research

EIT opens innovation community hub in Hungary

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has opened a community hub for innovation in Budapest, the organisation told MTI on Monday.

The EIT Community Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) Hub is part of a European network that extends to nearly 20 countries. EIT said its hubs serve as a one-stop shop for local stakeholders in the countries in which they are established. Their main mission is to ease access to knowledge and innovation support and identify synergies between the EIT Community and local actors. They strengthen local entrepreneurship and build bridges between local and EU innovation networks.

EIT was established in 2008. It is a part of Horizon Europe, the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. They said that as an EU body, they are powering Europe’s entrepreneurs and innovators to develop cutting-edge solutions to pressing global challenges, turning the best ideas into products, services, and jobs for Europe.

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January 6, 2025

Hungary overtakes Slovakia in new EU ranking, but challenges remain

Hungary has surpassed Slovakia in research and development (R&D) spending relative to GDP within the Visegrád Group (V4), according to Eurostat’s latest report. However, the data reveals significant room for improvement, particularly in education-based R&D investments.

EU R&D spending trends

In 2023, EU member states collectively spent EUR 381.4 billion on R&D, marking a 6.7% increase from 2022, Növekedés reports. While this equates to 2.2% of the EU’s GDP—a figure unchanged from the previous year—Hungary’s R&D spending relative to GDP dropped to 1.39%, down from 1.63% in 2021. Among V4 countries, Hungary lags behind the Czech Republic (1.83%) and Poland (1.56%), narrowly leading Slovakia (1.04%).

A closer look at Hungary’s R&D spending

Hungary allocates the smallest share of GDP to education-based R&D in the EU, despite government claims that university funding reforms would bolster research. Corporate contributions dominate Hungary’s R&D spending, accounting for 73%—one of the highest proportions in the EU.

However, these figures can be misleading. In nations with lower GDPs, higher relative spending may not translate to significant absolute funding. When viewed on a per-capita basis, Hungary’s R&D expenditure is among the lowest in the EU, falling below both the V4 and EU averages.

Consequences and the path forward

The limited investment in R&D directly impacts Hungary’s competitiveness in knowledge-driven sectors. While other V4 nations, such as Poland, have achieved notable increases in R&D spending over the past decade, Hungary’s growth remains sluggish.

Despite this, experts caution against solely focusing on spending levels. Efficient allocation and outcomes, such as innovation and export growth, ultimately determine the effectiveness of R&D investments. Future data, including Hungary’s placement on the EU’s Innovation Scoreboard, will shed light on the country’s progress in leveraging its R&D efforts.

Hungary’s modest R&D spending underscores the urgent need for strategic investment in innovation, particularly in higher education. As knowledge and technology become the primary drivers of economic growth, addressing these gaps is crucial for the country to maintain and enhance its global competitiveness.

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January 1, 2025

From Avars to Hungarians: The most comprehensive genetic research published yet

Avars Hungarians Conquest of the Carpathian Basin research

A groundbreaking study has been published, shedding new light on the genetic processes and population patterns of the Carpathian Basin during the Migration Period. This research, led by the Institute of Archaeogenomics at the HUN-REN Humanities Research Centre, represents the most comprehensive exploration of the region’s population dynamics to date.

The research, led by the Institute of Archaeogenomics of the HUN-REN Humanities Research Centre, was carried out in an interdisciplinary manner with the collaboration of several national institutions and the use of state-of-the-art technologies. The results have been published in Science Advances.

According to HUN-REN.hu, the aim of the project is to unravel the genetic imprint of the population movements of the 6th to 11th centuries, with a particular focus on the relationship between the Avars and the core population of the Carpathian Basin, as well as the Avars and the squatters. The researchers analysed 296 human remains during the sample collection and employed advanced technologies such as Identity-by-Descent (IBD) analysis to process the data, which can reveal subtle relationships between archaic populations.

Research Hungarian Avar Genetic — Source: Pixabay

Research background and methods

The research began in 2018 within the framework of the Árpád House programme, which aimed at the genetic analysis of the Transdanubian populations of the 8th to 11th centuries. These populations were compared with the genomes of other periods and regions. The analyses focused on the final period of the Avar Khaganate and the transitional period between the Hungarian conquest and the establishment of the state.

