and the AI industry related to the automotive industry need a special test environment of outstanding international standard.
In view of the above, Balázs Hankó, Minister responsible for science policy coordination, is expected to submit an amendment to the law to the National Assembly on Tuesday on behalf of the government,
it was announced.
In connection with Monday’s announcement, zaol. hu reported that the unique elements of the test track, which serves both business and scientific and research purposes, are currently worth more than HUF 70 billion, in addition to the value of the various ownership shares, which have not yet been assessed. 53 automotive industry customers use its services, and it is being expanded continuously in line with demand.
Representatives of Zalaegerszeg, where the foundation will be based, will also be present on the foundation’s board of trustees and supervisory board, which will be established within weeks.
read also:
Széchenyi István University showcases its developments to foreign diplomatic leaders in Hungary