For a Greener Tomorrow – The University of Sopron's Growth in Corporate and Scientific Partnerships

As Hungary’s first climate-positive university, the University of Sopron places great emphasis on climate change research and is dedicated to building a sustainable future. In this spirit, collaboration began this year with the Institute of Geophysics and Space Science of the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN FI) to align research efforts in forestry, earth sciences, and space sciences. Plans related to remote sensing and space weather were also presented by experts at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). The January meeting between Prof. Dr. Attila Fábián, Rector of the University of Sopron, and Prof. Dr. Charaf Hassan, Rector of BME, aimed to renew existing cooperation platforms. The professional discussions also covered geobioinformatics, a field synthesizing geomatics, biology, and informatics, which is uniquely available in Hungary only at the University of Sopron.

The university’s research aligns with the European Commission’s "Competitiveness Compass" strategy. Innovation, decarbonization, and digital transition—key concepts of this strategy—are also fundamental to the daily work at Hungary’s westernmost higher education institution, according to Szabolcs Bokodi, strategic expert at the University of Sopron.

This strategic approach has also attracted interest from the KÉSZ Group, a construction-focused corporate group, which approached the university with a proposal for collaboration. In January, the 40-year-old company and the Faculty of Wood and Creative Industries held a joint professional day. Key topics included the impact of climate change on the supply of wood raw materials, the resulting shifts in the wood industry, the use of natural insulation materials, and the adoption of wood-based construction materials.

In another wood industry-related initiative, experts from Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU) and the Wood K Plus research center recently visited the University of Sopron. Strengthening ties with leading Austrian research institutions, educational establishments, and top companies remains a priority for the university. This effort also led to a strategic discussion with Esterhazy Betriebe AG in January.

Climate change impacts, carbon footprint assessment, and biomonitoring systems are key areas where the University of Sopron and its international partners can achieve significant global scientific advancements, emphasized Prof. Dr. Attila Fábián. The rector also highlighted that the university’s network of partnerships now extends beyond Europe to several African countries and the Far East. This expansion not only strengthens the university’s international presence but also creates valuable economic opportunities for Hungary.