Budapest at the Center of the AI World - Professional Success at the CE AI Summit!
Budapest hosted the IEEE Central European Artificial Intelligence Summit, where over a hundred speakers and 350 participants discussed the societal and economic benefits of AI. The three-day event was organized with the help of IEEE, jointly by Obuda University, IEEE Hungary Section, John von Neumann Computer Society, the IEEE Standards Association, and the HUN-REN Institute for Computer Science and Control.
The summit clearly demonstrated on the first day that Budapest and the region are now active shapers of the global artificial intelligence ecosystem. As the Rector of Óbuda University and President of the John von Neumann Computer Science Society, it was a special pleasure for Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács to welcome such prestigious academic and industrial leaders to the event.
At the opening, renowned experts spoke to the standard of the event, such as László Palkovics, Government Commissioner for Artificial Intelligence, Clara Neppel, Head of the IEEE European Region, Professor József Bokor, Scientific Director of HUN-REN SZTAKI, and Dániel Drexler, President of the IEEE Hungary Section.
The professional program was kicked off with outstanding plenary lectures: Nicola Kasabov, professor at Auckland University of Technology, presented the latest trends in neuromorphic predictive artificial intelligence, while Oussama Khatib, world-renowned researcher at Stanford University, gave an inspiring picture of the future of human-robot collaboration. Plenary and professional sessions were held continuously over the three days, where many diverse topics were on the agenda, from the theoretical foundations of artificial intelligence to the technology's most modern industrial applications.
The event made for a meaningful exchange of ideas, as researchers, industry players and decision-makers came together to think about how artificial intelligence is transforming the economy and society. The panel discussions on the first day covered the most current issues of AI regulation, governance and industrial applications, from both a practical and strategic perspective. Hungary has made a name for itself in artificial intelligence in recent years, and thanks to our performance, engineering knowledge and innovative approach, we are now not only following, but also shaping the directions of technological development. In this process, the meeting of global standardization represented by IEEE and the domestic knowledge base is of particular importance. In the era of AI, the question is not what will happen to humans, but what humans are capable of if they take artificial intelligence into their own hands – as emphasized by Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács.
CE AI Hub
The CE AI Hub Initiative, which was created spontaneously by IEEE, was also signed, with the participation of the IEEE AI Coalition, where Prof. Ming Hou (University of Toronto, Defense Research and Development Canada) played a key role. Dr. Clara Neppel (Senior Director of IEEE Europe, Austria) was present at the signing ceremony, thus strengthening the international significance of the event. The CE AI Hub was born impromptu, but it immediately became clear that it has serious professional significance, because it creates an open platform for Central and Eastern European universities and research centers, which provides an opportunity to jointly discuss the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence, share experiences and establish collaborations. This platform represents an important development within the framework of IEEE and forms the basis for sensitizing and coordinating future Central European AI initiatives.
The signing ceremony was attended by Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Obuda University, Prof. Ing. Peter Mésároš PhD, Rector of the Technical University of Košice, Prof. Dr. Szilveszter Kovács and Dr. Attila Trohák, representing the University of Miskolc, and Ákos Szabó, representing the University of Debrecen. The signatories also included Prof. Dr. Damir Vusić, Rector of University North. The research centers were represented by Csaba Benedek, Deputy Director for Research Coordination, representing HUN-REN SZTAKI, and Prof. Dr. Slobodan Bosanac, representing the Adriatic Aerospace Association of Croatia.
The establishment of the CE AI Hub is a clear indication that Central European institutions have recognized the challenges of artificial intelligence and are ready to shape its future together. This new platform will strengthen cooperation, knowledge sharing and active participation in the international AI community in the long term, and will also provide an opportunity for Central Europe to emerge as a dominant player on the global AI map.
AI in Space
The second day of the IEEE CE AI Summit 2026 was also packed with activities: David Alexander, a professor at Rice University, opened with a plenary talk. His talk was titled “AI-powered space: AI adoption in a commercial space economy,” which introduced the day’s other exciting AI and space technology topics, with a special focus on the rapid development of artificial intelligence systems used in the space industry and their economic impacts. This was followed by the Strix 2025 Award ceremony, which celebrated Hungary’s first AI competition, the Strix Award, recognizing the outstanding achievements and innovations of the domestic artificial intelligence community. Back-to-back panels covered various application areas of AI, including Large Language Models, Space Technology & AI 1, and Space Technology & AI 2. The Space Technology & AI 2 panel was moderated by Dr. Orsolya Ferencz, Ministerial Commissioner for Space Research, who participated on behalf of the HUNOR program, emphasizing Hungary's growing role in European space research and AI development cooperation.
Additional panels on Scientific Applications 1 & 2, MedTech & AI 1 & 2, and Digital Humanism 1 & 2, hosted by IEEE International, showcased how AI is driving scientific research, medical innovation, and human-centric technology development. Throughout the day, attendees learned about the latest AI innovations, fostering collaborations across academia, industry, and government. The second day of the conference was not just about showcasing technological advances, but also provided a platform for a shared discussion of the future AI-powered space economy and its societal impacts.
