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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The former home of Hungarian Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi, nestled in Újszeged, is now for sale. This storied villa, where the famed scientist lived during World War II, boasts four rooms, two kitchens, and rich historical intrigue. Situated near the Tisza River, this unique property captures the legacy of a Nobel Prize winner and his vibrant life, making it a gem for history enthusiasts and real estate seekers alike.
Hungarian Nobel laureate’s villa on the market
As Index writes, the former villa of Hungarian Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi, located in Újszeged, is on the market for HUF 195 million (EUR 474,204), nearly double the local average property price. This historic home, where Szent-Györgyi lived between 1940 and 1945, sits on Szent-Györgyi Albert Street near the Tisza River and Liget Park. The 117-square-metre brick house, set on a 1,016-square-metre plot, includes four rooms, two bathrooms, two kitchens, and a 34.4-square-metre outbuilding. The sentimental value of the property, marked by a commemorative plaque and its association with the renowned scientist, enhances its appeal, though neither the Szeged municipality nor the University of Szeged have expressed interest in acquiring it.
Here are some photos of the villa:
Photo: ingatlan.com
Photo: ingatlan.com
Photo: ingatlan.com
Photo: ingatlan.com
An “extra Nobel Prize”
Szeged is rich with legends about the vibrant life and adventures of Hungarian Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi. In 1939, two years after receiving the Nobel Prize, he hosted a distinguished gathering featuring actress Ella Gombaszögi, who noted his resemblance to 1930s German actor Hans Albers—a compliment he humorously dubbed his “extra Nobel Prize.” Szent-Györgyi met his first wife, Kornélia Demény, in 1916, marrying the intelligent and accomplished woman the following year. Together, they built a successful life until their divorce 24 years later.
Albert Szent-Györgyi and Eszter Pécsi on the wall of U4 building in the Graphisoft Park. – Gázgyár Street. Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Globetrotter19
An extraordinary life
In May 1944, the daughter of Hungarian Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi, Nelly, married György Libik, with their honeymoon spent at Szent-Györgyi’s villa in Újszeged. Despite the turbulent times of World War II, the newlyweds enjoyed a brief period of peace before returning to Budapest. Following the German invasion, György Libik undertook the critical task of protecting his father-in-law, who was forced into hiding. Initially seeking refuge with his second wife on her family estate near Szeged, Szent-Györgyi narrowly escaped arrest by the Gestapo, thanks to Libik’s timely intervention.
Later, Hungarian Nobel laureate Szent-Györgyi was hidden in Budapest with the assistance of Swedish attaché Per Anger, who facilitated his transfer to a safe house at Csekonics Castle. Disguised as an archivist, the Nobel laureate evaded capture, maintaining his safety through ingenuity and resourcefulness. In early 1945, his family reunited with him at Marshal Malinovsky’s headquarters in Szeged. Shortly thereafter, Szent-Györgyi, his daughter, and his son-in-law attended a performance at the Szeged National Theatre, a poignant moment that symbolised survival amidst a chaotic and dangerous era.
Eminent Hungarian and international scientists are gathering to discuss cooperation in science, politics and society at the World Science Forum (WSF) hosted in Budapest from Nov 20 to 23, the minister for culture and innovation noted at a press conference on Wednesday.
“This is a special week in Budapest since outstanding researchers in the world meet here…” Balázs Hankó said, noting that top Hungarian scientists were also participating.
He said research and innovation played a key role part in boosting European competitiveness, noting the recent adoption of the competitiveness declaration under the Hungarian EU presidency.
“We Hungarians are outstanding in research and innovation,” he said, noting the award of the Nobel prize to two Hungarian scientists last year.
Source: Facebook / World Science Forum
This year WSFwill focus on the connection between politics and science, Hankó said, referring to “excellent” cooperation between the two in Hungary.
“It is good to be a Hungarian researcher as we are in the top tier in the world,” the minister said, adding the government was committed to creating further opportunities for researchers.
Tamás Freund, the head of the main organiser Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA), noted that WSF was launched in Hungary and first held in 2003.
The event is organised by UNESCO, the International Science Council (ISC), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC), the Global Young Academy (GYA) and the MTA.
He said that more than 1,100 people from 122 countries have registered to attend the event.
Hungary and Kazakhstan have signed seven new agreements in the areas of business development, agriculture, digitalisation and science, Finance Minister Mihály Varga said after a meeting of the Hungarian-Kazakh Business Roundtable in Budapest on Wednesday.
In a statement issued by his ministry, Vargasaid Hungary was committed to a policy of economic neutrality, paving the way for Hungarian companies’ expansion onto markets in both the East and the West.