The samples included burials from the 7th to 11th centuries in the Carpathian Basin, as well as an artefact from beyond the Urals linked to the early Hungarians. The analyses revealed not only the genetic imprint of population movements but also the extent to which different populations intermarried.

Relations between the Avars, the squatters and the main population

One of the most intriguing findings is that the biological survival of the Hun groups of the Carpathian Basin, genetically of East Eurasian origin, cannot be detected during the period of the conquest. The Avars, also genetically of East Eurasian origin, formed a closed society and rarely intermarried with the local population. Their biological traces became sporadic after the conquest, meaning that continuity between the Avars and the Hungarians can be ruled out from a genetic perspective.

However, the invaders intermingled with the local population from the moment of their arrival. Although their genetic group constituted only a tenth of the European population that survived the Avar period, this intensive mixing significantly contributed to their survival, both genetically and culturally. This difference may explain why it was the Hungarians who endured in the region.

The research findings demonstrate that the population of the Carpathian Basin experienced considerable changes between the 6th and 11th centuries. The social structure and marriage patterns of the Avars shifted in the 7th century, while the presence of squatters in the Great Plain was substantial by the late 9th and early 10th centuries. Only in the latter half of the 10th century did they migrate into the Transdanubian region, where they integrated with local communities. This period marked the onset of genetic fusion among previously isolated groups, including several communities that had existed since Celtic times.

Hungarian presence before the conquest

A particularly notable outcome of the study is the evidence that Hungarian genetic groups were present in the Transdanubian region prior to the conquest. The remains of an adult male, identified through genetic analysis as an early Hungarian settler from the Ural region, were discovered in strata dated between 870 and 890 in Mosaburg (modern-day Zalavár). His genetic connection to a 10th-century individual from the Lowlands further supports the theory that Hungarians may have reached western territories before the conquest.

This research, the result of six years of dedicated work, has opened new avenues for understanding the population history of the Carpathian Basin. The archaeogenetic analyses have not only illuminated the genetic composition of the era but also provided insights into population relationships, social structures, and migration patterns.

This study has not only deepened our understanding of the past but has also established an essential foundation for future research in the field.

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December 22, 2024

Orbán: Hungary aims to become global leader in education and research with investments in universities

Hungary, as “the westernmost Eastern people and the easternmost Western people”, wants to connect to all of the world’s economic power centres, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at the inauguration of the renovated pavilion buildings of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Budapest on Tuesday.

“We’re making good progress on this, and this is something Hungarian universities will be big winners of,” the prime minister said.

Orbán said the world was on the verge of fundamental changes, arguing that the liberal world order had come to an end, and the winners of the new era would be those who fully realised their potential. But those who “fall in line” and “fail to recognise the strength in their national character”, he added, would quickly fade into irrelevance.

orbán education research university — Photo: MTI/Koszticsák Szilárd

He said Hungary was preparing to set its role on the international stage on new foundations.

“We don’t want to follow the path carved out by others, but rather to make use of the advantages that stem from our own history, our own economic structure and our own culture,” Orbán said.

He said Hungarian animal science was world-renowned, adding that the University of Veterinary Medicine offered “perhaps the highest-quality education” in the country. He said it was the institution that made the most scientific discoveries and was among the world’s top 150 universities, “of which all Hungarians can be justly proud”.

Orbán said the university aimed to become one of the world’s top 50 such institutions, and the newly opened buildings and new research laboratories could help this plan succeed. Now the university has the proper background that will make it possible for students and researchers to perform above average also in terms of international publications and patent development, he added.

He said the developments at the University of Veterinary Medicine were part of the new era of Hungary’s higher education system, with Hungarian universities aiming to belong to the global top tier. He cited the latest European Union figures showing that Hungary was spending the most on higher education in proportion to GDP in the whole of the EU.

He said Hungary has tripled spending on research and development in the past ten years. As a result, there are currently 12 Hungarian universities in the global top five percent as against seven universities five years ago, he added. The number of international students in Hungary has nearly doubled in the past ten years, he said.

Orbán said Hungary would not allow Brussels to penalise young Hungarians “because we protect our sovereignty”. As a result the government has set up the Pannonia scholarship scheme, he added. “We do not have to rely on other people’s money, but we on our own can also develop successful scientific cooperation with the best universities around the world,” he said.

