UD and Continental: focusing on R&D | University of Debrecen

The current partnership agreement, signed by Vice-Rector Piroska Ailer and Balázs Lóránd, Head of Continental Autonomous Mobility Hungary, concerns the Faculty of Informatics of the University of Debrecen, the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Science and Technology.

Upon signing of the document, Vice-Rector Piroska Ailer, who is responsible for sectoral development and, specifically, for the establishment of a Mobility and Automotive Training Center at the University of Debrecen, emphasized that areas related to the technical, IT and automotive industries would always be of strategic importance for the university.

“The aim of the University of Debrecen is to meet both the expectations in the field of modern technology and the needs of international companies moving into and settling in our region. These needs and expectations have been the factors determining the training and program development of UD in recent years. In the field of vehicle development, for example, several new majors have been introduced, including specializations and new subjects created, while our teaching and research network has been expanded with significant infrastructural development efforts carried out. In addition, new research and academic topics have been identified and designated. At the University of Debrecen, in addition to the development of autonomous vehicles, specialists are also engaged currently in mapping up new methods of hydrogen storage, the development of batteries, fiber-reinforced composites, as well as simulation and modeling applications,” said the vice-rector.

Piroska Ailer underlined that, with the establishment of Continental's research and development department in Debrecen, a high-value-added activity would emerge in the city of Debrecen, which in turn would then require highly qualified engineers. This fact is expected to strengthen and expand the range of research and development topics available at the University of Debrecen, while it also provides motivation for students.

Among other things, the university and the company have also agreed on the establishment of an outsourced department, the implementation of a dual training program, the designation of shared scientific and research objectives, as well as the joint development of educational material packages and knowledge transfer.

“The mission of Continental Autonomous Mobility Hungary is to promote a future without accidents. Its most important objective is to develop engineering methods that pave the way for reliable artificial intelligence and software development. For this, the traditionally high-standard and long-standing, continuously expanding engineering programs offered at the University of Debrecen and the rapidly developing North Great Plain region provide countless opportunities for our multinational corporate group,” said Balázs Lóránd, Head of Continental Autonomous Mobility Hungary.

Róbert Keszte, Director of Continental Hungary, added that the forward-looking steps of the University of Debrecen were meant to fully support the activities of Continental. Through the cooperation in the field of research and development, UD continues to contribute to the company's innovative development initiatives in the field of driver assistance software.

While recalling the history of the relationship between the city of Debrecen and the multinational company, László Papp, Mayor of Debrecen, elaborated on the assumption that the key industrial sectors of the future would be electro-mobility and self-driving vehicles combined, in which our region can definitely play a prominent part.

"The presence and the continuously developing training program structure of the University of Debrecen have opened up opportunities for the host city to achieve a number of breakthroughs in sectors with high knowledge requirements," said László Papp.