International Competition Participants Explore AI Research and Industrial Practices at BME

This year, Fudan University hosted its international Youth Innovation Competition on Global Governance (YICGG) in Budapest, drawing seventy participants from 30 countries to the capital. The students were introduced to BME's AI governance initiatives, AI ecosystem, and related university research and projects.

Supported by the United Nations Development Programme, YICGG gathers talented individuals from around the world to devise innovative solutions to pressing global issues. This year’s theme was "Global AI-based Governance: A New Era of Responsibility, Challenges, and Cooperation."

In addition to the competition, the participants spent half a working day at BME, gaining insight into the research activities of several departments. The day began with a welcome speech by János Levendovszky, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation, who presented BME in the ceremonial hall of Building K. This was followed by a tour of the Visitor Centre and the campus, including visits to several laboratories.

At the Department of Automation and Applied Informatics of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (VIK), participants attended presentations on artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0 research, and had the chance to see a ping-pong robot in development, learning about the technology behind it.

At the Department of Automotive Technologies of the Faculty of Transportation Engineering and Vehicle Engineering, they learned about generative design applied in additive manufacturing, observed laboratory testing of vehicles, and saw how a self-driving vehicle perceives its environment. Here, the concept of real-time digital twin models was also demonstrated to the students, who showed great interest in the presentations and asked many questions to the BME staff present.

One of the participants explained the high level of interest surrounding the visit: "What I like most is that all the research seems to have some connection to industry," he explained, with the others in agreement. Wilson, a Nigerian-born scholarship holder and economics student at Southwest University in Chongqing with a knack for engineering, noted that the practical approach at BME was more pronounced than what he had experienced in China.

Those whose fields were directly related to the presentations were particularly enthusiastic. "This is fantastic; the experts' presentations are incredibly informative. We have seen exciting technologies, such as 3D lasers. This programme is extremely useful for our studies and future careers, as technology penetrates every aspect of life. Many of us have a technological-scientific background, and this programme perfectly fits our interests," said a participant from Vietnam.

Bertalan Bognár, a member of the staff of the Department of Automotive Technologies of the Faculty of Transportation Engineering interviewed Veronica Rebreanu, a jury member of the competition. "I am delighted to be here at BME, where I see so much passion and dedication. The university's programmes are a testament to the technological advances from the 18th century to the present day. As a lawyer, it is fascinating to understand the technological developments and how they are incorporated into practical applications," said the professor from Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca and the University of Zagreb.

Veronica Rebreanu, a lawyer who previously worked as a judge before entering academia, deals with the ethical and social aspects of technological development from the perspective of her experience in law and regulation. "I am passionate about educating future generations and I am constantly learning through competitions like this," she explained.

Rebreanu believes that the BME campus is a masterful blend of historical heritage and cutting-edge technology. "It's amazing to see how imagination and technology push the boundaries, proving that anything imagined can eventually become reality. The dedication and passion of the people who work here is evident. For them, it's a hobby, and when your work feels like a hobby, you enjoy it immensely. This passion is contagious and it encourages innovation," she added.

She sees the cultural differences of students from 29 countries as one of the great values of the competition, because it allows for a rich and diverse exchange of ideas. "The different teaching methods, whether rigid or flexible, shape students' thinking and innovation. This cultural discourse is essential for global cooperation and development. Learning about different systems can break patterns and stimulate innovation," she explained.

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