Turning Research into Real-World Impact

 

Highlights of the programme include:

 

• High-level insights on the global and national role of R&D
• How to compile a strong R&D qualification
• A Hungarian innovation success story
• Practical guidance on financing opportunities – both domestic and EU-level
• A roundtable discussion on building competitive R&D teams in Hungary
• An interactive workshop with pre-selected topics and real-world case studies

Date: 20th November 2025
Venue: Radisson Budapest BudaPart (1117 Dombóvári út 25. A. ép.), Aster meeting room
Moderator: Norrie Sinclair

PROGRAMME:

8:30 – 9:00 | Registration
Arrival and networking opportunity with fellow participants.

9:00 – 9:10 | Opening remarks
Zoltán Gerendy, Managing Partner, BDO

9:10 – 9:30 | Policy insights: The role of R&D in Hungary’s industrial strategy
Dr. Ádám Nagy, Deputy State Secretary, Ministry for National Economy
The role of R&D in Hungary’s industrial strategy.

9:30 – 9:50 | Strengthening the R&D Ecosystem
Dr. Gábor Alexovics, Head of Research Utilization Department, HUN-REN
Bridging the worlds of industry and academia.

9:50 – 10:10 | R&D qualification in practice
Dr. Judit Berencsi, Director, National Research, Development and Innovation Office
Péter Ferenczi, Advisor, National Research, Development and Innovation Office
R&D explained: crafting successful applications and spotting evolving trends.

10:10 – 10:30 | Hungarian success story
Gergely Vida, CEO, Lightware Visual Engineering Zrt.
How to become a global player in AV industry from a 34 sqm apartment?

10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee break

10:45 – 11:15 | Practical pathways: Financing opportunities in R&D
Marcell Tatai-Szabó, Partner, BDO Hungary
Exploring real-world options for funding innovative projects.

11:15 – 11:45 | European perspectives: Opportunities from direct EU grants
Eva Martischnig, Director, BDO Austria
Nina Giuliana Londer, Manager, BDO Austria
Navigating the landscape of EU-level funding and grant opportunities with case studies.

11:45 – 12:30 | Roundtable discussion: Building a competitive R&D team in Hungary today

The discussion will explore how Hungarian R&D teams can be built to remain competitive on the international stage. Panelists will consider the role of credits and incentives, and whether they truly deliver practical advantages. Drawing on real-world experiences, the session will highlight lessons learned and future development points for strengthening R&D ecosystems.

Moderator: Gyöngyi Szabó-Varga, Director, BDO Hungary

Panelists:
• Dr. Enikő Rausch – Vice-President R&D Center, Ceva-Phylaxia
• Zoltán Szabó – Country R&D Officer for Hungary, Infineon
• Gábor Gajdátsy – Head of R&D, Budapest, Lightware 

12:30 – 13:30 | Business Lunch

13:30 – 15:30 | Interactive workshop around R&D financing: practical insights and case studies

The workshop will present selected case studies, providing concrete examples to the discussion. Participants will then gain insights into intellectual property processes.

Speakers:

• Dr. László Filák, Head of Department, Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
• Eva Martischnig, Director, BDO Austria
• Nina Giuliana Londer, Manager, BDO Austria
• Dr. Máté Imre, Manager, BDO Hungary

Registration & Participation

This invitation is primarily intended for CEOs, CFOs, and R&D leaders. Participation is free of charge; however, seating capacity is limited. To ensure broad representation, a maximum of one participant per company may attend.

Please register no later than 15th November 2025. Your registration will only be confirmed once you receive written confirmation from the organizers. Kindly note that in case of cancellation or no-show, a fee of EUR 100 + VAT per person will be charged.