He said further buildings of the University of Veterinary Medicine were planned to be revamped in the future, adding that the hope was that the war would end in 2025, the European economy would return to its normal track, Hungary’s economy would be set on a growth path, and this would enable the allocation of funds necessary to further develop the university.

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December 11, 2024

New research: Why we trust strangers more when drunk at the same event

Drinking and being drunk is linked to trusting others more if sharing an experience, finds new research from Corvinus University of Budapest.

Professor Giuseppe Attanasi from Corvinus University and colleagues interviewed more than 1800 attendees at a large music festival and measured alcohol consumption through a breathalyser and self-perceived intoxication. They also measured different types of trust: trust for others in general, trust for those taking part in a shared experience (other festival attendees), and trust in drinkers at the same event.

The results show a positive and significant relationship between alcohol intoxication and trust towards other event participants and drinkers, but no correlation between intoxication and trust towards others in general.

In fact, generalised trust decreases if the individual believes others are intoxicated; the thought of being surrounded by drunk people reduces trust more generally.

“This research speaks in favour of a sort of endogenous group formation, with drinkers trusting other attendees, and other drinkers, more as they are all part of a shared event where alcohol intake is widely accepted and considered almost a norm,” says Professor Attanasi.

“I don’t drink as much as the others, it is just peer pressure”

Most participants also believe they are drinking less than other festival attendees. As alcohol intake helps an individual trust someone more who is also drinking (and drinking more than them, given their belief), this can be seen as an acceptance of such group behaviour. If alcohol intake is perceived as a sign of belonging to the same group, this could explain why trust levels toward other drinkers are higher, explain the researchers.

drunk corvinus — Source: Corvinus University

Alcohol abuse is already well-understood as a health hazard, but these findings provide important insights into the behavioural effects of social drinking.

These findings were first published in December 2024 in the Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

December 9, 2024

Hungarian minister unhappy for research funding gap between EU member states

The Council of the European Union plans to adopt a conclusion on reducing the research funding gap among member states in the interest of improving the bloc’s competitiveness, the minister for culture and innovation said in Brussels on Friday.

Speaking to the press ahead of a meeting of the Competitiveness Council, Balázs Hankó said there was high fragmentation in research funding between central and eastern European and western European member states.

He said ministers also plan to adopt a conclusion on the BIOEAST initiative focused on the sustainability of European food security. The initiative, he noted, also involves the Western Balkan and eastern European countries.

The council will also adopt a conclusion on advanced materials and how they can contribute to the European Union’s technological advancement, Hankó said.

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November 29, 2024

Hungary proud on scientists, increased R+D sector funding significantly

Laboratory Testing hungary research + development

Hungary has created a model showing its commitment to research and development, and raised funding for the R+D sector threefold in the past decade, the minister of culture and innovation said on Saturday, at the closing event of the World Science Forum.

“The number of research and development professionals in Hungary has doubled since 2010, that of students in graduate studies doubled in five years, and some 30 percent of them are international students,” Balázs Hanká said at the event held in Parliament.

The government is supporting the sector by creating a company-friendly environment with the lowest corporate tax, 9 percent, in the EU, and tax cuts for R and D, investment and for employment, he said. Further, it set up a National Research, Development and Innovation Fund, and is supporting joint R and D programmes. “We support the growth of science campuses and technology transfer companies to bolster innovation.”

Balázs Hankó hungary research + development — Balázs Hankó. Photo: MTI

The government is focusing on cutting-edge sectors such as digitalisation, the green transition, healthy lifestyle and security, he said. Noting the Nobel Prizes awarded to biochemist Katalin Kariko and physicist Ferenc Krausz, Hankó said Hungary was proud of its scientists. “I am convinced that Hungary is one of the best places on earth to organise scientific conferences as well as to conduct scientific research.”

The conference was attended by Azzedine El Midaoui, Morocco’s minister of higher education, research and innovation, Patricia Gruber, science and technology adviser to the US Secretary of State, Lidia Brito, the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, and Sudip Parikh, the CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), among others.

Later on Saturday, Tamás Freund, the head of the organiser Hungarian Academy of Sciences, announced that the next World Science Forum will be organised by Indonesia in 2026.

