SZE Strengthens Ties with U.S. Partners

Created: 2025.07.15. 15:58

Representatives of Széchenyi István University were among the official guests at the U.S. Embassy’s Independence Day reception in Budapest. The invitation exemplifies the University’s growing engagement with American partners across a wide range of fields.

Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice President for International Affairs and Strategic Relations, and Péter Németh, Scientific Secretary and Head of the HUN-REN Centre of International Excellence at Széchenyi István University, represented the institution at the July 4th celebration hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Hungary. In his address, Robert Palladino, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy, emphasized the importance of U.S.–Hungarian relations, the shared values between the two nations, and the need to maintain dialogue and cooperation. The event was attended by a number of distinguished guests, including Hungarian government officials—such as ministers and state secretaries—underscoring the diplomatic significance of the occasion.

The University’s invitation to such a high-level event not only reflects recognition but also signifies its increasingly important role in the landscape of transatlantic academic and scientific collaboration. Széchenyi István University’s relationships with American institutions have deepened on multiple levels in recent years. In June, Robert Palladino personally visited the University’s campus in Győr, where the Embassy delegation gained a comprehensive overview of the University’s educational and research portfolio, as well as its internationalization strategy.

Among those present at the reception were Péter Németh, Headof the HUN-REN Centre of International Excellence; Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice President for International Affairs and Strategic Relations; Robert Palladino, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires; Piros Pazaurek, President of HungarianHub and Honorary Consul of Hungary in Central Florida; and Dr István Peták, Research Professor at Széchenyi István University. (Photo: Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy Budapest)

Thanks to its growing international reputation, the University welcomed a student from Princeton University last year to its Audi Development Camp short-term training programme, and this year several participants from Quinnipiac University joined the initiative. In addition, the University is launching the Catalyst Europe programme for the third consecutive year in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with a focus on health technology innovation. Applications remain open for those interested in this field.

Beyond these developments, the institution maintains strong partnerships with several American universities—for example, it recently hosted a visiting professor from Penn State Schuylkill. At the same time, through collaborations with HungarianHub in Florida, the USA Accelerator program, and the Hungarian Summit, the University is becoming increasingly integrated into international innovation networks. This year, Széchenyi István University also served as one of the host venues for the Hungarian Summit, co-organized with Piros Pazaurek.

The University has likewise established substantial US collaborations in the field of scientific research. A prominent example is Dr István Peták, a research professor at Széchenyi István University, who is internationally recognized for his work in personalized cancer therapy and molecular genetics. His contributions are acknowledged in the United States, where he teaches at the Chicago campus of the University of Illinois and is founding member of Massachusetts-based health tech company Genomate Health. In a recent statement, Dr Glenn Tiffert, a researcher at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, praised Széchenyi University’s industrial partnerships as exemplary. Moreover, a recent visit by the Nebraska state secretary highlighted opportunities for collaboration in agricultural research, while ongoing negotiations with Quinnipiac University aim to expand cooperation in engineering and technology.

„Strengthening our international presence is a strategic priority for Széchenyi István University, and our close cooperation with the United States plays a vital role in this effort,” emphasized Dr Eszter Lukács. „Through our American partnerships, we are opening new avenues not only for our students and faculty but also for our research and innovation activities, which in the long term contribute to the competitiveness of our institution and the wider region. We firmly believe that through global collaboration, we can jointly address the most pressing societal and technological challenges of the future.”

Photos from the Independence Day reception.
(Photo: Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy Budapest)