Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Science
www.szbk.u-szeged.hu

In 1962, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences decided to concentrate a substantial part of its means on supporting of research in the field of modern biology. Based on the concept of interdisciplinarity, scientific work in the Biological Research Center (BRC) is carried out in 5 institutes: Biophysics, Biochemistry, Enzymology, Genetics and Plant Biology. The research groups of the Institutes have the freedom to select their field of research. Traditionally, the major activities are dominated by molecular and cellular approaches. Topics from mental or environmental biology belong to the research priorities as well. The competitive research in various fields of biology requires constant improvement of the instrumentation. The BRC has organized several central laboratories with facilities in DNA chip technology, protein analysis (MALDI-TOF), bioinformatics, DNA synthesis and sequencing furthermore flow cytometry. In 1998 the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) performed a detailed evaluation of the research performance in the BRC. Out of 46 groups, the Committee evaluated 16 groups as very good to excellent. The most outstanding achievements were in the areas of plant biology and mental genetics. The BRC was nominated as a Centre of Excellence by the European Union, paying tribute to the quality of the research at the BRC.

The City of Szeged
www.szegedcity.hu

Szeged, as the most important city on the South Great Plain, is the economic, scientific and cultural center of the region. The city is located less than 20 km from the Romanian and Yugoslavian borders, at the confluence of two rivers: the Maros and the Tisza. It is 170 km from Budapest and 220 km from Belgrade. Its population numbers more than 160,000, making Szeged the third largest provincial city in the country. Regarding the level of urbanization, Szeged is the most ed city among the county seats of the South Great Plain region. Today, Szeged has become the seat of a county that is preceded only by some Trans-Danubian counties with regard to the rate of GDP per capita. In this respect, Csongrád County, with higher level of ment, appears above the other, less ed counties in the east of Hungary.

• Local advantages and logistics
  

  Szeged is situated at the meeting-point of international and national channels of transportation. The proximity of the three borders provides Szeged with a significant role, since, with EU accession, the southern border will become of strategic importance, both for Europe and for Hungary. The city's transport and economic links - reaching far beyond the city's borders - assure direct accessibility to Romania and Yugoslavia. It is no coincidence that one of the ten logistic service centers proposed for Hungary is planned to be located in Szeged.

• Scientific center
  

  Szeged counts as the second biggest educational, research and cultural center in the country, after Budapest. The figure of 50,000 students that study here is almost equal to the population of a medium-sized Hungarian town, with the number of pedagogues almost equivalent to the population of a Hungarian village. The educational role of Szeged has become dominant primarily in higher education. The nationally approved higher education in the city is backed by a high level research base. The network of research institutions is the largest after the capital. Influential research and ment activity has become concentrated in Szeged, assuring an outstanding position in the county and the entire region in the field of research and ment. The region's scientific life - identified by research in the field of bio-technology, bio-information research - is linked to the typical agricultural production and food processing activity of the economy of the Southern Plain region.
  

• Cultural and touristic center
  

  
  Szeged can be described as possessing a vibrant cultural life, the basis of which is formed by the wide variety of choice offered by the museums, cinemas, theaters, and other cultural institutes. The cultural events and festivals, almost without exception, have a long history in tradition. Szeged has turned into a city of festivals. These colorful events attract not only Hungarian but also foreign visitors to our city.
  

University of Szeged
www.u-szeged.hu

The University of Szeged is not only one of the most important higher education institutions and scientific research centers of the Southern Great Plain Region but also of the country. Our University is well-known and recognized both at national and international level due to the results achieved by our university teachers, researchers and students in various fields of science. Education takes place at 11 faculties within the framework of 68 university- and 66 college-level majors. We also offer 27 kinds of specialized further training and 8 kinds of accredited university-level professional training opportunities as well as 17 doctoral schools. Higher education began in Szeged on 10th of October, 1921, when the University of Kolozsvár, the predecessor of the University of Szeged was moved to the city. At present the University has about 30.000 students and more than 7 thousand employees At the beginning of the year 2004 the University of Szeged was ranked 201 to 250 among the universities of the world and 77 among European universities on the basis of its scientific accomplishments - thus, the University of Szeged took the lead not only among Hungarian but also among East-Central European institutions.

Duna-Tisza Regional Development Co. Ltd.
www.duna-tisza.hu

Duna-Tisza Regional Development Co. Ltd. as a member company of Budapest-based Regional Development Holding supports ment projects of small-medium enterprises and municipalities by providing financial and ment consulting and financial mediation. The strengths of the company are successful combination of consulting services required to coordinate financial processes and professional approach. In the implementation of ment projects, integration into the economy of the European Union requires a new form of cooperation. The mission of Duna-Tisza Co. Ltd. is to be active participant and supporter of ment projects throughout Csongrád and Bács-Kiskun Counties with the view of promoting the mutual and synergic ment of technology, financial institutions, labour market and human resources.