The János Szentágothai Research Center took center stage at the May 13 event of the University of Pécs’s “The Future Is Happening Now” series. In short: this facility is the University of Pécs’s “major research laboratory,” where individual departments do not work in isolation but instead support research—ranging from healthcare to biotechnology and materials science—using shared, state-of-the-art equipment and teams of experts.
One of the key messages of the presentation was that the Research Center operates a so-called core facility (service) system. In layman’s terms, this means that the most expensive and complex research tools (such as specialized microscopes, genetic testing, and sample processing technologies) are not the “private” property of a single research group, but are available as a central service. In other words, if a researcher or an industry partner needs to conduct a test, they don’t have to build and purchase everything “from scratch”: the center has the equipment, the methodology, and the experts who assist with measurement, data processing, and in many cases, interpretation as well.
This is good because it speeds up development. When developing a new drug candidate, diagnostic procedure, medical device, or even a new material, a great deal of time is spent organizing measurements and accessing the appropriate infrastructure. If this is available on-site, research and development proceeds more quickly and with fewer “detours.” Moreover, the Szentágothai Research Center not only operates research laboratories but is also deliberately structured as an infrastructure hub, organizing state-of-the-art equipment and related services into a single system.
At the event in May, the Cryo-Electron Microscopy Competence Center received special attention. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM for short) is a world-class set of tools that allows for the extremely detailed examination of very small structures—such as proteins, intracellular complexes, and fine material structures. This is crucial in several fields: modern biotechnology and drug development (such as understanding target molecules), medical technology, and materials science.
The goal of establishing the competence center is to make this capability available to a broader community of researchers and industry partners through collaboration, rather than limiting its use to a narrow professional circle. The presentation of the Szentágothai Research Center thus essentially highlighted that Pécs offers an R&D infrastructure capable of “retaining” and “attracting” knowledge-intensive developments. This is important for the city and the region because where state-of-the-art research tools and skilled professionals are available, life science, healthcare, biotechnology, medical technology, and materials technology developments—whether through university-industry collaborations or in the form of new investments.
