Budapest became the hub of European STEAM collaboration
On December 12-13, Budapest became a focal point for STEAM education and innovation, hosting the EU STEM Coalition Pre-Conference Meeting and the Hungarian STEM Platform Conference. The events brought together leaders from government, academia, and industry to address key challenges and share best practices for advancing STEAM education across Europe.
EU STEM Coalition pre-conference meeting
The pre-conference meeting brought together Europe’s leading voices in STEAM education, including representatives from the EU STEM Coalition, policy experts and education leaders. The retreat, chaired by Joep Bresser, Head of the EU Office of the EU STEM Coalition, focused on:
- CoVE STEM EUROPE: Strategic discussions on launching a new initiative to strengthen regional and pan-European collaboration.
- Strategic STEM education plan: Brainstorming input and ideas to guide Europe’s STEAM transformation.
- Conference preparation: Aligning goals for Hungary’s pivotal role in hosting and leading discussions on STEAM education.
Hungarian STEM Platform Conference
On December 13, the Hungarian STEM Platform Conference, hosted by Zoltan Marton, Director of the Hungarian STEM Platform and Head of Obuda University’s STEAM Office, provided a professional forum for sharing insights and solutions to STEAM challenges.
Prof. Dr. Levente Kovacs, Rector of Obuda University, opened the event by highlighting the university’s leadership in STEM education and its initiatives from early childhood programs to higher education
Laszlo Bodis, Deputy State Secretary for Innovation, emphasized Hungary’s progress in research, innovation, and the importance of strengthening collaboration between education, industry, and government to ensure competitiveness in the global economy.
Joep Bresser, Head of the EU Office for the EU STEM Coalition, delivered a European perspective, highlighting the critical need for cross-border collaboration, sharing best practices, and aligning national strategies with EU priorities. He commended Hungary’s efforts in building a strong STEM ecosystem, positioning the Hungarian STEM Platform as a model for driving innovation and addressing the STEM talent gap across Europe.
Zoltan Marton, Director of the Hungarian STEM Platform and Head of the STEAM Office at Obuda University, underscored Hungary’s commitment to fostering an inclusive, future-ready STEAM ecosystem. He emphasized the platform’s role in bridging national initiatives with international expertise, enabling collaboration that strengthens education, innovation, and workforce development across Hungary and Europe.
Panel discussions
Two panel discussions tackled pressing issues in STEAM education:
- STEAM Developments and Collaboration:
Experts, including Joep Bresser (EU STEM Coalition), Gültekin Çakmakçı (Hacettepe University), Inese Podgaiska (Association of Nordic Engineer), Milena Y. Krumova (European Institute for Technologies), and Sandor Kirchhof (Obuda University), emphasized aligning STEM education with industry needs, promoting teacher readiness, and fostering inclusivity to address workforce shortages.
- University-Industry Partnerships for Experiential Learning:
Gyorgy Eigner (Obuda University), Johan Stahl (Teknikcollege Sweden), Peter Presszer (Kyndryl), Rita Fleiner (Obuda University), and Gergo Lencses (Hungarian Dual Training Council) shared best practices for dual education and industry collaboration, stressing hands-on learning, innovation culture, and regional hubs as drivers for workforce development.
Spotlight
Giulia Luisa Cerutti and Aitana Gómez Peinado from ThinkYoung delivered a compelling presentation on advancing global STEAM innovation. She highlighted programs that empower young people, promote digital literacy, and foster inclusive learning environments to prepare future STEAM leaders.
Closing remarks
The conference underscored Hungary’s commitment to bridging education, industry, and policy to build a sustainable and innovative STEAM ecosystem. Zoltan Marton closed the event by reaffirming the Hungarian STEM Platform’s role as a connector of national efforts and international expertise, ensuring progress in education and workforce readiness.
With the support of the EU STEM Coalition, the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, and dedicated stakeholders, Hungary remains at the forefront of STEAM collaboration in Central and Eastern Europe, inspiring new partnerships and solutions for the future.
Report of the event on M5 television's Novum programme:
Click to watch the full conference online:
Thank you Judit Sarai for the great photos!
The costs of the Hungarian STEM Platform Conference were financed by Obuda University through the European Union project RRF-2.1.2-21-2022-00019, titled ‘Practice-oriented development of education at Obuda University in the spirit of Industry 4.0’.
