The document that was signed on Wednesday in the Main Building of the University of Debrecen aims to enhance biomedical talent cultivation in Hungary. According to the agreement about the collaboration, the foundation of National Academy of Scientist Education (National Biomedical Foundation) will supplement the annual grants of HUF 5 million each contributed by the university and the city with an additional HUF 20 million. This significant source of funding not only provides laboratory upgrades and experimental equipment for partner institutions in Debrecen, including UD’s Kossuth Lajos Teacher Training Secondary Grammar School and Tóth Árpád High School, but also opens doors for the most talented students to participate in international conferences and engage in research at world-class level.
The rector of the University of Debrecen highlighted that the unique talent development system of the university is now expanded with a new pillar that is also relevant at the international level.
- We are building a system in which secondary school students can join university research groups while still enrolled in high school and make use of their entire network of international contacts. For this, we need collaboration not only between or among academic institutions, but also a much broader innovation ecosystem capable of fostering the next generation of researchers- said Zoltán Szilvássy.
In his address, the mayor of Debrecen underlined our city’s traditions as a center of education and its strategic unity.
- Debrecen does indeed have a pool of talented individuals; the question is whether we can find and identify them in order to provide them with the right guidance or not. This agreement elevates an age-old exemplary collaboration to the national and international levels, ensuring that the most excellent and promising students should receive an initial boost toward a great career right here on the spot,- said László Papp.
The guest of honor at the event was Randy Schekman, winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, who pointed out that the Hungarian model for talent development and care is highly desirable even by international standards.
- It is not very often that you can find such a well-organized nationwide effort to support talent at an early stage. Although investing in the necessary infrastructure is expensive, I cannot imagine a wiser investment in the future for a country like Hungary- said the world-famous cell biologist.
Then he also added that the goal would be to ensure that young researchers should not leave Hungary, or that they should return after gaining experience abroad because of the world-class conditions available here, much like the example of Katalin Karikó suggests.
In his speech, the program director of the National Academy of Science Education (NTA) emphasized that the genuine driving force behind the program would always lie in the strength and power of university centers outside the capital.
- Hungary has a future only if it has strong regional strongholds. Our objective is for young people to choose science as their future and, for this, the commitment of the city Debrecen and the professional foundation of the university are indispensable- said Péter Hegyi.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Biomedical Foundation noted the exemplary joint development of the city and the university in Debrecen.
- Debrecen is one of the strongest bastions of our program. This collaboration did not begin just now. However, the signing of this agreement takes it to a new, higher level by involving high school students- said András Varró.
After the signing ceremony, Randy Schekman gave a captivating presentation titled “Genes, Cells and Discoveries in Basic Research and Disease” to an audience of about 300 high school and university students at UD’s Learning Center.
The co-recipient of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine used his down-to-earth style and shared personal experiences and special insights from his scientific career to demonstrate to the audience that curiosity and hard work can indeed lead to world-changing discoveries.
Press Center - TB