He added that the roundtable meeting was a “milestone”, taking place as Hungary and Kazakhstan marked ten years of strategic partnership.
Varga, who co-chairs the Hungarian-Kazakh Intergovernmental Economic Cooperation Commission and heads the Hungary-Kazakhstan Friendship Group of the Hungarian National Assembly, noted that bilateral trade between the two countries had climbed by a factor of 2.5 since 2010. Over 200 Hungarian companies are now exporting to Kazakhstan, he added.
He also pointed to Hungarian oil and gas company MOL’s 27.5pc stake in Kazakhstan’s Rozhkovskoye gas field.
Hungary seeks “intensive ties” with Kazakhstan in all areas, including investments, water management, farming, science and education, Varga said.
The new agreements could allow Hungarian companies’ participation in a number of developments in Kazakhstan, such as a planting seed factory and a motorway vignette payment system, he added.
President Tamas Sulyok met Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the president of Kazakhstan, for talks in the presidential palace on Wednesday.
At the talks, Tokayev signed the book of the Sándor Palace, and the two presidents gave each other gifts. The gifts Sulyok presented to his guest included wine and porcelain, while he received a set of jewellery, a painting, and a box of apples.
After the presidents met for a working lunch, Sandor Palace issued a statement that the two presidents agreed that “excellent” ties between the countries informed by a common history and similar ways of thinking, and Hungary sought to pursue varied and intensive relations with Central Asian countries, with a special focus on the economy.
President Tokayev said his visit was aimed at elevating already “extremely good” relations to an even higher level, and he noted that Kazakhstan established diplomatic representation in Budapest in 1993, its first in Europe.
President Sulyok said cooperation had benefitted both countries in recent years, noting that this year the two countries were marking ten years of their strategic partnership.
Both countries were well placed as logistics and trade hubs between East and West, and Hungary “is looking forward to further opportunities” to cooperate in the energy and water industries while also welcoming Kazakh investors to Hungary, the statement said.
The two heads of state agreed that global solutions were needed to mitigate the consequences of climate change and protect the environment.
The presidents talked about Tuesday’s Hungarian-German soccer match which they both attended, and Tokayev praised the Hungarian team.
After the meeting, Tokayev invited Sulyok to pay an official visit to Kazakhstan next year.
Later on László Kövér, the speaker of parliament, received President Tokayev in Parliament, the national assembly’s press office said in a statement. Both officials praised blossoming bilateral relations and noted the “strategic importance of ties in education and scholarship programmes”, as well as the role that powers like Kazakhstan and Hungary “can play in preventing further escalation” of the Russia-Ukraine war and in securing the quickest possible ceasefire.
Szijjártó: Hungarian-Kazakh economic cooperation to advance ‘by leaps and bounds’
Economic cooperation between Hungary and Kazakhstan is set to advance “by leaps and bounds”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in Budapest on Wednesday.
In a statement issued by his ministry on the occasion of a visit to Budapest by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Szijjártó said a number of big Hungarian companies would make large investments in Kazakhstan.
Hungarian pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter is making preparations to bring some manufacturing to Kazakhstan, where it sells around HUF 10bn of its products a year, he said. A Hungarian agribusiness is setting up plants in Kazakhstan with significant support from the local investment promotion agency, he added.
Three Hungarian companies are partnering on a USD 15m waterfowl farm investment that will produce both meat and feathers, he said.
A Hungarian company is part of a consortium rolling out a road vignette system in Kazakhstan and two Hungarian universities are drafting a plan for a reform of the country’s water management practices, he added.
Hungarian oil and gas company MOL has invested USD 200m in Kazakhstan and has a stake in a field there that started production in October, he said. MOL is in talks on expanding further in the region, he added.
Dr Beáta Halassy, a virologist at the University of Zagreb, has made headlines with her extraordinary personal battle against breast cancer. When her cancer returned four years ago, she refused another gruelling round of chemotherapy. Instead, she turned to her scientific expertise to create a genetically engineered virus treatment that exposed cancerous cells to her immune system. The results? Four years of cancer-free living. Yet, despite her remarkable recovery, she continues to face scepticism from the scientific community.
No more chemotherapy
Dr Beáta Halassy’s ordeal began with a stage-three breast cancer diagnosis, a life-threatening condition with a significant risk of metastasis. Following several rounds of aggressive chemotherapy and a mastectomy, her cancer returned in 2020. This time, she rejected conventional treatments, opting instead to rely on her decades of experience as a virologist
Dr Halassy developed a “virus cocktail” that she injected directly into the tumour in her chest. Initially, the tumour grew, leaving her desperate. But after 50 days, it began to shrink, eventually becoming small enough to be surgically removed.
