The Government of Hungary and the United Nations University (UNU) have signed a host country agreement during a formal ceremony, officially confirming the establishment of a new education and research institute of the United Nations University in Kőszeg, Hungary. The initiative is led and partnered by the Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg (iASK). Hungary was represented at the signing by Mr. Balázs Hankó, Minister of Culture and Innovation, while the United Nations University was represented by Prof. Shen Xiaomeng, Vice-Rector.
The first United Nations University institute to be established in the former Eastern Bloc, the new center in Kőszeg will operate as a unique academic hub dedicated to comprehensive, interdisciplinary research on global challenges and the development of practical responses. Its work will focus on the causes of war, the conditions for lasting peace, human security, and the interconnections between transformative technologies, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and neurotechnology.
The UNU Institute in Kőszeg will seek to address whether humanity can formulate, accept, and implement global transformation processes through peaceful and sustainable transitions, while managing conflicts that may arise along the way—particularly in the Global South, with special attention to the Balkans and the South Caucasus.
The United Nations University is not a traditional higher education institution. Its mission is to translate scientific research into policy recommendations, thereby actively supporting international decision-making. UNU also offers postgraduate and doctoral programmes, contributing to the education of future leaders equipped to address complex global challenges.
The establishment of the Kőszeg institute is the result of a four-year preparatory process. The concept was initiated by iASK, an interdisciplinary research institute that bridges science and art. The research agenda of the new UNU institute aligns closely with iASK’s existing research portfolio. Through its flagship KRAFT (Creative City – Sustainable Region) programme, iASK has developed the infrastructure necessary for the institute’s operation. Its multidisciplinary expertise and regional development experience provide a strong foundation for successful implementation.
In March, UNU Rector Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala appointed a five-member international expert panel (the Scoping Panel Team) to prepare a feasibility (scoping) study for the proposed UNU Institute in Kőszeg. The panel completed its work on schedule, and at its meeting on 3 June 2025, the UNU Council positively assessed the report and authorized the Rector to work with the Hungarian Government on the next steps toward establishment. These include securing financial support and concluding the host country agreement and related legal arrangements.
Several individuals made significant contributions to the success of the Kőszeg initiative, including iASK Director General Ferenc Miszlivetz; Prof. Dr. János Bogárdi, Chair of the Working Group responsible for establishing the institute; Prof. Dr. Jody Jensen, Head of the iASK Balkan Observatory Research Group; Sean Cleary, diplomat, former ambassador, and delegate of the Hungarian Government; Dr. Elira Luli, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Tirana; Prof. Dr. Szabolcs Márka, Professor of Physics at Columbia University; Prof. Dr. Zsuzsa Márka, Researcher at the Columbia University Astrophysics Laboratory; and Prof. Dr. Charles Vörösmarty, Professor at the City University of New York.
The establishment of the UNU Institute in Kőszeg aligns with the vision of iASK’s founders to transform the city into a leading center of knowledge and dialogue in Central Europe. By joining the global network of United Nations University institutes, Hungary and the Western Pannon region will become part of an international framework of cooperation that complements and strengthens the work of existing UNU centers worldwide.
The new institute will not only generate synergies with international scientific institutions but will also promote regionally relevant knowledge development by engaging domestic research communities. The partnership between UNU, iASK, and the International Synergy Campus contributes to the growing international recognition of scientific excellence in Kőszeg and Hungary. Through cross-border cooperation, the transdisciplinary research conducted at the institute—and the innovative approach iASK has fostered in the region for over a decade—will gain global visibility.
Dialogue on these themes will continue at the 8th UNESCO MOST Winter School, which is shaping the research directions of the new UNU Institute in Kőszeg. The event will bring together scientists, policymakers, and civil society representatives to explore how lasting peace can be achieved through science, art, and education.
