A USA Accelerator Program office has opened at Széchenyi István University’s Innovation Park, which will be one of the most important tools for businesses and start-ups to enter the US market, but will also support the expansion of faculty and student exchange programmes. Its activities will focus on Florida, which plays a prominent role in the fields of automotive motorsports, aerospace, life sciences, technological innovation and medical device manufacturing, making it an ideal environment for Hungarian companies to expand globally.

Széchenyi István University has the important goal of strengthening the competitiveness of the economy. From 16 October, the institution is promoting this with a new tool: the USA Accelerator Program office has opened in Győr's Innovation Park, which helps businesses, start-ups, students and academic staff to enter the US and the US market. The office has direct links with the second largest public university in the US, the University of Central Florida, a major player in the technology and business sector.

Participants of the opening ceremony: Dr Tamás Kolossváry, Head of the Innovation Park of Széchenyi István University Győr, Honorary Consul Piros Pazaurek , State Secretary Richárd Szabados, Edit Dukai, Head of the USA Accelerator Office and Dr. Bálint Filep, President of the University (Photo: András Adorján)

At the opening ceremony, Richárd Szabados, State Secretary for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Development and Technology, said that Hungary is striving for economic independence, and it is particularly useful to launch joint programmes with developed Western countries such as the United States. "Learning from the good, the great and from the economically strong is always positive, and if young people can join such international programmes, we are in favour of it, because it brings our country's good name and contributes to economic growth," he said.

Piros Pazaurek, Honorary Consul of Central Florida and President of the HungarianHub non-profit organization, said, “We will literally break down boundaries for the youth, athletes, students, faculty, and businesses of the city. We are grateful to be able to implement this fantastic cooperation with Hungary's most innovative city and University, so that in just one year we can proudly say that many students have had the opportunity to study in America, many American students have come here, we have established faculty exchange programmes, and we have successfully introduced Hungarian companies to the market over there.”

Dr Tamás Kolossváry, Head of the University's Innovation Park in Győr, underlined that the third focus of a modern university, apart from the traditional values of education and research, is the market exploitation of the accumulated knowledge. "This park is the physical location for this. Companies from the region can come here if they are looking for the office of the National Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers or if they want to collaborate with the University and now also if they want to enter the US market. This new office will also provide a range of opportunities for high school students, university students, educators and athletes," he said.

Dr Tamás Kolossváry and Piros Pazaurek unveiled the plaque of the office (Photo: András Adorján)

The opening programme included a panel discussion moderated by journalist Vujity Tvrtko. During the panel discussion, Dr István Peták, Research Professor and Dr Attila Makai, Scientific Researcher at the Széchenyi University, highlighted the positive aspects of the US economic and higher education environment and the mutual benefits of cooperation.

Participants of the roundtable discussion: Vujity Tvrtko, Piros Pazaurek, Dr István Peták and Dr Attila Makai (Photo: András Adorján)