How does Beáta Halassy’s virus cocktail work?
Dr Beáta Halassy’s success lies in her innovative use of genetically engineered viruses. Combining strains of measles and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), her cocktail specifically targeted cancerous cells. These viruses penetrated the malignant cells, effectively “opening” them so her immune system could identify and destroy them. Crucially, the viruses replicated only within cancerous cells, leaving healthy tissue unharmed.
Beáta Halassy giving an interview for Croatian N1 TV. Photo: PrtScr/Youtube Beáta Halassy
The experimental nature of her treatment came with significant risks. To start with the least concerning one, she could have lost valuable weeks if the treatment had failed. Additionally, there was a serious danger of developing fatal complications, such as blood clots in her lungs. Despite these risks, her oncologist agreed to monitor the process and stood ready to intervene with conventional chemotherapy if necessary. Fortunately, no such intervention was required.
Dr Halassy has now been cancer-free for four years. During this time, she has worked to publish her findings and share the story of her recovery. However, gaining scientific and medical recognition has proven challenging.
Ethical questions from medical journals
The therapy Dr Halassy used is part of an emerging experimental field called oncolytic virotherapy (OVT).
“The strain of measles she chose is widely used in childhood vaccines, and the strain of VSV induces causes mild influenza-like symptoms”, Daily Mail wrote.
Medical journals initially refused to publish her results, citing ethical concerns. Critics feared that her success story might encourage cancer patients to pursue similar unregulated treatments, despite potential risks. Jacob Sherkow, a law and medical ethics researcher at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, commented on these concerns. “Her paper, finally published in the journal Vaccines, should have addressed the ethical implications of such a treatment,” he said.
Dr Beáta Halassy herself acknowledged the limitations of her approach. “Maybe they do not always work as well as other treatments, but they are certainly less destructive,” she told Uncharted Territories.
Hope for a new era in cancer treatment
The potential impact of Dr Halassy’s treatment is vast. With hundreds of thousands of patients suffering from advanced cancers—such as breast, lung, prostate, and melanoma—there is an urgent need for less toxic and more effective therapies. Dr Halassy’s case provides a glimpse of what might be possible.
“Breast cancer remains the most common cancer worldwide and the leading cause of cancer-related death among women, accounting for 2.3 million diagnoses and 670,000 deaths in 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)”, Medical Notes wrote.
Hungarian Roots
While Dr Halassy’s groundbreaking work is based in Croatia, she is of Hungarian descent, a detail noted by the Hungarian outlet Ripost. Her story is not only a testament to scientific ingenuity but also to the courage and determination of one woman to rewrite the rules of her own treatment.
The question now is whether regulatory authorities and the broader scientific community will embrace oncolytic virotherapy, potentially bringing this innovative approach to patients in need around the world.
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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.
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.
Mustard plants in lunar soil at the MATE Technical Institute in Gödöllő. Photo: MATE
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.
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 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.
A Hungarian astronomer recently discovered previously unknown near-Earth asteroids, the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network said on Monday.
Hungarian astronomer’s great discovery
Krisztián Sárneczky, a researcher at the Konkoly Thege Miklós Astronomical Institute of HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences (CSFK), last month became the second Hungarian to be selected as an honorary member of the International Astronomical Union after his discovery of two comets within a single week in July, the research network said in a statement. Sárneczky was selected among 15 new honorary members.
Just a few days ago, Hungarian astronomer Sárneczky identified several previously unknown near-Earth asteroids using the telescope at the Piszkesteto Observatory.
“It’s difficult to find a comet, typically only a few dozen are discovered worldwide in a year — far fewer than asteroids or supernovae,” the statement quoted Sárneczky as saying. He said this was one of the most challenging, yet most prestigious branches of astronomy, noting that according to tradition, a newly discovered celestial body is automatically named after the person who discovers it.
The Hungarian astronomer said the significance of comets lies in the fact that they contain materials that may have formed during the formation of the Solar System. “If such a comet is visiting us for the first time, it can bring fresh material, providing valuable insights into the formation of our Solar System,” he said.
The Pujiang Innovation Forum in Shanghai opened on Saturday with Hungary participating as a guest of honour at the four-day event.
“Our goal is to strengthen our research, scientific and innovation relations with our Chinese partners, because if we look around the world, we can see that China is ahead not only of Europe, but also of the United States in innovation and science,” deputy state secretary for innovation László Bódis said at the event.
