Five times every year University of Pecs and Ohio University students convene in Pecs for a 6-week consulting program working with businesses, non-profits, and the university. Both Ohio and Pecs students receive internship credit for the experience.

The Hungarian, American, and International students are assembled into teams and assigned clients. The clients consist of high technology businesses, start-ups, local and international companies. Students need to immediately bond and creatively work together to understand these businesses, define problem(s) and then propose recommendations/solutions to the businesses.

• 6 weeks of extensive consulting experience in a multicultural environment
• Exposure to a wide variety of business problems in an international setting
• Exposure to the world of innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship
• Client interaction with real businesses and entrepreneurs
• Real-world application of your business knowledge and skills in the afternoons with regional business
• The basics of business planning, feasibility studies and structuring companies for financing
• Work in teams with students from University of Pecs and the US
• A great resume building experience
• Lifelong friendships, international business contacts and references
• Fun cultural activities outside of work (international culinary festival, music festivals, short weekend trips)

What we want:
• Sophomore/Junior/ or Senior students
• Students interested in application of classroom learning to real businesses.
• Highly motivated conscientious people
• Good academic standing with their college
• Strong interest in entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialization
• Positive attitude
• Hard workers who also enjoy fun
• Students that are open-minded and open to new experiences
• Students eager to get real-world business experience
• Students who want to learn about doing business in a foreign country
• Flexibility to work outside you field of interest
• No previous consulting experience required.

Application to the Program:
Students interested should send a brief email stating their interest in the program, along with a resume to INFO@simonyicenter.com immediately. Students will be selected based on criteria above and an interview with the Program Director.

Deputy Prime Minister Tibor Navracsics, State Audit Office head Laszlo Domokos and Chief Prosecutor Peter Polt signed an anti-corruption agreement on Friday morning.

Supreme Court president Andras Baka had signed the agreement at an earlier date.

Corruption is the greatest danger to Hungarian democracy and such an agreement is unprecedented not only in Hungary but also around the world, Navracsics said. The agreement respects the independence of the affected institutions, he added.

The signing ceremony was also attended by the ambassadors of the US and the UK.

The Global Entrepreneurship Week gives an excellent opportunity to bring together the brightest young entrepreneurs in order to work on the most challenging global issues together with the world’s leaders. It’s our honor that Hungary will be the first host of a Kairos event that is orgnized during the GEW. Our hope is that the Hungarian Kairos Summit will begin a series of Kairos events that will be organized in association with GEW and hosted by varying Kairos chapters year by year.

The first day of the Summit will be held in beautiful Le Meridien Hotel in the heart of Budapest.  The second day will be held in Győr (West-Hungary) in the InnoNET Innovation Technology Center:

The Kairos Society is an international, student-run, not-for-profit foundation based in the United States. Kairos fosters a culture of innovation-driven entrepreneurship by engaging our diverse fellows with a variety of industry and thought leaders surrounding a wide range of global challenges.

The Hungarian Kairos Summit is dedicated to support the endeavor of Kairos Society, e.g. to catalyze an economy of innovation by fostering a global community of top student entrepreneurs and change makers, driven to individual and collective action towards a better future.

The Simonyi Center in Pécs, Hungary facilitates the transformation of Hungarian and Eastern European economies from a post-socialist to a western capitalist approach. The Simonyi Center offers business development and assistance services to entrepreneurs and organizations in the fields of cultural arts, sciences and innovation as well as business. Services are offered to Pécs and the surrounding region.

On September 23, 2011 Ambassador Kounalakis opened an exhibition titled “From San Francisco to Woodstock – The Golden Age of the American Rock Poster 1965-1971” at the KOGART House.  The show’s unique mission is to introduce this particular segment of modern American art history to the Hungarian public as well as to highlight the cultural links between the two countries.

Ambassador Kounalakis explained in her remarks that “During the Cold War, rock music gained a following around the globe and was even able to break through the Iron Curtain. In the United States and in Hungary, we shared in the messages of the music, in the desire to question authority and to change the status quo.” She added that “it had, and still has, the power to bring nationalities and generations together.  It has the power to move people, and it serves as a window into understanding western and American culture.”

During the opening ceremony Mr. Simonyi, and columnist of San Francisco Chronicle, Ms. Leah Garchik explained what rock music and this era meant to them. Ms. Garchik also shared memories of Mickey Hart from the Grateful Dead and Country Joe McDonald whom she interviewed.

The U.S. Embassy supported the organization of the exhibit with a grant that provided help for transportation of the works, printing of information materials and publicity. The chief curator of the exhibit is former Hungarian Ambassador to the U.S. and enthusiast rock fan, András Simonyi. The show was created in cooperation with generous American private collectors from Denver, the Denver Arts Museum and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

The exhibit showcases 150 rock posters and about 50 cultural relics (instruments, costumes, etc.) from the 1960s and 1970s, reflecting the rock and roll legacy of that era in the San Francisco Bay Area. The posters are engaging reflections of the musical events and the musicians they once promoted, and also are unique works of visual art reflecting pop culture of that era.

Representatives from the Hungarian business and art community as well as members of the diplomatic community were present at the opening ceremony and at the uniquely American reception following it.

The exhibit will be open to the general public until December 31, 2011.  (hours: Monday thru Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; address: 112 Andrássy út)

Statement by Secretary Clinton on the Occasion of Hungary’s National Day

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Hungary as you celebrate Saint Stephen’s Day this August 20th.