The summit clearly demonstrated that Budapest and the region are now active shapers of the global AI ecosystem. Over the three days, plenary sessions and professional sessions were held in parallel, covering a wide range of topics, from the theoretical foundations of AI to cutting-edge industrial applications. Leading academics from the region emphasized that while the technology is developing rapidly and offers many benefits, the “dark side” must also be clarified and managed in a way that truly benefits humanity.
At the opening, renowned experts spoke to the standard of the event, such as László Palkovics, Government Commissioner for Artificial Intelligence, Clara Neppel, Head of the IEEE European Region, Professor József Bokor, Scientific Director of HUN-REN SZTAKI, and Dániel Drexler, President of the IEEE Hungary Section.
The professional program was kicked off with outstanding plenary lectures: Nicola Kasabov, professor at Auckland University of Technology, presented the latest trends in neuromorphic predictive artificial intelligence, while Oussama Khatib, world-renowned researcher at Stanford University, gave an inspiring picture of the future of human-robot collaboration. Plenary and professional sessions were held continuously over the three days, where many diverse topics were on the agenda, from the theoretical foundations of artificial intelligence to the technology's most modern industrial applications.
The event made for a meaningful exchange of ideas, as researchers, industry players and decision-makers came together to think about how artificial intelligence is transforming the economy and society. The panel discussions on the first day covered the most current issues of AI regulation, governance and industrial applications, from both a practical and strategic perspective. Hungary has made a name for itself in artificial intelligence in recent years, and thanks to our performance, engineering knowledge and innovative approach, we are now not only following, but also shaping the directions of technological development. In this process, the meeting of global standardization represented by IEEE and the domestic knowledge base is of particular importance. In the era of AI, the question is not what will happen to humans, but what humans are capable of if they take artificial intelligence into their own hands – as emphasized by Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács.
CE AI Hub
The CE AI Hub Initiative, which was created spontaneously by IEEE, was also signed, with the participation of the IEEE AI Coalition, where Prof. Ming Hou (University of Toronto, Defense Research and Development Canada) played a key role. Dr. Clara Neppel (Senior Director of IEEE Europe, Austria) was present at the signing ceremony, thus strengthening the international significance of the event. The CE AI Hub was born impromptu, but it immediately became clear that it has serious professional significance, because it creates an open platform for Central and Eastern European universities and research centers, which provides an opportunity to jointly discuss the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence, share experiences and establish collaborations. This platform represents an important development within the framework of IEEE and forms the basis for sensitizing and coordinating future Central European AI initiatives.
The signing ceremony was attended by Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Obuda University, Prof. Ing. Peter Mésároš PhD, Rector of the Technical University of Košice, Prof. Dr. Szilveszter Kovács and Dr. Attila Trohák, representing the University of Miskolc, and Ákos Szabó, representing the University of Debrecen. The signatories also included Prof. Dr. Damir Vusić, Rector of University North. The research centers were represented by Csaba Benedek, Deputy Director for Research Coordination, representing HUN-REN SZTAKI, and Prof. Dr. Slobodan Bosanac, representing the Adriatic Aerospace Association of Croatia.
The establishment of the CE AI Hub is a clear indication that Central European institutions have recognized the challenges of artificial intelligence and are ready to shape its future together. This new platform will strengthen cooperation, knowledge sharing and active participation in the international AI community in the long term, and will also provide an opportunity for Central Europe to emerge as a dominant player on the global AI map.
AI in Space
The second day of the IEEE CE AI Summit 2026 was also packed with activities: David Alexander, a professor at Rice University, opened with a plenary talk. His talk was titled “AI-powered space: AI adoption in a commercial space economy,” which introduced the day’s other exciting AI and space technology topics, with a special focus on the rapid development of artificial intelligence systems used in the space industry and their economic impacts. This was followed by the Strix 2025 Award ceremony, which celebrated Hungary’s first AI competition, the Strix Award, recognizing the outstanding achievements and innovations of the domestic artificial intelligence community. Back-to-back panels covered various application areas of AI, including Large Language Models, Space Technology & AI 1, and Space Technology & AI 2. The Space Technology & AI 2 panel was moderated by Dr. Orsolya Ferencz, Ministerial Commissioner for Space Research, who participated on behalf of the HUNOR program, emphasizing Hungary's growing role in European space research and AI development cooperation.
Additional panels on Scientific Applications 1 & 2, MedTech & AI 1 & 2, and Digital Humanism 1 & 2, hosted by IEEE International, showcased how AI is driving scientific research, medical innovation, and human-centric technology development. Throughout the day, attendees learned about the latest AI innovations, fostering collaborations across academia, industry, and government. The second day of the conference was not just about showcasing technological advances, but also provided a platform for a shared discussion of the future AI-powered space economy and its societal impacts.
The summit clearly demonstrated that Budapest and the region are now active shapers of the global AI ecosystem. Over the three days, plenary sessions and professional sessions were held in parallel, covering a wide range of topics, from the theoretical foundations of AI to cutting-edge industrial applications. Leading academics from the region emphasized that while the technology is developing rapidly and offers many benefits, the “dark side” must also be clarified and managed in a way that truly benefits humanity.
