A new chapter has opened in university-driven innovation in Hungary. As part of SzeBIT 2025, Hungary’s largest free IT showcase, SZTE and Hewlett Packard Enterprise inaugurated their joint network-technology research laboratory, the SZTE–HPE Network Innovation HUB. This strategic infrastructure development strengthens SZTE’s position as a key player in cutting-edge industrial innovation programs and enhances its role in both the national and international scientific community.
A pivotal step has been taken in the Hungarian higher education landscape and in the country’s innovation ecosystem. On November 19, 2025, the University of Szeged (SZTE), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and the Szeged-based company PC Trade Systems Kft. inaugurated one of Central and Eastern Europe’s most advanced research laboratories dedicated to network and digital infrastructure development. Located in the University’s József Attila Study and Information Center (TIK), the new research hub represents a major milestone for both academia and industry, bringing world-class technological capabilities directly into the heart of the region’s innovation ecosystem.
The new world-class facility was established under the professional coordination of the University of Szeged’s Technology Transfer Company (SZTE TTC Zrt.), creating a forward-looking cooperation model that connects science, industry, and education. The supercomputing and networking solutions developed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise and its HPE Networking division will empower data-intensive research, accelerate industrial digitalization, and provide a next-generation learning environment for SZTE students.
The joint initiative aims to establish the University of Szeged as a leading hub for network innovation and digital infrastructure development, both regionally and internationally. Building on cutting-edge HPE technologies, the collaboration will unlock new opportunities in data security, high-speed networking, and the digital integration of education and industry – further strengthening the position of Hungary’s Southern Great Plain region on the global technology map.
The investment represents another major development in the strategic partnership among the University of Szeged, SZTE TTC Zrt., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and PC Trade Systems Kft. Within this collaboration, SZTE TTC Zrt. plays a central role in translating research outcomes into practical applications and business development, while HPE and PC Trade Systems Kft. provide the technological foundations that enable these innovations to take shape.
The new laboratory’s main focus areas include healthcare digitalization, Big Data‑driven decision support, telemedicine, and the development of autonomous technologies and intelligent network solutions.
A key objective of the partnership is to integrate state-of-the-art IT infrastructure and HPE’s international best-practice solutions into education at the University of Szeged, ensuring that students develop the skills most in demand in the digital economy. As part of the agreement, the University of Szeged will join the HPE Networking Global Advisory Board in 2026 – becoming the first Hungarian institution to do so – and will become a member of one of the world’s leading research communities in networking technologies.
At the event, Dr. Judit Fendler, Chancellor of the University of Szeged, highlighted the broader significance of the initiative:
“The laboratory we are inaugurating today is far more than a technological investment – it is a strategic statement. It demonstrates that Szeged’s academic excellence, corporate innovation efforts, and global technology expertise can come together to shape the future. With this infrastructure development, our University is positioned to take a leading role in next-generation industrial innovation programs, further strengthening our standing within both the national and international scientific community.”
Tibor Szpisják, Managing Director of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Hungary, added:
“For HPE, this collaboration in Szeged is more than a standard implementation project – it is a true partnership built on joint development and a shared vision. Szeged offers an ideal environment for industry and academia to work side by side and deliver real-world outcomes in digital innovation and network-infrastructure development.”
András Ujhegyi, CEO of SZTE TTC Zrt., emphasized the company’s mission:
SZTE TTC’s mission is to ensure that research results translate into real business applications – and this laboratory embodies that vision. Technology transfer goes beyond business development; it represents a cultural shift. Our goal is to turn scientific achievements into tangible social and economic value.
Gábor Tóth, Managing Director of PC Trade Systems Kft., added:
“This project is a major technological step forward, and it also contributes to retaining talent and expertise in the region. We are proud to be part of this forward-looking collaboration.”
Through its far-reaching impact, the joint laboratory stands at the crossroad of scientific research, corporate innovation, and sustainable digitalization – a clear demonstration of how the future is being built in Szeged.
At the opening of SzeBIT 2025, the Chancellor of the University of Szeged welcomed participants and underscored the event’s growing significance. She noted that this year’s SzeBIT once again provides an outstanding platform for the world’s leading IT companies – including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Dell, Samsung, Huawei, ASUS, IBM, Epson, and Lenovo – to present their latest innovations and products.
“These new technologies are continuously reshaping the business world, while offering clear advantages to people in their daily lives,” the Chancellor noted. In this context, the event transformed Szeged into the Eastern European capital of future technologies for a day, providing visitors with insight into the latest advancements across the IT sector – from next-generation office solutions and diverse AI applications to cutting-edge robotics.
“In today’s dynamic environment – where higher education, scientific research, and industry are more interconnected than ever – it is essential for universities to participate in development efforts not merely as followers, but as drivers. At the University of Szeged, this has been a guiding principle for many years. We define ourselves as a fourth-generation university – one that does not simply respond to change, but actively shapes it,” the Chancellor concluded.
As part of the opening event, the University of Szeged received the “Most Innovative Hewlett Packard Enterprise University Partner 2025” award from HPE. The prestigious recognition was presented to Dr. Judit Fendler by Tibor Szpisják.
Source: SZTEinfo
Photos: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