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November 24, 2024

Dozens of Budapest technological university BME researchers on the Stanford list

Hungarian film classics with English subtitles at prestigious Budapest university for free (Copy)

The recently published Stanford list, which lines up the top 2 percent of researchers in the world of science, includes 57 names related to BME. The ranking, based on indicators of citations to publications according to the Scopus database, is published annually by the staff of Stanford University and the Elsevier publishing company, known for its scientific journals.

The list is compiled by examining 20 scientific fields and using six indicators: total citations, the Hirsch index, the Schreiber index modified with co-authorship, the number of citations received for articles with a single author, one or first author, and one or first or last author, bme.hu wrote.

The latest list, which takes into account articles published since 1960, includes 51 active researchers from BME, and also includes six deceased colleagues (István Kollár, Dénes Petz, Ernő Pungor, Vladimír Székely, József Varga and Alfréd Zawadowski), whose citations still place them among the world’s leading figures.

The full list of BME researchers:

Sándor Ádány, Szilárd Aradi, Katalin Bagi, László György Balázs, Attila Bonyár, Levente Buttyán, Gergely Czél, Tibor Czigány, Szabolcs Duleba, Domokos Esztergár-Kiss, Ádám Gali, Norbert Geier, László Gyöngyösi, Róbert Ervin Gyurcsányi, Giuseppe Habib, István Hargittai, Magdolna Hargittai, Gábor Harsányi, György Horvai, Ildikó Horváth, Sándor Imre, Tamás Insperger, Mihály Kállay, György Keglevich, Gyula Szabolcs Kéri, Rita Kiss, István Kollár, Péter László Kollár, István László Lagzi, György Marosi, János Martin Mayer, Gábor Lajos Molnár, László Monostori, Péter Nagy, Kristóf Nagy Zsombor, László Nyulászi, Imre Norbert Orbulov, Dénes Petz, Tamás Pritz, Béla Pukánszky, Ernő Pungor, Vilmos Simon, Gábor Stépán, József Szejtli, András Szekrényes, Vladimír Székely, József Szilágyi, Tamás Tábi, János Tapolcai, László Toka, Ákos Török, József András Tóth, József Varga, Pál Varga, Balázs Vásárhelyi, Attila Gergely Zaránd, Alfréd Zawadowski.

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November 24, 2024

Hungary ranks 1st globally for highest cancer death rates, new study finds

A recent study by Universal Drugstore using OECD data has revealed that Hungary holds the highest cancer death rate globally, with 286.4 deaths per 100,000 people. This alarming statistic places Hungary significantly above the average of 201.2 deaths per 100,000 across the 36 countries analysed.

Eastern Europe leads in high cancer mortality

Hungary’s position as the country with the highest cancer death rate highlights a concerning regional trend. Nearly all the top-ranking nations for cancer mortality are in Eastern Europe and the Baltics, with Denmark as the only exception, Universal Drugstore found. This clustering suggests that shared cultural and lifestyle factors, such as dietary habits, smoking prevalence, and alcohol consumption, may contribute to the elevated rates.

Factors behind Hungary’s grim statistics

hungary highest death rate from cancer — Photo: Universal Drugstore

Several factors could explain Hungary’s high cancer death rate:

Lifestyle risks: High rates of smoking and alcohol consumption have long been recognised as significant contributors to cancer prevalence in Hungary.
Diet and obesity: Traditional diets in Hungary often feature high-fat, processed, and red meat-heavy meals, all of which have been linked to cancer risk.
Healthcare access and screening: Limited access to timely cancer screenings and treatments, coupled with overburdened healthcare systems, may exacerbate mortality rates.
Environmental factors: Industrial pollution and poor air quality in some regions of Hungary are additional risk factors.

How Hungary compares

Hungary’s rate of 286.4 cancer deaths per 100,000 people starkly contrasts with Mexico’s 125.9, the lowest among the 36 countries studied. Even within Europe, Hungary’s figures far exceed the median of 196.1 deaths. For comparison, Türkiye, which has the second-lowest cancer death rate in the study, recorded only 154.1 deaths per 100,000 people.

The gender gap in cancer mortality

Consistent with global trends, Hungarian men face higher cancer mortality rates than women. Lifestyle factors such as higher smoking rates among men are often cited as contributing to this disparity.

What can be done?

