HUN-REN Continues its Renewal with the Appointment of Vice Presidents for Scientific Domains

The HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network is Hungary’s most significant national research network and a cornerstone of scientific excellence in the country. Across its fifteen institutions, more than 5,000 researchers and experts work to generate new scientific results that contribute to domestic innovation and knowledge-based development, while strengthening Hungarian research and Hungary’s international competitiveness.

The three Vice Presidents for scientific domains appointed will support this mission. Zsolt Szalay will be responsible for the engineering and natural sciences (STEM), Péter Nagy for the life sciences (LIFE), and Petra Aczél for frontier sciences. All three have achieved outstanding results in research, education and science management. In their capacity as Vice Presidents for scientific domains, they will facilitate the implementation of strategic objectives, enhance research excellence and scientific output, develop international industrial and scientific partnerships, and promote innovation.

Their responsibilities will include elevating cooperation among research institutes, advancing cross-institutional projects, unlocking synergies and the potential inherent in network-based operations, and thereby identifying new research directions. Working closely with institute directors and researchers, they will support the Governing Board, the President and the Chief Executive Officer with proposals and advice in defining HUN-REN’s strategic objectives and future development.

“One of HUN-REN’s key strengths lies in cooperation across disciplines, institutions and even national borders, as well as in shared infrastructure and coordinated programmes. The Vice Presidents for scientific domains will play a vital role in strengthening this coordination, as they are not only outstanding scholars but also outstanding leaders in science management,” said Balázs Gulyás, President of the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network.

“One of this year’s key priorities is to continue the institutional transition, strengthen cooperation and performance across our research institutes, and more consciously leverage the advantages arising from HUN-REN’s network-based operation. Networking and internal cooperation are not merely opportunities, but fundamental operating principles that create added value. With the support of the Vice Presidents for scientific domains, we are embedding this principle into everyday practice,” said Roland Jakab, Chief Executive Officer of HUN-REN.

Each of the three newly appointed Vice Presidents is a recognised expert in their respective fields.

Dr Zsolt Szalay is Associate Professor and Head of Department at the Department of Automotive Technologies of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. He has worked in automotive innovation for three decades, specializing in the verification and validation of advanced automotive technologies. As a research and innovation leader, he has been involved from the outset in the development and operation of the ZalaZONE automotive proving ground. Throughout his career, he has been firmly committed to bridge the gap between university research and industrial commercialization.

Dr Péter Nagy is Scientific Director of the National Institute of Oncology and a full professor. As an internationally recognised researcher, he plays a leading role in the development of Hungary’s scientific and innovation ecosystem, with a particular focus on the diagnosis and therapeutic solutions of oncological diseases. At the core of his professional ethos lies the networking of research centres and the transformation of scientific excellence into economic and societal value.

Dr Petra Aczél is Professor at Széchenyi István University and Head of the Centre for AI and Future Strategies. As a linguist-rhetorician and communication researcher, and as a leader of interdisciplinary projects addressing contemporary challenges, she advances the goals and processes of innovation. She has led the development of scientific excellence at several institutions and is a committed advocate of cooperation across disciplines. She also applies her experience in science organisation and governance in several national-level bodies.