Balazs Gulyas said at today's inaugural Space Summit 2026 conference in Budapest was not just a professional gathering but "a strategic milestone".

Hungarian scientists and engineers, Gulyas said, had contributed to global efforts in astronautics and space exploration for the past few decades.

 "Over 120 researchers across eight HUN-REN institutes have conducted internationally recognised work, from operating astrophysical small satellites to participating in planetary missions and analysing lunar rock samples," he said.

"Given the exponential growth in the global significance of space research and the space economy, the time has come to unite vast expertise within and without the research network," Gulyas said. This must build on the HUNOR programme's achievements and further collaboration with its partners, he added.

"Our goal is clear: to make HUN-REN an indispensable player in the international space research and industry value chain," he decalared.

A key element of the strategy, he said, was deep integration into the global space research and industrial ecosystem. In March, HUN-REN will represent Hungary at Europe's largest space industry conference, Space-Comm Expo in London, where researcher-astronaut Tibor Kapu will deliver a presentation.

"This event offers an opportunity to strengthen ties with leading international partners, showcase Hungary's space research achievements and future plans, and place Hungary on the global space map," Gulyas added.

Success depended on researchers, university partners, and space industry representatives working together on a unified platform, he argued. 

"Today's conference and our upcoming space research programme aim to ensure that Hungarian expertise not only reaches space but also creates lasting value for both the international scientific community and Hungary’s science and economy."

Roland Jakab, HUN-REN's director-general, emphysised that space research, as one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global economy, was a priority for Hungary.

Orsolya Ferencz, ministerial commissioner for space research, speaking during a panel discussion with Kapu, said that the energy, funding, and work invested in recent years were now bearing fruit, with a strong expert base, experiments, and trained astronauts positioning Hungary to remain "a present and defining force in space activity".

Space Summit 2026, hosted by HUN-REN and Tibor Kapu of the HUNOR programme, features speakers from Hungarian and international space research, including Bertalan Farkas, Peggy Whitson, and Slawosz Uznanski Wisniewski.
 

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.

Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.

XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com
 

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