Addressing Hungary’s cancer crisis requires a multifaceted approach, including:

Public health campaigns: Encouraging lifestyle changes, such as smoking cessation, reducing alcohol intake, and promoting healthier eating habits.
Improved screening programs: Enhancing early detection through accessible and widespread screening initiatives.
Investments in healthcare: Bolstering the healthcare system with better infrastructure and resources for cancer treatment and research.
Environmental regulations: Implementing stricter controls on industrial emissions to reduce environmental carcinogens.

A wake-up call

While cancer death rates are declining globally due to advances in medicine and early detection, Hungary’s figures are a stark reminder that much work remains to be done. Without significant interventions, Hungary’s alarming cancer mortality rate will continue to overshadow the strides made in other countries.

This study underscores the urgency of addressing the social, cultural, and systemic factors driving Hungary’s cancer epidemic.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

November 21, 2024

Hungary’s push for Erasmus, Horizon access: Minister accuses Brussels of blocking youth and researchers

Hungarian youth and researchers “are entitled” to access the European Union’s Erasmus and Horizon programmes, the minister of culture and innovation told public news channel M1 on Wednesday evening.

Balázs Hankó insisted that Brussels’ aim was “to consciously hinder Hungarian researchers and youth.”

Regarding the legislation amendments Hungarian universities run by foundations, Hankó said the European Commission “is not telling the truth” when they deny receiving the amendments.

The government sent the amendment proposals to Brussels a year ago, he said. The minister noted that he had had a number of talks on the topic in Brussels since; “last time, I talked to two representatives of the Commission on October 25, whom I gave the amendment so they can give an opinion.”

“It is not true that Brussels didn’t know about the proposal,” Hankó said.

The government adopted three of the EC’s five recommendations, regarding conflicts of interest of university foundations’ board members, the term of board membership, and the time elapsing before they can become members of the board after a conflict of interest.

At the same time, the government rejected recommendations to “exclude Hungarian professors and rectors from the boards and to allow foreign NGOs to nominate board members.”

Hungary’s parliament has adopted the amendments with the condition that it would come into force “once Brussels had allowed Hungarian youth back into the Erasmus programme, and researchers into Horizon”, he said.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

November 14, 2024

Budapest to host Science Expo alongside World Science Forum

Hungary will showcase the products of corporate partnerships with universities and research institutes at the Science Expo in Budapest on November 21-23, while the city hosts the World Science Forum.

Science Expo in Budapest

At a press conference on Tuesday, Culture and Innovation Minister Balázs Hankó said 80 institutions would participate at the Science Expo. He added that the number of university admissions in STEM subjects was up by 44pc.

Hungarian knowledge and creativity are “outstanding”, he said, pointing to the two Hungarian Nobel Prize winners in 2023.

The Science Expo will take place with the cooperation of the Culture and Innovation Ministry, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the National Innovation Agency, the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network, the National Academy of Science Education and the country’s biggest universities.

HERE are the programmes of the World Science Forum.

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November 12, 2024

Breaking new ground: Hungary’s first ESA-certified space doctor Dr Klaudia Nagy

Hungary has officially appointed its first space doctor, Dr Klaudia Vivien Nagy, who will support European astronaut missions, including the 2025 mission of designated Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu. As the first ESA-accredited space doctor in the country, Dr Nagy plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and readiness of astronauts as they prepare for their missions.

Hungary’s first space doctor, Dr Klaudia Nagy Vivien, is set to assist European astronauts in their missions, including the 2025 mission of designated Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu. As reported on M1’s morning program, Dr Nagy, a cardiologist and adjunct professor at Semmelweis University, has completed the European Space Agency (ESA) accredited training program, making her the country’s first ESA-certified space doctor.

Dr Nagy will not travel to space with the astronauts; instead, she will monitor their health and maintain a close relationship with them from Earth, Világgazdaság writes. Throughout Kapu’s mission, she will be present during the pre-launch quarantine, launch, and return phases to oversee his well-being. Since April 2023, she has worked closely with the four Hungarian astronaut candidates, participating in a year-long training programme that assessed their health and developed training regimens in collaboration with Semmelweis University.

In her role, Dr Nagy explained that Hungarian healthcare professionals enhanced NASA and ESA’s selection protocols by incorporating specialised health assessments, such as blood coagulation parameters and cardiac MRIs. This additional data provides valuable insights into the astronauts’ health.

