With the participation of Austrian, Slovak, and Hungarian universities, Széchenyi István University hosted its first-ever conference on industrial and applied mechanics in mid-November. The programme featured high-quality presentations and discussions aimed at fostering collaborative research.

“This was the first time we have organized a conference on technical mechanics within the field of mechanical engineering. The event aimed to invigorate the University's scientific activities while building and strengthening both domestic and international relationships among our staff, which could lead to joint research initiatives. We launched this programme with the intention of establishing a tradition, and for the first event, we specifically invited representatives of universities from the Budapest–Vienna–Bratislava triangle and its surrounding region,” explained Dr Máté Antali, one of the organizers and an associate professor at the Department of Applied Mechanics of Széchenyi István University.

Széchenyi István University's first international mechanical conference received positive feedback from the participants. (Photo: András Adorján)

At the event, Prof Dr Zoltán Horváth, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Informatics and Electrical Engineering, noted that the geographical proximity of the targeted universities provides an excellent opportunity for cooperation, including in-person meetings. In addition to several Hungarian universities, prestigious international institutions such as the Vienna University of Technology and the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava participated in the two-day symposium in Győr.

Participants attended approximately 25 presentations, covering topics such as mechanical issues arising in machine design and manufacturing, strength and dynamics calculations, simulations, and numerical methods. “Technical mechanics plays a crucial role in bridging theoretical and mathematical methods with practical applications. Among other things, this discipline examines the static load-bearing capacity of various machines and equipment, as well as their movements and vibrations. Therefore, technical mechanics is relevant not only to mechanical engineering but also to other engineering fields: at the conference, experts from vehicle, civil, and architectural engineering also delivered presentations,” detailed Dr Máté Antali.

He added that alongside the presentations, numerous discussions took place, outlining opportunities for joint research and forming new connections. “The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive: several participants expressed interest in continuing the initiative, and there is also a possibility that future conferences of this kind could be hosted at the participating universities, rotating locations,” he concluded.

Further details about the conference can be found on the event's university website: mechanics-symposium.sze.hu.