University of Szeged

Through storytelling sessions, live readings, a documentary, a Nobel lecture, and a playful double quiz, participants at SZTE’s Nobel Day were immersed in the spirit of Stockholm’s Nobel Week, culminating in the screening of the Award Ceremony held on December 10, 2025. Gathering in the CommuniTIK community space at the University of Szeged’s József Attila Study and Information Center, attendees followed the live feed from Stockholm Concert Hall, experiencing the ceremony not as distant spectators but as part of a shared, collective moment. Among the many highlights of the day, the intellectual and emotional high point came with Nobel laureate writer László Krasznahorkai’s banquet speech, marking the close of the official Nobel program.

With the traditional copper baton in hand, the National Conference on Educational Sciences returned to its original home at the University of Szeged. Launched in Szeged a quarter century ago, the event – known by its Hungarian acronym ONK – celebrated its 25th anniversary between November 13 and 15, 2025, marking a symbolic homecoming for the country’s most prominent gathering of education researchers.

At a dinner held in honor of literary Nobel laureate László Krasznahorkai, Sweden’s Ambassador to Hungary also welcomed Katalin Karikó, the biochemist awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The special occasion brought together two Nobel Prize-winning Alumni of the University of Szeged’s predecessor institution, József Attila University, highlighting a shared academic legacy that spans disciplines and generations. Against this backdrop, the article explores how the University of Szeged continues to engage with, preserve, and promote the internationally acclaimed work of its distinguished writer alumnus, László Krasznahorkai.

Hungary’s National Academy of Scientist Education held its 25th Meeting of Nobel Laureates and Talented Students in Szeged, marking a milestone year for the long-standing initiative. The event has expanded to such an extent that it has outgrown the University of Szeged’s József Attila Study and Information Center and was relocated to the Pick Arena, where nearly 4,000 students and teachers gathered for this year’s program. After the opening remarks, the audience heard a lecture by Sir Peter Ratcliffe, the British cell biologist awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine – a recognition he shared with two fellow researchers – for uncovering how cells sense oxygen levels and adapt to changing oxygen availability.

With the grand auditorium of the University of Szeged’s József Attila Study and Information Center bathed in festive lights, the JATE Award made its debut on November 15, 2025, at an illustrious gala event. Established to honor tradition while also embracing a spirit of renewal, the new recognition was presented to three outstanding members of the university community: Márton Simon Czikkely, Ágota Tóth, and Mihály Ilia. Personal recollections and heartfelt tributes from the award’s founder, Nobel laureate Professor Katalin Karikó, transformed the evening into a celebration not only of individual excellence, but also of the shared values that unite the SZTE community.

At the University of Szeged, students can navigate every stage of the innovation process – a message highlighted at SZTE’s 13th Innovation Day, where Katalin Karikó addressed a large audience and reflected on the innovation pathway that ultimately led to her groundbreaking discovery. Held in the Ceremonial Hall of the University’s Main Building, the event also honored this year’s recipients of the SZTE Innovation Award.

A time capsule was ceremoniously set in place at the University of Szeged Science Park, marking the future site of the Sustainable Mobility Industrial Relations Center (FMIKK). Designed as a new hub for materials science and the automotive industry, the center will tackle the complex challenges of the electromobility era. Serving as a research, development, measurement technology, and educational facility, FMIKK aims to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry in one of today’s fastest-evolving technological fields.

New eBooks are now available to readers at the University of Szeged Klebelsberg Library and Archives, acquired with the support of Katalin Karikó as part of the Development of Electronic Content and Information Services project at the University of Szeged Klebelsberg Library and Archives.

The international university network SGroup – Universities in Europe held its annual general assembly at the University of Szeged. The network aims to strengthen international academic relations and foster strategic partnerships between the scientific community and policy-making bodies. Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar, Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Public Relations at the University of Szeged, emphasized that despite the European Commission’s controversial decision to exclude certain Hungarian universities from the Erasmus+ program, the assembly reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to cooperation with the University of Szeged.

The Confucius Institute at the University of Szeged opened its doors in 2012, becoming the second such institute in Hungary and the first outside the capital. Since then, Chinese- language education, cultural programs, and academic exchanges between China and Hungary have continued to thrive – at the university, in Szeged, and across the country. The Institute’s most recent board meeting was held at the SZTE’s main building on October 10, 2025, with leaders from Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) in attendance.

Launched in 1985, the English-language medical program in Szeged was among the first of its kind in Hungary. To mark the anniversary, a reunion was held from 3 to 5 October 2025, bringing together graduates from the past four decades who returned to the city from all corners of the world.

