As part of the comprehensive evaluation of the HUN-REN research institutes, the on-site review of the scientific activities of the HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research (HUN-REN EK-CER) and its three affiliated institutes was conducted on 5-6 March 2024. The Assessment Committee including several internationally renowned researchers aligned with the institution's profile, familiarised themselves with the research activities during personal meetings with the leaders of the centre and research groups, participated in lab visits, and met with PhD students. They provided on-site feedback on their observations and most important recommendations at the end of the visit.
The members of the Assessment Committee evaluating HUN-REN EK-CER are:
Prof. Alexander J.B. Zehnder, Visiting Professor at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, Professor Emeritus at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, Chairman of the HUN-REN Advisory Board
Dr. István Szabó, PhD, Deputy CEO for Strategy and Innovation at HUN-REN Headquarters, former Vice President for Science and International Affairs at the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office, founder of the Innovation Section at the Hungarian Economic Association
Prof. Peter Török, DPhil, Professor at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Director of Imaging at the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Director of the NTU Optical Bio-Imaging Centre (NOBIC), Interim Director of the Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science (IDMxS) (Singapore)
Dr. Sacit Cetiner, PhD, Senior Research Scientist at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Scientific Director of the joint INL/MIT Center for Reactor Instrumentation and Sensor Physics (CRISP), and member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (USA)
Prof. Carlo Rizzuto, Full Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Genova, and Chair of the General Assembly of the Central European Research Infrastructure Consortium (CERIC-ERIC) (Italy)
Prof. Rafal E. Dunin-Borkowski, PhD, Professor of Experimental Physics at RWTH Aachen University and Director of the Institute for Microstructure Research and the Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons at Forschungszentrum Jülich (Germany)
Prof. Madhavi Srinivasan, PhD, Professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering and President’s Chair in Sustainability at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Executive Director of the Energy Research Institute at NTU (ERI@N) (Singapore)
Dr. Jana Kolar, Executive Director of the Central European Research Infrastructure Consortium (CERIC-ERIC), European Innovation Council (EIC) Ambassador, former Chair of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) (Slovenia)
Prof. Tim White, Professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, President’s Chair in Materials Science and Engineering, and Advisor (International Engagement) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), former President of the Materials Research Society of Singapore (Singapore)
The comprehensive assessment of HUN-REN's 49 research institutes was launched in January 2024, at the initiative of President Balázs Gulyás. The aim is to provide an unbiased and candid assessment of the standing of HUN-REN's research institutes in the global competition and identify potential breakthrough points. Building on the results of the evaluation, and by incorporating international best practices and examples, a new research strategy that supports the defined objectives will be developed in collaboration with the research institutions.
