On December 1, 2025, Rector Prof Dr Péter Sótonyi and Dr Balázs Hankó, Minister for Culture and Innovation, formally signed a cooperation agreement between the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest and the Ministry of Culture and Innovation. Under the agreement, the government will provide 28 billion HUF in funding to support the continued development of the campus.
The purpose of the agreement is to ensure the ongoing comprehensive modernisation of the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest. The first phase of this renewal — the restoration of historic buildings — was inaugurated last December by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The modernisation strengthens the university’s academic and innovation ecosystem and supports the implementation of Hungary’s research, development, and innovation strategies.
Before the signing, both Rector Sótonyi and Minister Hankó delivered brief remarks on the significance of the cooperation.
“For the future of the University, the comprehensive development of the campus is of historic importance. It further strengthens the Institution’s international role, where two-thirds of students from 70 countries study in foreign-language programs. We can attract leading international scientists even more successfully if we offer research conditions that meet 21st-century scientific standards. The impact of the modernized buildings handed over in 2024 is already visible: this year we climbed 100 places in the Shanghai Ranking’s subject list, making us Hungary’s top higher education institution in 2025. The next phase — further renovations and the construction of the new Comparative Medical Research Center — will enable groundbreaking scientific discoveries with the involvement of world-renowned researchers.”
— Prof Dr Péter Sótonyi, Rector
Minister Hankó highlighted that Hungarian higher education is currently experiencing its golden age:
“Today, Hungary is one of the few EU countries that preserves tradition while remaining open to innovation and staying competitive. A prime example of this is the University of Veterinary Medicine. It preserves its traditions — after all, it is the third-oldest veterinary training institution in the world, founded in 1787. At the same time, it is competitive and innovative: looking at one of the major global rankings, the university has advanced more than 100 places and now stands 59th worldwide among veterinary institutions, slightly ahead of pharmaceutical sciences at 61st. This is the kind of healthy competition that helps secure the future and success the Hungarian youth and the Hungarian nation deserve.”
— Dr Balázs Hankó, Minister for Culture and Innovation
The minister also stated that the Ministry of Culture and Innovation is committed to providing further support in the coming years to ensure the continued development of the university, for the success of Hungarian youth and researchers.
“Let this progress benefit the Carpathian Basin and serve the interests of the Hungarian nation.”
— Dr Balázs Hankó