This June I visited Budapest to participate in the inauguration of the Lantos Institute and reaffirm the commitment of the United States to Hungary’s future.  Americans and Hungarians share a history of mutual respect and values. Today, we are NATO allies, strong economic partners, and we are working to protect and promote democracy and human rights.  Together we are working to foster greater stability in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and other countries around the world.  In your own country you are continuing to work toward reforms that will help strengthen your economy and eliminate corruption.  The United States stands with you as you strive to preserve democratic institutions and set an example for other countries as they work to establish their own democracies, create open and pluralistic societies, and promote human rights.

As you honor your rich history on this special day, know that the United States sends best wishes to all Hungarians for continued peace and prosperity in the year to come.

Message from President Barack Obama to President Pál Schmitt on the Occasion of Hungary’s National Day

Dear Mr. President:

On behalf of the American people, I extend my warmest regards on the occasion of your Saint Stephen’s National Day on August 20.  The United States and Hungary share close cultural ties and democratic values.  As NATO allies, we also share an enduring commitment to safeguarding international peace and security.  The United States looks forward to strengthening our relations with Hungary in the year ahead as we work together to address the challenges of the 21st century.

Sincerely,
Barack Obama

Led by the Young Entrepreneurs Association, GEW/Hungary is looking to make 2011 its biggest year yet with international conferences, thematic days and the support of a growing list of companies. See for yourself November 14-20.

Please join the Simonyi Center for a week long celebration of events and activities in Pecs, Hungary

Budapest, Hungary —(July 14, 2011) Mansfield & Associates, Ltd., a research driven executive search firm headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, announced the opening of its European area office located in Budapest, Hungary, with the addition of Robert Mansfield, Director of European Search for Mansfield & Associates, KFT.

“The European area office is strategically located to serve Western, Central and Eastern Europe,” said Ann Mansfield, President.   “This will allow Mansfield & Associates to continue to enhance its excellence in International Search for both U.S. based corporations and international firms.”

Robert Mansfield brings diverse experience in the field of International Consulting and Research.  Working out of Budapest, Hungary, he provides research, recruiting, and consulting services throughout the European market within the manufacturing, pharmaceutical, laboratory, biomedical, health care, enterprise software, sports, hospitality, and retail fields.  He has worked in Hungary and Serbia for the Simonyi Center for Entrepreneurship, focusing on consulting, commercialization and innovation.  In addition to Mr. Mansfield’s consulting and research work internationally, he has been affiliated with the George Voinovich School of Entrepreneurship and the Appalachian Regional Entrepreneurial Group with Ohio University serving small businesses in the Appalachian Region, Ohio and West Virginia.

Mr. Mansfield’s knowledge, multi-lingual capability, and experience working with European business owners and entrepreneurs is a valuable asset in understanding the changing international business model and its impact on national companies looking to expand utilizing a worldwide talent pool.

Mr. Mansfield’s alliance demonstrates the company’s commitment to growth and will further establish Mansfield & Associates as a major player globally in the executive search business.  With Mr. Mansfield’s passion for the international executive search business, intellect and integrity, the company will continue to exceed its client’s expectations.

The Simonyi Center in Pécs, Hungary facilitates the transformation of Hungarian and Eastern European economies from a post-socialist to a western capitalist approach. The Simonyi Center offers business development and assistance services to entrepreneurs and organizations in the fields of cultural arts, sciences and innovation as well as business.

The Simonyi Center is pleased to announce that the University of Pecs is now on its way to establish a research centre that the South Transdanubian Region has not had for decades. This centre will focus the previously disintegrated research potential around the medical and the environmental industry that has been defined in the Pólus Programme. The sustainability of human life will be supported by research and development activities and the Centre will ensure high quality technological and laboratory infrastructure for the research teams employed in this building. The Science Building will focus on three key research and related teaching areas:

1. Biosciences Centre,

2. Environmental Sciences Centre,

3. Information Technology Centre.

The University of Pécs announced at the beginning of May that according to the
requirements stipulated in the public procurement tender the Grabarics building company is
the winner for the building investment of the Science Building. However, this decision was
impugned. Therefore the Public Procurement Board investigated the documentation of the
case and allowed the original decision to stand, taking into consideration that the documents
handed in by the company have been correct and according to the relating laws.
The Science Building investment has three parts, and is going to be built opposite the 400-
bed clinic. The building company leaves more parts of the car park unchanged. The
company does not plan to close any lanes and cause traffic jams on Ifjúság street.

The Grabarics company signed a contract to build the Science Building in 288 days, which enables to open the building which will host the knowledge base of the region in September 2012 according to the original plans.

One of the most important priorities of the Science Building project is the development of basic research potential in the most progressive fields of the natural, engineering and medical sciences. The main aim is to establish a new research and development facility within the campus of the UP which enables the institution to participate in international tender and grant applications by establishing new, cutting edge laboratories and research facilities that meet European standards, a facility that is unique in our country.  The Simonyi Center will be tracking the construction of this beautiful facility and look forward to future collaborations.

Rector József Bódis and Gábor Grabarics, head of the tender winning Grabarics building company signed the agreement according to which the construction of the Science Building is now ready to start!

ExxonMobil Hungary Kft. offers retail services for petroleum products through a network of stations. The company is based in Budapest, Hungary. ExxonMobil Hungary Kft. operates as a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Central Europe Holding GmbH.  The Simonyi Center in Pécs, Hungary facilitates the transformation of Hungarian and Eastern European economies from a post-socialist to a western capitalist approach. The Simonyi Center offers business development and assistance services to entrepreneurs and organizations in the fields of cultural arts, sciences and innovation as well as business.