IEEE Central European AI Summit 2026: A Milestone for Regional Collaboration and Innovation
The IEEE Central European AI Summit 2026 marked a significant step forward in fostering collaboration across academia, industry, and policy-making in the field of artificial intelligence. Held with broad international participation, the event brought together leading experts and institutions from across Central Europe and beyond, reinforcing the region’s growing role in shaping the global AI landscape.
The Summit opened with a distinguished ceremony featuring prominent speakers, including Levente Kovács, Rector of Obuda University; László Palkovics, Government Commissioner for Artificial Intelligence; József Bokor; Clara Neppel, Senior Director of IEEE Europe; and Dániel Drexler, Chair of the IEEE Hungary Section. Their keynote addresses emphasized the strategic importance of artificial intelligence in driving economic growth, innovation, and societal transformation within the Central European region. Over the course of three days, the Summit hosted an extensive series of panel discussions addressing a wide spectrum of AI-related topics. These included governance and regulation, scientific and industrial applications, large language models, medical and space technologies, digital humanism, cybersecurity, and data governance. The panels provided a dynamic platform for dialogue between researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers, facilitating knowledge exchange and opening new avenues for cross-sector collaboration.
A major highlight of the event was the formal initiation of the Central European AI Hub (CE AI Hub), introduced as a strategic IEEE-related initiative in collaboration with the IEEE AI Coalition. The proposal was supported by key international contributors, including Ming Hou and Clara Neppel. The CE AI Hub aims to strengthen regional cooperation, align research efforts, and foster a coordinated innovation ecosystem in artificial intelligence across Central Europe.
The official signing ceremony brought together representatives from multiple leading institutions, including Obuda University, Technical University of Košice, University of Miskolc, University of Debrecen, and University North, alongside research organizations such as HUN-REN SZTAKI and the Adriatic Aerospace Association. This broad institutional engagement reflects a strong and shared commitment to long-term collaboration in artificial intelligence across the region.
In addition to its strategic initiatives, the Summit also hosted the Strix 2025 Award ceremony, marking Hungary’s first national AI competition. This milestone further underlined the event’s role in nurturing emerging talent and supporting innovation within the national and regional AI ecosystem.
The Summit concluded with closing remarks by Levente Kovács, General Chair of the Summit who highlighted the event’s significance as a pioneering regional initiative. He expressed his appreciation to all contributors, partners, and participants whose engagement ensured the success of the Summit.
Overall, the IEEE Central European AI Summit 2026 has established itself as a key platform for networking, collaboration, and strategic alignment in artificial intelligence. The strong participation, high-quality discussions, and the successful launch of the CE AI Hub clearly demonstrate the growing importance of coordinated AI efforts in Central Europe. The organizers look forward to continued collaboration with IEEE and its partners to build on the outcomes of this landmark event.
A major highlight of the event was the formal initiation of the Central European AI Hub (CE AI Hub), introduced as a strategic IEEE-related initiative in collaboration with the IEEE AI Coalition. The proposal was supported by key international contributors, including Ming Hou and Clara Neppel. The CE AI Hub aims to strengthen regional cooperation, align research efforts, and foster a coordinated innovation ecosystem in artificial intelligence across Central Europe.
The official signing ceremony brought together representatives from multiple leading institutions, including Obuda University, Technical University of Košice, University of Miskolc, University of Debrecen, and University North, alongside research organizations such as HUN-REN SZTAKI and the Adriatic Aerospace Association. This broad institutional engagement reflects a strong and shared commitment to long-term collaboration in artificial intelligence across the region.
In addition to its strategic initiatives, the Summit also hosted the Strix 2025 Award ceremony, marking Hungary’s first national AI competition. This milestone further underlined the event’s role in nurturing emerging talent and supporting innovation within the national and regional AI ecosystem.
The Summit concluded with closing remarks by Levente Kovács, General Chair of the Summit who highlighted the event’s significance as a pioneering regional initiative. He expressed his appreciation to all contributors, partners, and participants whose engagement ensured the success of the Summit.
Overall, the IEEE Central European AI Summit 2026 has established itself as a key platform for networking, collaboration, and strategic alignment in artificial intelligence. The strong participation, high-quality discussions, and the successful launch of the CE AI Hub clearly demonstrate the growing importance of coordinated AI efforts in Central Europe. The organizers look forward to continued collaboration with IEEE and its partners to build on the outcomes of this landmark event.
