Elevating Central & Eastern European research impact in the age of AI
Tomorrow Today in Research Budapest brings together research leaders, policymakers, and institutional strategists to explore how AI, data-driven insights, international collaboration, strong research and innovation ecosystems can elevate research performance and impact across the region.
Join leading voices from academia, government, and research management for a day of strategic discussions, institutional case studies, and expert perspectives on the future of research in the AI era.
Date: 23/06/2026
Location: Budapest - Novotel Budapest City
About the event
The research landscape is undergoing rapid transformation. Artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and evolving research evaluation frameworks are redefining how institutions manage research performance, collaboration, and impact.
At the same time, Central and Eastern Europe is emerging as an increasingly dynamic contributor to global science, with universities and research organisations expanding their international networks, strengthening their research capabilities, and playing a growing role in regional innovation ecosystems.
Tomorrow Today in Research Budapest provides a forum for research leaders across the region to explore how institutions can harness these changes to build stronger research strategies, foster collaborative research and innovation ecosystems, delivering meaningful societal impact.
Through keynotes, expert discussions, and institutional case studies, participants will explore how institutions can strengthen the impact of their research in an increasingly AI-driven landscape. Key topics include:
The role of AI across the research lifecycle and its potential to accelerate discovery and research impact
How institutions can build AI-enabled research environments that support innovation and measurable impact
Strategies to strengthen research visibility and international collaboration
How universities, industry, and policymakers can work together to foster strong research and innovation ecosystems
Data-driven approaches to research evaluation and performance
Leadership perspectives on building future-ready research strategies
The event will also provide opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange among senior leaders shaping the future of research across Central and Eastern Europe.
Agenda
Time | Title | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
8.30 | Registration, meet and greet | |
9:00 | Welcome to TTRI Budapest | Floortje Flippo, Regional Vice President - RI & Engineering Solutions Sales (Elsevier) Parisa Oroemi (Elsevier) |
Opening keynote | Gergely Zaránd, Vice-Rector for Science (Budapest University of Technology and Economics) | |
Panel What's ahead? Transformation and Grassroots AI-Native Research Structures | László Gulácsi, Vice Rector for Research (Obuda University) Agnieszka Podrażik, Library Vice Director (AGH University of Krakow) Gergely Szertics, Head of AI4Science (HunRen) Moderator Kirill Ivanov, Costumer Success Manager, Elsevier | |
10:30 | COFFEE BREAK | |
10:50 | Insights from EU as a Science Nation Report | Federica Rosetta, VP Academic Relations and Public Affairs EMEA (Elsevier) |
Evaluating research impact on society and economy: using insights | Levente Kovács, Rector (Obuda University) Attila Emecz, Sr. Director Custom Solutions (Elsevier) | |
How to build data-driven strategy | Jari Pekka Ilmari Hämäläinen, Advisor to the Rector (Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava) | |
12:30 | NETWORKING LUNCH | |
13:30 | The role of clean, correct, connected data in an institute’s AI journey | Zsofia Buttel, Sr Product Manager (Elsevier) Edit Herczog, Chair - Widening Group (ScienceBusiness) |
Panel Raising visibility and internationalization: advancing European collaboration | Radomir Masaryk, Professor of Psychology and Vice-Rector for External Affairs, (Comenius University Bratislava) Daniel Dunea, Vice-Rector of Research Valahia University of Targoviste Habib Fardoun, Principal Consultant, QS Quacquarelli Symonds Sargis Asatryants, Vice Rector for Internationalization and Reforms (National Polytechnic University of Armenia) Moderator Zsofia Buttel, Sr Product Manager (Elsevier) | |
Brain drain: signaling, understanding and tackling | Radomir Masaryk, Professor of Psychology and Vice-Rector for External Affairs, (Comenius University Bratislava) | |
Wrap-up | Parisa Oroemi (Elsevier) | |
15:45 | End |
Speakers
Agnieszka Podrazik
Deputy Director of the Main Library
AGH University of Krakow
Read more about Agnieszka Podrazik
Gergely Zaránd
Vice Rector for Scientific Affairs
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Read more about Gergely ZarándJari Hämäläinen
Professor of industrial mathematics
Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology in Finland
Read more about Jari HämäläinenRadomír Masaryk
Vice-Rector for External Relations
Comenius University Bratislava
Read more about Radomír Masaryk