An AI-powered digital platform to support cancer patients, a wearable belt designed to relieve menstrual pain, and a plastic pallet engineered to transform logistics – these were just a few of the innovative ideas presented by students from the University of Szeged at the closing event of the Hungarian Startup University Program (HSUP) in Budapest. This year’s HSUP Demo Day, held on July 3 at the Bosch Innovation Campus, brought together the top student-led projects, several of which received financial backing and professional mentoring.
The University of Szeged – named Innovative University of the Year 2025 – has played an active role in the Hungarian Startup University Program (HSUP) since its inception and continues to do so as the program enters its fifth year. Supported by the Hungarian Innovation Agency, the initiative promotes student entrepreneurship by introducing young people to the world of innovation and equipping them with practical knowledge about launching and developing a startup.
The two-semester program is designed to support students in gaining the skills needed to launch their own startups – beginning with e-learning materials in the first semester, followed by mentoring and project-based work in the second. The academic year wraps up with Demo Day, where the most outstanding teams pitch their ideas to investors and innovation experts. This year, 15 teams were selected from nearly 150 project groups to present their concepts, including three teams with students from the University of Szeged. Each team member received a financial award of HUF 1 million, and the teams with the most promising projects were offered professional mentoring and resources to further develop their ideas.
Projects involving SZTE students:
Pain-relief belt for those difficult days
Inspired by an idea from Nikolett Häger, a general medicine student at the University of Szeged’s Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, the Bellyease team set out to create a solution for menstrual pain. The SZTE student formed the team with Bianka Gábor from Semmelweis University and Krisztián Gergely Józan from the National University of Public Service. Their project, Calmilum , involves the development of a menstrual pain-relief belt that combines heat and pressure to naturally alleviate cramps. Discreet and comfortable, it can be worn under clothing and is controlled via a mobile app. Designed with direct input from women, the device is tailored to meet real user needs. Building on this feedback, the team further defined the problem and refined their solution to develop a truly innovative, market-ready product. The team’s development efforts are supported by Dr. Emil Nyerki from the University of Szeged and electrical engineer Tibor Balogh.
Supporting cancer patients with an AI-based digital platform
Healo Health is an AI-powered digital platform designed to provide personalized support for cancer patients – from diagnosis through recovery. The project was initiated by Dóra Egri, a student at Eötvös Loránd University, together with teammates Maja Júlia Major, a Business Development student at the University of Szeged’s Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, and Julianna Varga, also from ELTE.
The platform offers daily tips, health tracking, expert chat, and access to a supportive community to reduce isolation and improve patient care. By focusing on B2B partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers, Healo generates real-time data while integrating medical and emotional support into a single, comprehensive solution. The team’s mission is to ensure that no patient has to face cancer alone.
Rethinking pallets with 3D printing logistics innovation
Harsh Prashant, a general medicine student at the University of Szeged’s Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, is part of the team behind the modular plastic pallets project. The idea originated with János Zwickl from Óbuda University, and the team also includes Ákos Dezső Horváth from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.
The goal of the SMART Modular Pallet (SMP) project is to revolutionize logistics by developing modular, 3D-printed pallets with custom-shaped inserts tailored for specific components. Targeting the automotive, chemical, and logistics industries, SMP enables cost-effective, sustainable, and RFID-compatible packaging – without the need for injection molding tools. Its customizable, low-volume production model supports agile, trackable supply chain operations designed to reduce damage and improve efficiency.
Backing student innovation
To help bring students’ projects to life, the University of Szeged provided institutional support through its broader innovation and entrepreneurship programs. Specifically, the HSUP program received support as part of the Development Program for “Entrepreneurial SZTE” – within the Cluster for Third Mission Development Program of the University of Szeged’s Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development, and Innovation. Students received expert guidance from the Directorate for Strategic Management at the University of Szeged to prepare and deliver compelling pitch presentations. The HSUP Demo Day event was attended by Róbert Kurucz, Head of Innovation Management; Roland Karmann, Business Development Manager; and Éva Köles, Business Development Coordinator.
SZTE Virtus Research Career Program – For Entrepreneurially Minded Members of the University Community
The University of Szeged places strong emphasis on identifying and supporting talent through initiatives such as the Junior Academy and the Talent Center. The ideas of students and researchers are regarded as having significant potential to contribute meaningfully to social and economic development, while also fostering personal and professional growth among students.
The promotion of innovative thinking and the strengthening of an entrepreneurial mindset became institutionally recognized with the launch of the Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development, and Innovation (IKIKK) and the Virtus Venture Catalyst Program in 2019. Established alongside the Hungarian Startup University Program (HSUP), this framework was designed to offer ‘within-university’ opportunities for students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral researchers to explore new roles and expand their horizons.
In 2025, the University of Szeged advanced its innovation strategy even further with the launch of the Virtus Research Career Program by the Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development, and Innovation. This initiative supports research-driven ideas from the stage of fundamental research through to market implementation. Its goals include strengthening the university’s innovation ecosystem, expanding partnerships with industry and investors, and ensuring the effective realization of the university’s intellectual output.
The HSUP program will continue at the University of Szeged in the spring semester of 2026. Participants who successfully complete the course in the second semester will earn 5 credits. Further details about the application process will be available on the university’s website at the end of the summer.
Source: IKIKK info