In the fields of science, research and innovation Hungary also wants to be at the forefront of the world, so it is essential to establish close cooperation with Chinese companies and universities, Mr Bódis said.
Hungary is represented at the event with around forty experts, company and university leaders, who will showcase at the forum in which areas Hungarian innovation provides world-class performance. The Pujiang Innovation Forum is being held for the 17th time since its inaugural event in 2008.
President Tamás Sulyok has decorated Ferenc Krausz, Nobel-laureate physicist, with the Hungarian Saint Stephen Order on the occasion of the 20 August national holiday.
Photo: MTI/Bruzák Noémi
At the ceremony, held in the presidential Sándor Palace on Tuesday, Sulyok highlighted Krausz’s scientific discoveries concerning the changing energy levels of electrons “opening unlimited horizons” for nuclear research. Krausz’s work “could save lives and renew many principles of physics and mathematics, urging other researchers to revisit accepted theories,” the president added.
Krausz’s success “is a global achievement and will elevate us Hungarians, too,” Sulyok said, adding that Krausz “has stayed Hungarian when abroad, helping Hungarian scientists and feeling responsible for Hungarian science.”
Krausz thanked Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Hungarian government for their assistance in building a team “unparalleled in a global comparison” aimed to “lay the foundations for preventive medical care for the future and build much more efficient health care not only in Hungary but worldwide.”
The ceremony was attended by Orbán, former President János Áder, Interior Minister Sándor Pintér, and House Speaker László Kövér.
Yale University has conferred an honorary degree on mathematician and computer scientist László Lovász, a full member and former president of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) in recognition of his pathbreaking contributions in combinatorics, MTA said on Wednesday.
László Lovász Hungarian mathematician and computer scientist in 2022. Photo: MTI/Czimbal Gyula
Nine individuals received honorary degrees from Yalethis year, in a tradition that goes back to 1702, the statement added.
Yale said in its laudation that Lovász was a “brilliant mathematician and theoretical computer scientist” whose “pathbreaking contributions in combinatorics, a branch of pure mathematics, have led to real-life applications in computer science, engineering and technology, statistics, and science that serve and advance humankind”. It added that over time Lovász had received nearly every award a mathematician can earn, including the Abel Prize, the highest award in mathematics.
“We are honored that you have agreed to receive one more, from the university where you taught and conducted research for over a half decade, and which itself is honored to present you with the degree of Doctor of Engineering and Technology,” the university said.
Hungary had not seen such a jaw-dropping Aurora Borealis phenomenon since 2003, thanks to a serious geomagnetic storm. Apart from the magnificent photos of the aerial phenomenon, we’ll show you how beautiful the new Danube bridge’s decorative lighting looks.
According to Időkép, a G5-level geomagnetic storm hit Hungary on Friday night, which happened in November 2003 for the last time. As a result, we could see a mesmerising Aurora Borealis over Hungary. Here are some photos:
That was the fifth time we could detect the Aurora Borealis over Hungary with instruments. However, this was the first time we could see it with the naked eye, thanks to the strong geomagnetic storm. For example, from the shores of Lake Balaton, one could feel they entered a stargate and arrived in a different world.
Photo: MTI
Photo: FB/Időkép
The fact that we could see a greenish Aurora Borealis instead of a pinkish-reddish tone is rare in Hungary. It happens only once in every 20-30 years.
Since we are currently in the Sun’s active period, we will probably see more Aurora Borealis phenomenons over Hungary in the next 2-3 years. However, the geomagnetic storm will probably not be as strong as during the day before yesterday.
Photo: FB/Időkép
Here is the beautiful decorative lighting of the newest Danube bridge
The newest Danube bridge connecting Paks and Kalocsa in South Hungary looks at night as if it were in the United States, Világgazdaság wrote. One of the local councillors of Kalocsa shared a spectacular photo of the decorative lighting testing. Here it is:
The bridge is Hungary’s 20th overpass connecting the two sides of the River Danube. The implementer also tested its bearing capacity with eight trucks weighing 40 tonnes each during the weekend.
The inauguration of the bridge is expected to be in June. The bridge will take the name of Pál Tomori, a Medieval archbishop of Kalocsa. Tomori was the commander-in-chief of the Hungarian forces in the Battle of Mohács in 1526 against the Ottoman Empire led by Sultan Suleiman. The defeat marked the end of the Kingdom of Hungary.
The government decided to build a new bridge between two Southern Hungarian towns in 2015. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in 2021. The new bridge will allow locals to reach Kalocsa from Paks in only 15 minutes.
