HUN-REN Space Summit 2026: A new chapter in Hungarian space research

Space Summit 2026 is not merely a scientific conference, but a strategic meeting point. HUN-REN’s research institutes, their supported research groups, key university partners, and industry stakeholders will come together to explore what space research means today. In a broader sense, this includes the full spectrum of scientific and technological research related to outer space – from astronomy to planetary defense, from space weather to instrument development. In a narrower sense, the focus will be on those areas where Hungary holds a genuine competitive advantage.

One of the conference’s central questions is the development of a flagship research program that brings together Hungary’s space research capabilities and enables HUN-REN institutes, researchers, university centers, and industrial partners to carry out joint projects on an international scale.

The full-day professional event will be hosted by Tibor Kapu, astronaut of the HUNOR program, who gained first-hand experience in 2025 as a member of the Axiom-4 mission, contributing to the implementation of scientific and technical experiments aboard the International Space Station.

The conference will also feature a number of outstanding researchers and professionals, whose personal insights and scientific work will enrich the program. Invited speakers include Orsolya Ferencz, Ministerial Commissioner for Space Research, Klaudia Vivien Nagy, a certified space medicine physician of the European Space Agency (ESA), as well as iconic figures of Hungarian spaceflight, Bertalan Farkas and Charles Simonyi.

An international perspective will be provided by Axiom-4 astronauts Peggy Whitson and Sławosz Uznański Wiśniewski, who will share experiences from their own missions, discuss the practical challenges of space research, and highlight the scientific achievements of human spaceflight.

The event will place a strong emphasis on best practices in successful collaboration between research institutes, universities, and industry. Participants will present working models in which basic research, applied research, and industrial development reinforce one another. The goal is to build a Hungarian space industry and research ecosystem that enables rapid knowledge transfer, efficient project implementation, and strong competitiveness in international funding programs. Coordinated cooperation across the relevant sectors can, in the long term, provide Hungary with a significant scientific and economic advantage.

Conference participants will also assess Hungary’s and HUN-REN’s current position in the field of space research. Hungary’s strengths include a strong foundation in high-level basic research, specialized expertise in instrument development, and close links to international research infrastructures and organizations.

ESA membership, participation in international missions, and integration into global research networks all play a key role in enabling Hungarian researchers and companies to become active contributors to the space programs of the future.

An additional important topic at the Space Summit 2026 will be the issue of developing the next generation of professionals. Participants will review the current state of university training programs, the challenges of research career paths, and the fact that successful space research requires not only scientists, but also a broad range of highly skilled experts, including engineers, software developers, and other specialists. The goal is to establish education and career pathways that will ensure a strong and sustainable human resource base for Hungarian space research in the long term.

HUN-REN’s institutes will represent the domestic value chain of space research at the conference. The scientific program will be supported by the HUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science, the HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics, the HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, the HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research, and the HUN-REN Institute for Nuclear Research. Together, these institutes cover a significant part of the spectrum from fundamental research to instrument development.

The message of Space Summit 2026 is clear: Hungary aims not only to participate in, but also to help shape the future of space research. The integration of science, higher education, and industry can create new innovation value chains that generate scientific, economic, and technological impact alike. The conference seeks to further strengthen the partnerships and strategic directions that will ensure Hungary’s visible and influential presence in the global space sector over the long term. The detailed program and full list of speakers are available on the event’s official website.