Hungarian delegation and INL representatives during MoU signing ceremony, May 2025
May 28, 2025
On 22nd May 2025, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory was honoured to receive a distinguished delegation from Hungary, comprising representatives of the Embassy of Hungary in Lisbon and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). The visit culminated in the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between INL and BME, marking a significant milestone in the two institutions’ shared commitment to advance materials science and nanotechnology.
The Hungarian delegation was led by Dr Gergely Zaránd, Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs at BME and included Dr Krisztina László, Professor of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science; Dr Attila Bonyár, Associate Professor and Head of the Nanotechnology Laboratory; Dr Gábor Takács, Full Professor of Theoretical Physics; Dr Andrea Toldy, Full Professor of Polymer Engineering and Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; and Dr Levente Tapasztó, Head of the Nanostructures Department at the HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research. From the Embassy of Hungary in Lisbon, Dr Judit Pekári-Vékei, Commercial Attaché and Ms Madalena Athayde, Assistant to the Commercial Counsellor, joined the delegation.
Formalised during the delegation’s visit, the MoU serves as a mutual pledge to deepen collaboration and foster scientific and technical expertise. It sets out a spectrum of initiatives—from hosting visiting academics, researchers and administrators on both short- and long-term assignments to co-supervising doctoral candidates under joint frameworks—and invites joint research endeavours of shared interest. Moreover, it encourages the exploration of dual-award or co-tutelle degree schemes. Through the concerted sharing of know-how, infrastructure, materials and resources, INL and BME will draw upon their respective strengths in fields such as carbon-based nanostructures, polymer engineering and quantum physics, thus accelerating innovation and further cementing the scientific partnership between INL and Hungary.
Following the MoU signature, the Hungarian delegation was guided through a tour of INL’s state-of-the-art facilities by several INL researchers. The visit offered a first-hand look at the infrastructure that will support upcoming joint projects and sparked exchanges on how best to harness these capabilities under the new partnership.
Text by Carolina Baptista
Photography by Rui Andrade
