A professional–scientific conference titled “Batteries, Environmental Protection, and Regulation” was held on October 28, 2025, organized jointly by the Faculty of Science at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE TTK), the Safety, Health and Environment Working Group of the Hungarian Battery Association (HUBA), and the Physical Chemistry Division of the Hungarian Chemical Society. The event focused on introducing and debating the concept, objectives, and potential structure of the Battery Industry Market Surveillance Authority and Competence Centre planned by the Hungarian government. Another key aim of the conference was to promote dialogue not only among industry and scientific stakeholders, but also with representatives of civil organizations.
The morning session was opened by Dr. Péter Kaderják, Managing Director of the Hungarian Battery Association, whose presentation explored the potential scope and structure of the proposed Authority and Competence Centre. He emphasized that such an institution could operate most effectively as an independent regulatory body with its own decision-making autonomy, while at the same time being bound by strong transparency obligations.
Next, Dr. Győző Láng (ELTE TTK & HUBA) gave a lecture on modern battery technologies. He underlined that consumers demand batteries that are smaller, longer-lasting, more affordable, and more environmentally friendly – yet meeting all these criteria simultaneously presents serious challenges for manufacturers. He highlighted the potentially positive role of the proposed Authority, supported by a competence centre providing professional expertise and technical background.
Dr. Andrea Éltető (ELTE KRTK Institute of World Economics) delivered a presentation titled Overview of the Hungarian Battery Industry, outlining the main challenges currently facing the domestic battery sector.
The final presentation of the morning session was delivered jointly by Dr. Gyula Záray (ELTE TTK & HUN-REN) and Dr. Róbert Pál (Today Science Ltd.), focusing on monitoring systems. They emphasized that while the necessary technologies are already available, it is essential that higher education institutions train sufficiently skilled engineers and professionals capable of operating these systems effectively.
In the afternoon, the conference continued with experts who are also active in the civil sphere, further fostering dialogue among scientists, businesses, and non-profit organizations.
Dr. Erzsébet Gariscsak (AKÁRTEIS & FOTON) addressed issues related to battery safety and discussed several dilemmas surrounding recycling and waste management.
Dr. Zsuzsa Bodnár (Göd-ÉRT Association) focused on the Samsung SDI plant in Göd, emphasizing that effective cooperation between authorities, companies, and civil organizations is essential to ensure that production fully complies with existing laws and regulations.
The closing presentation was delivered by Dr. Éva Kozma (MIAKÖ), who examined the battery industry developments in Debrecen in detail, addressing public concerns and open questions. She also underlined the importance of transparency in monitoring systems and data reporting, presenting a community-initiated local monitoring network designed to collect and share real-time information on pollutant emissions.
