The Hungarian Battery Association officially inaugurated its new laboratory equipment park on 22 January 2026 in a ceremonial event. The opening represents a significant milestone in the expansion of Hungary’s battery industry research and development capacities, as well as in strengthening international cooperation. In addition to HUBA staff, the event was attended by several distinguished guests, including Szabolcs Szolnoki, Deputy State Secretary; Balázs Szentgyörgyi, CEO and László Személyi of the Neumann Technology Platform, Project Manager; and representatives of the Ministry for National Economy.
In his opening remarks, Péter Kaderják, Managing Director of the Hungarian Battery Association, highlighted that the laboratory operated by HUBA Kompetencia Ltd. fills a critical gap in the sector. The facility offers tangible solutions for both industry stakeholders and policymakers and provides opportunities for conducting analyses serving public interests. By establishing expertise in end-of-life battery testing, the initiative significantly increases Hungarian value added within the battery sector.
The establishment of the laboratory is rooted in the 2025 professional programme of the Economic Innovation Partnership Program (EIPP), under which the Hungarian Battery Association undertook the creation of the Korea–Hungary Battery Cooperation Center (KHBCC) and the development of its initial work plan. HUBA Kompetencia Ltd., registered on 9 December 2025 and wholly owned by the Hungarian Battery Association, provides the legal and organisational framework for the operation of the Korea–Hungary Battery Cooperation Center.
During 2025, the Association procured all essential laboratory equipment required for the operation of the KHBCC’s organisational units. The modern instruments enable testing of lithium-ion and end-of-life batteries, as well as the performance of environmental analytical measurements.
In his address, Deputy State Secretary Szabolcs Szolnoki emphasised that the EIPP has successfully connected numerous stakeholders, creating synergies between Hungarian and South Korean experts. He underlined that the launch of the laboratory represents a major asset with substantial future potential.
At the event, Róbert Kun, Head of the R&D&I Working Group of the Hungarian Battery Association and professional coordinator of the laboratory, stressed that the newly inaugurated laboratory infrastructure enables key research. These include controlled-condition testing of lithium-ion batteries and their components, supporting the assessment of chemical safety and environmental impacts related to battery recycling processes. In addition, the facility allows for the examination of material structural changes associated with the electrochemical ageing of battery cell components, caused by extreme temperature exposure and/or high current loads during fast charging and discharging.
The development aims to enhance the global competitiveness of Hungary’s battery industry and to establish research, development, and analytical capacities that support industrial innovation, facilitate sustainability compliance, and contribute to the evaluation of recycling and second-life applications for used batteries. The laboratory also plays an important role in strengthening international research cooperation and strategic partnerships, in line with the objectives of the National Battery Industry Strategy 2030.
The laboratory equipment has been installed at the HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, opening further opportunities for research collaboration, including involvement of undergraduate and postgraduate students in higher education.
The inauguration of the laboratory marks the beginning of a new chapter in domestic and international battery industry cooperation and is expected to play a defining role in the long-term development of Hungary’s battery sector.
Photos: Kornél Salamon, Neumann János Nonprofit Public Benefit Ltd.
