Bilateral meetings during the MTA200 celebratory events
Between 3-5 November 2025, high-level international events took place in Budapest as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA). Presidents of partner academies and organisations, heads of scientific councils and science policy experts came together to commemorate this significant anniversary. As part of the three-day-long international celebratory events, two signing ceremonies of cooperation agreements and a number of high-level bilateral meetings took place.
Professor Muzaffer Şeker, President of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA), and Professor Tamás Freund, President of MTA, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Scientific Cooperation between TÜBA and MTA, which will contribute to enhancing and strengthening collaboration between the Academies in the form of an exchange of scientists and an exchange of information and the use of archives, libraries and similar institutions. The MoU replaces the Agreement on Scientific Cooperation between TÜBA and MTA, which came into force on 9 April 2001. The Hungarian Academy of Sciences had the honour of receiving Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in Hungary, at the signing ceremony, who also joined the fruitful discussion with President Muzaffer Şeker and President Tamás Freund.
Muzaffer Şeker and Tamás Freund Photo: Tamás Szigeti / MTAAn Agreement on Scientific Cooperation between the Algerian Academy of Sciences and Technologies (ANAS) and MTA was signed by Professor Mohamed Hichem Kara, President of ANAS, and President Tamás Freund. It was a privilege to welcome Adel Talbi, Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to Hungary, at the signing ceremony. His Excellency also participated in the bilateral meeting afterwards. The Agreement will put the new partnership between the two Academies into action and will provide a formal framework to encourage and promote cooperation in the field of science, technology and innovation between Algeria and Hungary, particularly in the field of nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, big data, agriculture, sustainable development and other areas of common interest. According to the Agreement, ANAS and MTA will provide financial support for selected joint research mobility projects for periods of two years and for short-term scientific visits.
Mohamed Hichem Kara and Tamás Freund Photo: Attila Károly Nagy / MTAProfessor Ion Tiginyanu, President of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, also joined the festive events of the Academy; in addition, Professor Tiginyanu awarded President Tamás Freund the prestigious “Dimitrie Cantemir” Medal, the highest distinction conferred by the Academy of Sciences of Moldova for outstanding contributions to international scientific cooperation. The award ceremony, also attended by Mihail Barbulat, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova in Hungary, was followed by a bilateral discussion on possibilities for further strengthening cooperation between the two Academies.
Tamás Freund and Ion Tiginyanu Photo: Attila Károly Nagy / MTAOn the margins of the celebratory events, President Tamás Freund received Professor Paweł Rowiński, President of All European Academies (ALLEA). The meeting provided an opportunity to review and further promote the active involvement of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) in ALLEA’s initiatives.
Paweł Rowiński and Tamás Freund Photo: Attila Károly Nagy / MTAProfessor Emmanuel Moutafov, Vice-President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), presented President Tamás Freund with a congratulatory address from Professor Evelina Slavcheva, President of BAS, and a replica of an ancient silver vessel discovered during archaeological excavations at the Thracian mound of Golyama Kosmatka. The meeting was attended by Christo Polendakov, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Hungary, during which the parties exchanged views on the possible deepening of relations between the two Academies. The article published by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is available here.
Emmanuel Moutafov and Tamás Freund Photo: Attila Károly Nagy / MTAProfessor Ioan-Aurel Pop, President of the Romanian Academy (RA), visited President Tamás Freund and presented a silver medal made specially to commemorate the jubilee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Ioan-Aurel Pop and Tamás Freund Photo: Attila Károly Nagy / MTA