Currently, Kapu and fellow candidate Gyula Cserényi are undergoing official mission training in Houston, with Dr Nagy continuously monitoring their health. She emphasised that both candidates are in excellent health.

Dr Nagy has had a passion for space from a young age, influenced by her love for science fiction films, particularly Star Wars. In an interview with semmelweis.hu, she noted how space exploration and related technologies have significantly contributed to everyday patient care, including the use of monitoring systems in intensive care and advancements in telemedicine.

Dr Nagy was approached by the Hunor program in 2022 to contribute to the medical and health aspects of the space program. After extensive pre-selection, Semmelweis University identified eight astronaut candidates from over 240 applicants based on health suitability. Dr Nagy also played a vital role in the training process, which included telemedicine and resuscitation training, ensuring that the candidates were fully prepared for their missions.

Following her training, Dr Nagy received her accredited space doctor certificate on 26 September, marking a significant milestone in Hungary’s contributions to space exploration and astronaut health management. As Semmelweis University actively participates in the Hunor Hungarian Astronaut Program, Dr Nagy’s expertise will be instrumental in ensuring the astronauts’ health throughout their rigorous missions.

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November 3, 2024

Historic achievement: Hungary grows plants in lunar soil for the first time – PHOTOS

In a groundbreaking achievement, researchers at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) have successfully cultivated viable mustard plants in lunar soil. Remarkably, the plants thrived so well that they produced three viable seeds—an unprecedented feat globally. The team simulated lunar cave conditions for this experiment.

Breakthrough: Successful plant growth in lunar soil

Despite its small size, mustard seed can yield surprising results, as confirmed by experts from MATE’s Institute of Engineering, including lead researcher György Barkó. NASA has published guidelines suggesting which plants may survive in soil akin to that found on the Moon. These plants must meet strict criteria, such as low water needs, high oxygen production, and the ability to bind volatile organic compounds. Mustard, along with other plants like sage and arugula, stood out in these tests.

MATE’s researchers demonstrated that mustard is the most promising candidate from NASA’s recommended list. They observed that mustard seeds germinated and grew even with minimal water added to the lunar soil. This discovery marks a significant advance, as it contrasts with previous hydroponic methods, showcasing the potential for growing plants in soil using just a few drops of water. Barkó noted that minimal water could be derived from breaking down existing minerals, like copper sulfate, which releases water upon heating. The researchers emphasised the necessity of a controlled environment to protect plants from radiation on the Moon.

For planting on the Moon, the researchers suggest using caves or drilled tunnels. In their specialised facility, they recreated lunar-like cave conditions, adjusting factors like lighting and water levels while excluding pressure differences. The goal is not only to grow and sustain the plants but also to ensure they produce new seeds. This task proved successful, with the artificially grown mustard yielding three seeds, a unique achievement not replicated elsewhere.

barkó györgy with lunar soil in his hands (1) — György Barkó with lunar soil in his hands. Photo: MATE

The seeds are currently under analysis at ELTE HUN-REN Agricultural Research Center, where further investigations will determine if they absorb harmful heavy metals from the soil, affecting their suitability for human consumption, as Barkó explained. Scientific results are expected by the end of the year.

Another significant concern for the researchers is whether the seeds will change after being sent into space. In February, Barkó’s team plans a unique experiment using a Falcon 9 rocket to launch mustard seeds into space, followed by their return to Earth. The study will assess the seeds’ viability and the effects of acceleration and radiation during the journey, providing insights into their suitability for a journey to the Moon.

the special display case for plants (1) — The special display case for plants. Photo: MATE

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October 31, 2024

Hungarian research could yield breakthrough in Covid-19 treatment

The network said in a statement on Monday that research by the HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences raises hope that a drug used in oncology could be used to treat COVID-19.

The research coordinated by Professor Péter Bay of Debrecen University focused on Rucaparib, which blocks PARP enzymes and may prove effective in the initial phase of the infection and in fighting inflammatory complications of the disease in its later stages, the statement said.

“We have managed to open the way for a unique therapy that can be applied both in the viral and inflammatory phases of the infection, and which also offers an opportunity to prevent further complications in the viral phase,” the statement quoted senior researcher David Bajusz as saying.

The results of the Hungarian research were recently published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.

