The University of Szeged has reached a major new milestone in its collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO): the Cluster for Third Mission Developments within the University’s Centre of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development and Innovation (IKIKK) has been designated a WHO Collaborating Centre for Public Health Innovation (HUN-33). This designation marks an important step forward in the partnership between the two organizations and further strengthens the University of Szeged’s international role in public health innovation.
WHO’s decision also recognizes the University of Szeged’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and to translating research, knowledge, and innovation into real-world impact. By aligning the University’s expertise and innovation capacity with WHO’s objectives, the new Collaborating Centre will contribute to advancing public health and strengthening international cooperation across the WHO European Region.
As a WHO Collaborating Centre, IKIKK’s Cluster for Third Mission Developments will contribute to WHO’s work in three priority areas:
- developing and delivering training programs and professional resources in public health innovation;
- supporting the development of the public health innovation ecosystem in the WHO European Region, aimed at deepening connections among universities, the public sector, and innovation stakeholders; and
- contributing to the development and operation of a digital knowledge hub and repository supporting WHO’s European public health innovation platform.
The designation was announced on September 10, 2026, at the One Health Summit – Szeged 2026, hosted by the University of Szeged. The event brought together representatives of WHO and SZTE, along with Hungarian and international partners, providing a forum for dialogue and collaboration. In his remarks, Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe of the WHO Regional Office for Europe emphasized the significance of the new Collaborating Centre and its role in advancing public health innovation and strengthening cooperation across Europe.
“The University of Szeged is a particularly fitting home for this WHO Collaborating Centre. The University is committed to scientific excellence that reaches beyond its own walls – a commitment that will also guide the Centre’s work and help translate its expertise into benefits for people in Hungary and across the WHO European Region. Through this partnership, we will work together to expand public health innovation capacity, help countries learn from one another’s experiences, and develop practical professional resources that Member States can apply in their own settings and adapt to local needs,” said Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe, Director of the Prevention and Health Promotion Division at the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
“This designation is both an honor and a responsibility for the University of Szeged,” said Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged. “Through the work of our new WHO Collaborating Centre, we aim to further strengthen the University’s role in developing innovative solutions to public health challenges and support WHO in advancing its work across the European Region.”
The establishment of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Public Health Innovation at the University of Szeged reinforces the University’s regional role in connecting academic expertise and innovation with public health needs. Operating within IKIKK’s Cluster for Third Mission Developments, the Centre will advance knowledge sharing, build capacity, and promote closer international collaboration across the WHO European Region – helping translate innovation into practical public health solutions that deliver tangible benefits for communities across the Region.
Source: SZTEinfo