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Global e-commerce platform Ubuy has created a new report ranking Europe’s top 20 capital cities to find out where families can enjoy the ultimate science-themed day out.
For a family day out, a trip to the science museum could tick all the boxes – fun, educational, and often affordable, or even free. But where can parents and children enjoy the ultimate science-themed day out?
The team at the e-commerce platform Ubuy wanted to find out, so they created a ranking of the top 20 capital cities in Europe using several metrics: the number of science museums, the number of museums total, and the number of museums that offer free entry.
Speaking on the report, Faizan Khan at Ubuy said:
“It’s great to see just how many science museums there are across Europe! We loved researching them and learning about some fascinatingly niche and unusual museums. Just a couple that stood out to us were the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology in Athens and Amsterdam’s Micropia, which is dedicated to microbes. The top city according to our ranking is London, but any of the locations on our list have plenty of museums to keep families entertained.”
The best cities in Europe for a science trip. Source: Ubuy
Budapest in 8th place
Ubuy wrote the following about Budapest:
“Our next science city is Budapest. It has 8 science museums, and 180 museums total. 8 of them offer free entry. The Hungarian capital has a total of 196 points.
While the name of this museum sounds more fantasy than sci-fi, The Palace of Wonders is dedicated to science and technology. In the museum’s Richter Gedeon Laboratory area, children can don white coats and try safe, easy and fun chemistry experiments (as well as pose for snaps with their colourful creations). The Hungarian Natural History Museum in Budapest is another option, with exhibitions ranging from palaeontology to gemstones, and even its own escape room.”
Four candidates to become astronauts in the Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR) programme have successfully completed a six-day isolation training session.
During the training, the four candidates were placed in isolation in a 48-square-metre container with conditions similar to the International Space Station, HUNOR said on Facebookon Friday.
They had to undertake simulated tasks like the ones they would in space, such as conducting experiments, while carrying on with everyday routines. The simulation also included emergency situations that required split-second decisions.
The candidates’ mental states and response to lack of sleep and stress situations were gauged during the training session.
Hungary has signed a framework agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) on cooperation in its national research astronaut programme, the foreign ministry’s commissioner for space science said on Thursday.
“The Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR) research astronaut programme has reached a new milestone,” Orsolya Ferencz said in a video posted on Facebook.
Under the agreement, ESA will offer support for astronaut training as well as for aerospace medicine training and ground control activities, she said. The training of Hungarian astronauts will take place in ESA’s centres in Cologne and in the Netherlands, Ferencz added.
She said the agreement offered a unique opportunity for Hungary to be the first among the 22 member states to execute its programme as ESA’s official partner.
Hungary will send an astronaut to the ISS, with the cooperation of US-based Axiom Space, for a 30-day research mission at the end of 2024 or in early 2025.
Hungarian young students last year won more medals than ever before at the international student science Olympiad, the state secretary for public education said on Friday.
Zoltán Maruzsa presented awards to the students and their teachers who took part in the 2023 International Junior Science Olympiad, and noted that they gathered 36 medals, of which 4 were gold, 14 silver and 17 bronze, while the team also won a bronze medal. Besides this, Hungarian students also won 11 medals in other international academic competitions.
He noted that the government’s public education administration devotes special attention to talent management, referring to the National Talent Programme and student participation in scientific competitions and olympiads, supported by 4 billion forints.
The European Interest Group CONCERT-Japan provides funding for a project coordinated by Vilmos Simon. The awarded consortium involves BME VIK MEDIANETS Lab as a member.
The project called ‘Multi-Input Deep Learning for Congestion Prediction and Traffic Light Control (TRALICO)’ was selected for funding under the European Interest Group CONCERT-Japan programme. This project is coordinated by Vilmos Simon, head of MEDIANETS Lab at the Department of Networked Systems and Services of BME’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics.
In cooperation with the Nara Institute of Science (Japan) and the Istanbul IT and Smart City Technologies Inc. (Turkey), BME’s MEDIANETS research laboratory will develop solutions that will be able to predict the intensity of future traffic and forecast potential congestions using artificial intelligence. These predictions will be used to intervene in the control of traffic lights in real time in response to the traffic conditions identified. This will help reduce travel time and harmful emissions.
This solution is significant and unique as no similar solution has been tested in real life situations in a large urban environment in Europe or in Japan before. A key objective of the project is to have the partners test this solution in real life traffic conditions too, in one of the world’s largest cities, Istanbul. The reference solution created in Istanbul in the course of the three-year project is also expected to strongly support the solution’s future marketing as a large number of cities are interested in a similar solution.
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Most Hungarian universities excludedfrom the EU’s international research support program