Science takes center stage in Szeged this month as the University of Szeged once again opens its doors to the public for Researchers’ Night. Held on September 26–27, 2025, the event will feature more than 400 diverse and engaging programs. Visitors are invited to experience the wonder of discovery firsthand, be inspired, and explore the opportunities offered by a career in research.

Having hosted the event in 2018, Szeged once again provided the venue for the Annual Meeting of the Hungarian Society of Physiology, held this year from September 2 to 5. Co-organized by four major Hungarian scientific societies and featuring presentations by researchers from the University of Szeged, the conference was marked by the distinguished presence of Nobel laureate Stefan Hell (Germany), Wolf Prize winner Botond Roska (Switzerland), and University of Pennsylvania scientist Norbert Pardi – an SZTE alumnus and colleague of Katalin Karikó.

With 134 speakers from 14 countries, the University of Szeged hosted the 13th International Altay Communities Symposium – regarded as the most prestigious gathering on Altay studies among Asian countries.

Escorted by a brass ensemble, the University of Szeged’s professorial procession made its way through the city center on Friday, September 5, marking the start of the 2025–2026 academic year. This was followed by the Senate’s ceremonial session in the Study and Information Center, where the university conferred high honors and outlined new international collaborations. The guest of honor was Csaba Lantos, Hungary’s Minister of Energy. In keeping with tradition, first-year students took their oath and were welcomed as members of the university community – with a handshake from the Rector.

The JATE Award honors individuals whose exceptional achievements and personal qualities reflect the spirit of the University of Szeged. The call for nominations for this special distinction remains open until September 8, 2025. Established from the Nobel Prize funds of Katalin Karikó, the award includes a USD 5,000 cash prize, an original artwork, and a decorative certificate, with nominations playing a pivotal role in celebrating excellence.

This autumn, the University of Szeged is taking Hungarian–Chinese higher education cooperation to a new level. In collaboration with Shaanxi Normal University (SNNU), SZTE is launching a unique four-year undergraduate program, with students completing three years of their studies in China and one year in Hungary.

Today, the University of Szeged has nearly 25,000 students, and while its primary goal is to secure full enrollment in state-funded programs, attracting fee-paying students – whether Hungarian or international – is equally important. This is what Chancellor Judit Fendler emphasized when we spoke with her about the university’s experiences so far with the shift to a foundation-based governance model.

At a formal ceremony held on June 17, 2025, the foundation stone was laid for the new wings of the SZTE id. Jancsó Miklós Dormitory. The development project will expand the University of Szeged’s student housing capacity by 240 premium places, financed through a 3.6-billion-forint investment.

In the first five months of 2025, Katalin Karikó delivered lectures at conferences and public events across Europe. During her working visit to Italy in May, she received the Mendel Award from the European Society of Human Genetics. Back in Hungary, she continued to share her latest findings and experiences related to messenger RNA at several conferences.

From May 29 to 31, 2025, the University of Szeged’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Studies hosted the 1st International Health Sciences Conference at the Art Hotel in Szeged. The event offered a rich and diverse program for professionals and students eager to explore the latest advances in healthcare and medical science. The conference brought together speakers and participants from six countries, alongside representatives from Hungarian higher education institutions.

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Nobel Laureate Katalin Karikó spoke at the Collegium Hungaricum in Vienna, addressing Austrian high school students and their peers from Hungary. In her presentation, the renowned biochemist emphasized the importance of maintaining both physical and mental well-being. She shared personal reflections from her life, recalling how her fascination with nature – especially with plants – first took root in childhood, gradually growing to include chemistry, biology, and geography, and inspiring her to create detailed illustrations of living organisms.

On May 19, 2025, Katalin Karikó was awarded an honorary doctorate and the Semmelweis Medal by the Medical University of Vienna. The Nobel Prize-winning professor from the University of Szeged delivered a lecture before an audience of nearly 900 people.

A captivating exhibition titled Forever Forward, celebrating the life and work of Katalin Karikó, has opened at the Josephinum, Vienna’s Museum of Medical History.

Two new laboratories were inaugurated on May 15, 2025, at the Institute of Pathology within the Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center of the University of Szeged. The Central Sequencing Laboratory and the Ormos Jenő Molecular Pathology Diagnostic Center were established with nearly half a billion forints in funding. These twin facilities are especially valuable in situations where swift decision-making is critical – for example, in cases involving severe neonatal conditions, immune deficiencies, or rare genetic disorders.