Hungarian astronomer discovers previously unknown near-Earth asteroids

October 21, 2024

This Hungarian innovation may revolutionise the aviation industry

Budapest Airport Liszt Ferenc International Airport

Hungarian aviation company Fly-coop Légi Szolgáltató Ltd and the University of Pécs are partnering on a project to develop a device that can pinpoint the location of culprits who shine lasers at aircraft, the company told MTI.

The partners have won HUF 597m in support from the National R+D+I Office for the project.

Fly-coop and the university aim to produce a device, by the summer of 2026, that can be attached to aircraft, pinpoints the source of lasers and sends the location to local authorities within seconds.

Fly-coop had revenue of HUF 5.4bn in 2023, public records show.

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October 18, 2024

Hungarian study: People understand robots that use emotionally suggestive sounds instead of words

People can understand robots that use emotionally suggestive sounds rather than words, according to a joint study by the HUN-REN-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group and Debrecen University.

In the study published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports, artificially generated sounds based on vocalisations that animals and people are known to make and react to in terms of an invitation to approach or a warning to back off were used.

Volunteers submitted their reactions as part of an online game, indicating whether they would approach or withdraw when various artificial sounds of varying lengths and at different frequencies and added acoustic features sounded.

“We’ve generated the sounds modelled on humans and animals expressing emotions from simple beeps to biologically more complex ones,” the statement quoted Márta Gácsi, leader of the HUN-REN-ELTE reach team, as saying.

The results showed that the response to short, artificially generated sounds was one of the approaches, while louder sounds denoted avoidance, regardless of their complexity. Various permutations of this general principle were also observed.

The researchers concluded that “robots in the human environment can be fitted with a set of acoustic signals that effectively help communication without speech”.

“In situations where linguistic interaction is not required the operation of social robots can become simpler and independent of culture and language,” Beáta Korcsok, one of the authors of the study, a researcher of the HUN-REN-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group, said.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

September 28, 2024

New cooperation between Hungary and Russia, Minister Murashko in Budapest

New cooperation between Hungary and Russia in the health sector, Minister Murashko in Budapest

Hungary and Russia may launch joint research and development projects in oncology, the National Institute of Oncology (OOI) said on Monday, after a Russian delegation headed by Health Minister Mikhail Murashko visited Budapest.

OOI said in a statement that the talks between the delegation and the Hungarian side, which included Peter Takacs, the state secretary for health care, and OOI Director General Csaba Polgar, focused on exploring new areas of cooperation in research, development, and technological innovation.

At the meeting, the Russian health minister briefed the hosts about his country’s experiences in the use of AI in diagnosing cancer and about the development of a new software.

Takacs noted the possibility of expanding cooperation concerning Hungary’s similar research projects. He called launching joint projects in innovative medicine research and medical therapy development “an important possible component”.

Murashko said that Russian proton therapy-centres were ready to receive, if need be, Hungarian patients, primarily children.

Hungarian minister: Europe needs turnaround in competitiveness

Next week’s meeting of European Union higher education and research ministers in Budapest will focus on restarting Europe’s competitiveness, the culture and innovation minister said on Saturday.

In a video statement, Balázs Hankó said it was “unacceptable” that central and eastern Europe had one-tenth of the resources for research per inhabitant compared to western Europe. He said it was therefore crucial to bolster relations among European regions and create a level playing field in innovation in the interest of boosting Europe’s competitiveness.

Concerning the two-day meeting of EU higher education and research ministers starting on Monday, Hankó said the recent Draghi report also showed the need for a turnaround in competitiveness, as the EU’s competitiveness has declined by 8 percent over the past decade, and both China and the United States have overtaken Europe.

Ministers will discuss two recommendations aimed at addressing the EU’s competitiveness and strengthening EU cooperation in research and innovation, he said. The meeting will also touch on the plans for a European degree, he added.

Hankó said Hungary recommended that Europe take a look at the Hungarian university and vocational training model centred on cooperation between universities and economic players.

Meanwhile, the minister said Hungarian students and researchers were still waiting for answers as to why they have been excluded from the Erasmus and Horizon programmes. He said international cooperation in these areas was fundamental in the interest of a competitive Europe, noting that this was why Hungary has launched the Pannonia and HU-rizont programmes.

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September 15, 2024