Announcement at the First Space Summit Conference: HUN-REN Launches Space Research Program

Space research has become one of the fastest-growing and most strategic sectors globally. The global space economy is no longer solely a scientific endeavor: it fundamentally shapes telecommunications, navigation, climate and environmental monitoring, security, healthcare innovation, and the development of new industries built on artificial intelligence and the data economy.

HUN-REN’s new space research program responds directly to this global transformation. The initiative is designed to facilitate the integration of Hungarian research capacities into European and international space research communities, and to ensure that outcomes—from basic research to innovation—generate measurable social and economic impact. Program planning has already begun, and HUN-REN will present its results later this year. The program’s clear long-term objective is to strengthen Hungary’s position within the global space research innovation ecosystem.

“With this new program, HUN-REN aims to ensure that Hungary, through its knowledge and research capacities, becomes an active and value-creating participant in the international space economy. Within the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network, eight research institutes have conducted internationally recognized scientific work for decades. During the implementation of the program, we will consolidate this vast yet fragmented knowledge base into a single, competitive strategy, building on the achievements of the HUNOR program,” said Balázs Gulyás in his opening address.

Currently, 126 researchers within the HUN-REN network are actively engaged in space-related research, covering the full spectrum from basic scientific research to applied innovation. This knowledge base ensures that Hungary is not merely a participant in international collaborations, but a shaping force within them.

“Space is no longer confined to astronomy; it represents one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global economy. Space research plays a key role in artificial intelligence development, the utilization of Big Data assets, and the protection of critical infrastructure. For leading economies, space research is simultaneously a technological, economic, and sovereignty issue. According to OECD data, every euro invested in space research generates an average return of six to seven euros. This is not merely an expense—it is one of our highest-yield investments. HUN-REN’s goal is to provide researchers with the scientific and technological environment—supported by international partnerships and AI tools—that is essential for efficient and competitive research today,” added Roland Jakab, CEO of HUN-REN.

The program is closely linked to a space mission currently in preparation, which could mark another milestone in the history of Hungarian space exploration. The objective is to choose Hungary’s third astronaut in the near future, joining the elite club, currently consisting of Bertalan Farkas and Tibor Kapu.

Orsolya Ferencz, Ministerial Commissioner for Space Research, emphasized that space exploration requires long-term thinking, measured in years or even decades. Hungary joined the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2015, adopted its National Space Strategy in 2021, and in the same year launched the HUNOR program and the selection process for the next Hungarian astronaut. The mission itself took place in 2025.

“Space is always about the future—about whether we dare to think and act big, working together with other researchers, organizations, and nations along the way. One of the greatest strengths of the HUNOR program was the opportunity to collaborate with experts and astronauts from the United States and India, both leading space powers. For me, HUN-REN’s new space research program signals that this cooperation will continue, and that future generations of Hungarian researchers and engineers will actively shape a world built on space technologies,” said research astronaut Tibor Kapu.

The conference and HUN-REN were also welcomed in a Hungarian-language video message by Charles Simonyi, the only civilian to have travelled twice to the International Space Station (ISS). He emphasized that space research is not a luxury, but an opportunity for a nation, as it stimulates every segment of the economy and provides a vision for the future. Hungary’s strength, he noted, is demonstrated by her ability to build its own independent strategic space program.

At the event, key players in Hungarian space research—including six HUN-REN research centers and institutes, as well as representatives of seven university research groups cooperating with the network—presented their activities, achievements of recent years, and future plans.

HUN-REN’s international presence in space research will be further strengthened in March 2026, when the network represents Hungary at Space-Comm Expo in London, Europe’s largest professional space research and space industry event. The most significant achievements and future directions of Hungarian space research will be showcased.