Held at the University’s Digital Innovation Hub and streamed live to an international audience of over 60, the Australia-Hungary Tech Bridge event provided a platform to connect industry and academia - and open the door to meaningful cross-border partnerships between Australia, Hungary, and the broader Central European region.
Attendees gained insights from experts across diverse domains, examining the intersection of science, technology, and entrepreneurship.
The evening began with a welcome from Szabolcs Szlovák, Investment and Trade Commissioner, Embassy of Hungary, who underscored the importance of international collaboration in accelerating innovation and driving progress.
Jeff Jones, Manager, Digital Innovation Hub, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the Hub’s pivotal role in fostering transformative partnerships between researchers and industry. He placed particular emphasis on La Trobe’s health-focused initiatives, showcasing collaborative projects that are driving innovation including the AFR award-winning Victorian Virtual Emergency Department.
Dr Jane Leong from La Trobe’s Australia Centre for AI in Medical Innovation (ACAMI) shared insights into groundbreaking developments in AI-driven diagnostics and treatment pathways. She highlighted how predictive analytics and personalised care are reshaping the medical landscape and the infrastructure contribution La Trobe has for developing AI-based health solutions.
Next, George Ferenczi, an Australian-Hungarian medical technology expert, explored how AI is creating ‘digital bridges’ between Australia and Central Europe. He focused on the mutual strengths of both regions - Australia’s research and IP frameworks, with Hungary’s engineering talent and growing innovation economy.
The spotlight remained on interdisciplinary efforts, further emphasised through the insights of Prof Levente Kovács, Rector, Óbuda University. Prof Kovács explored his university’s startup incubation model, moving from problem identification and MVP prototyping to scalable product development and ecosystem partnerships. His focus on biomedical engineering illustrated how AI is being used to tackle chronic health conditions.
Maria Halász, a biotech leader from the University of NSW, delivered a comparative overview of the investment ecosystems in both nations. She explained that while Australia boasts strong research pipelines and superannuation-backed capital, Hungary offers a technically skilled workforce and access to EU grants.
Glen Pearce, CEO, Gedeon Richter Australia, rounded out the speaker series with a practical case study on using AI to target GPs in a population of 36,600 for an endometriosis drug campaign - demonstrating the power of data-driven segmentation in pharmaceutical marketing.
One of the evening’s highlights was a panel discussion moderated by Dr Aron Perenyi, Swinburne University.
The conversation centred on AI’s transformative power and the need for responsible governance. The group praised Australia’s ability to enact agile regulatory frameworks that mitigate risk while enabling innovation.
Panellists included Ben Dexter, Director, Newpath; Nadine Groves, Co-Founder and COO, Natural Velocity; Dr Jagdeesh Singh Dhaliwal, Medical Director, Alternaleaf; and Dr Amir Andargoli, Senior Lecturer (Information Systems), Swinburne University of Technology.
Panel takeaways
- Global partnerships accelerate innovation
The event reinforced the value of long-term collaboration. Aligning Australia’s commercialisation frameworks with Hungary’s cost-effective technical capacity can unlock scalable solutions for global healthcare
- AI as a catalyst for personalised medicine
AI is enabling tailored diagnostics, predictive care, and individualised treatment regimes - ushering in a future where care is increasingly specific to the patient
- Ethics and regulation matter
Transparent algorithms, representative data, and accountability in deployment were named as non-negotiables for trust and impact
- R&D and education are the future
Building an innovative future requires investment in research, workforce training, and fostering a culture of curiosity. Institutions must prepare the next generation of MedTech innovators now.
Next steps
Looking ahead, George Ferenczi outlined a dynamic roadmap to deepen collaboration between Australia and Hungary in the MedTech and AI sectors. Central to this vision is the creation of EU-connected medical technology projects anchored at La Trobe and its surrounding innovation ecosystem.
The aim is to attract strategic investments and co-funded initiatives that deliver practical, industry-ready solutions. A key milestone would be the establishment of an academic bridge between La Trobe and Hungary’s Óbuda University, including a joint PhD program to foster cross-border research excellence.
To further facilitate trade and innovation, the goal is to enable smoother trade of medical devices and technologies between the EU and Australia by establishing certification and testing facilities in both regions - creating a gateway for trade promotion and helping to overcome regulatory challenges.
The Australia-Hungary Tech Bridge set a clear precedent for what international cooperation in science and technology can achieve. By connecting ecosystems and unlocking shared potential, the event laid the groundwork for future innovations that could reshape healthcare as we know it.
La Trobe University and the Embassy of Hungary continue to champion a shared vision of global solutions in healthcare and to propel innovation in MedTech and AI.
For general enquiries or more information, please contact industry.engagement@latrobe.edu.au
