Science-based Regeneration of Transport

In his presentation, entitled Science-Based Transportation Regeneration, Roland Jakab began by outlining the aims and structure of the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network, before showing how HUN-REN’s research and development activities are linked to future mobility. He stressed that the aim is to support sustainable, smart and autonomous transport systems that make mobility safer, more efficient and more environmentally responsible.

One of the main platforms for this work was the National Laboratory for Autonomous Systems, led by HUN-REN SZTAKI in partnership with the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) and Széchenyi István University in Győr. The recently completed four-year programme delivered outstanding results in vehicle automation and transport applications, and planning is already under way for a new three-year phase. Jakab emphasised that the programme not only produced significant research results, but also helped generate industrial partnerships, patents and higher levels of technological maturity. One of the laboratory’s flagship developments is autonomous vehicle control at the limits of vehicle dynamics, enabling the system to take over in critical situations and avoid collisions.

“Roughly a quarter of serious and fatal accidents happen because the driver loses control of the vehicle. This solution takes over automatically in critical situations and, through its autonomous intervention systems, can avoid collisions and potentially save lives,” said HUN-REN’s CEO.

Jakab also said that, from a mobility perspective, the work of the National AI Laboratory is equally important. Research there spans the full spectrum of artificial intelligence, from mathematical foundations and the use of large language models to embedded AI solutions. This expertise can directly contribute to the smarter operation of future transport systems, greater automation, and more data-driven decision-making.

The presentation also covered further research closely related to mobility that is under way at various HUN-REN research institutes. This includes lightweight, durable and recyclable materials, energy storage and hydrogen-based solutions, as well as improving the material and energy efficiency of transport through system-level optimisation (HUN-REN–BME Research Group for Composite Technology, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, HUN-REN Institute for Computer Science and Control).

The CEO also introduced HUN-REN’s AI4Science programme, which supports the use of artificial intelligence in research. As part of this initiative, tools and services are being developed to accelerate research, improve researchers’ efficiency, and open up new scientific possibilities. In the closing section of his presentation, he also outlined the AI First Science approach, arguing that in future artificial intelligence may not only support researchers, but may also become an active research partner.

The points raised by HUN-REN’s CEO were picked up again during the round-table discussion that followed the presentation. Panel members — including Krzysztof Kulik, Director at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Helene Niklasson, Vice-President for Innovation Ecosystems at Volvo Group, and Giorgio Travaini, Executive Director of Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking — discussed how short- and long-term challenges in transport R&D might be addressed, how the gap between basic research and practical implementation could be bridged, and what funding mechanisms could help stimulate investment.