Budapest, 17 March 2026 – Mercure Castle Hill Hotel
The International and Cluster Division of the Directorate-General for the Implementation of Economic Development Programmes at the National Development Centre (Nemzeti Fejlesztési Központ) brought this year’s first major international cluster event to Budapest: a cluster development workshop organised within the framework of the DEBUTING project.
At the event, domestic and international policy makers, innovation experts and cluster managers jointly rethought the future of R&D&I collaborations and the role of clusters within the innovation ecosystem.
It was also a memorable day for the iFood Food Industry Cluster: our cluster manager, Margit Weisz, was invited to present our cluster’s work and achievements to the international audience.
Policy directions and the impact of the DEBUTING project
Following the opening, participants received a comprehensive overview of the implementation of the DEBUTING project in Hungary. The focus was on the horizontal aspects of the GINOP Plusz programme, cluster development results, and the strengthening of the research and development ecosystem.
Particular attention was given to a presentation on the role of women researchers, which highlighted that supporting scientific and entrepreneurial careers is not only a matter of equal opportunities, but also a key factor in innovation performance.
Presenting the Hungarian Cluster Community
We believe that cooperation between clusters is key to strengthening the innovation ecosystem and increasing international competitiveness. In this spirit, the afternoon programme was built around presenting the domestic cluster ecosystem internationally, giving us the opportunity to introduce the iFood Food Industry Cluster to the foreign participants as well.
We are particularly proud that the work of the Magyar Klaszterközösség (Hungarian Cluster Community) – in whose development our organisation actively participates as a founding member – received a comprehensive and fitting presentation with the involvement of the iFood Food Industry Cluster. The aim of this session was to explore how the domestic cluster ecosystem operates, the patterns of cooperation between clusters, and the joint professional achievements and initiatives that strengthen the community’s development and international visibility.
“Women on Board” – roundtable on the role of women managers
One of the liveliest and most personal parts of the afternoon programme was a roundtable discussion on the role of women leaders. The panel featured leading cluster management professionals, including:
Zsófia Arosné Turczi, Magyar Építői Progresszív Klaszter
Berta Szabó, Dél-Dunántúli Gépipari Klaszter
Margit Weisz, iFood Food Industry Cluster
The discussion was moderated by Anita Szabó, Head of the International and Cluster Division at the NFK’s Directorate-General for the Implementation of Economic Development Programmes.
The panel was both professional and personal in tone: participants discussed the practical challenges of cluster management, the role of women leaders in the innovation ecosystem, and how to run multi-stakeholder collaborations effectively while keeping them people-centred.
New connections, new opportunities
The day concluded with an informal yet highly valuable networking dinner, where international guests and Hungarian cluster managers had the chance to get to know one another directly. The conversations made one thing clear: the Hungarian Cluster Community has a firm place and role on the international stage.
What did this day mean for the iFood Food Industry Cluster?
International visibility
Professional reinforcement
Inspiration regarding the role of women leaders
New connections and cooperation opportunities
The Hungarian cluster community presented a unified, strong and innovative image – one that not only reinforces existing collaborations, but also opens the way to new, long-term international partnerships.
