World-Class, High-Tech Center officially opened in Pécs

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The University of Pécs has established a world-class Ultra-Precision Machining Center in cooperation with Matro Ltd. in Pécs. The development became possible thanks to the purchase of a high-tech, diamond-tool ultra-precision machining machine. The aim of the investment is to create unique conditions in Hungary and in the Central-Eastern European region for optical and crystal processing with submicron accuracy.

The development directly supports the High-Intensity Terahertz (THz) Research Group of the Institute of Physics at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Pécs. The research group conducts internationally leading research in the field of high-energy, scalable THz sources. The new center allows the local development of special crystal and semiconductor based THz sources, the creation of new technologies, and the production of further patents and international scientific publications. The investment also eliminates dependence on foreign manufacturing capacities — especially those in Germany — and significantly speeds up research and development processes.

With the establishment of the Ultra-Precision Machining Center, the University of Pécs aims to become a regional center for high-tech research, innovation, and precision industrial production.This will significantly increase the university’s international visibility, competitiveness, and economic role. The new center was inaugurated on 15 April at the Matro Ltd. site by Attila Miseta, Rector of the University of Pécs, István Decsi, Chancellor of the University, Zoltán Kleisz, Managing Director of Matro Ltd., and Gábor Almási, Vice-Dean for General and Innovation Affairs at the Faculty of Sciences.

“This is an outstanding day for the University of Pécs, and I believe also for Matro Ltd., where university-industry cooperation can fully develop,” said Dr. Attila Miseta during the ceremony. He added that the new equipment allows researchers to work closer to the microscopic world and opens new scientific possibilities. He also highlighted that while humanity continues to explore distant space, researchers are also pushing the boundaries of the microscopic world, which plays an important role in technological development.

Zoltán Kleisz, Managing Director of Matro Ltd., emphasized that the investment creates new opportunities for the company beyond its traditional focus on the automotive and machinery industries: This investment represents a new opportunity for us, which simultaneously strengthens university–industry cooperation and supports the company’s long-term, commercially successful development.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between universities and industry, in which they intended to actively participate as a local stakeholder. He described the project as a significant technological challenge, while also expressing confidence that it would be successful both professionally and in terms of business. He added that the development had been designed with the possibility of future expansion in mind, and that they expect a considerable increase in revenue from this new area in the medium term, which also plays an important role in the company’s diversification strategy.

The center will primarily focus on the development and production of terahertz (THz) sources based on proprietary patents. These will enable the manufacturing of high pulse-energy, specialized THz devices, such as reliable material inspection systems, medical diagnostic equipment, or even more powerful and efficient airport security gates. In addition, the high-energy THz source is also one of the key components of the planned THz particle accelerator, which could revolutionize and make hadron therapy accessible to a wider audience. Hadron therapy is an innovative cancer treatment method in oncology.

The operation of the center will be carried out within a strategic industrial partnership involving Matro Ltd. The automotive supplier company, with more than three decades of manufacturing experience and a stable financial background, will provide the industrial environment and the professional infrastructure required for operation. The cooperation is based on a 50–50% allocation of machine time, which guarantees the priority of scientific use while also ensuring high industrial utilization and a stable revenue model.

The investment represents equipment procurement worth a gross value of 369.9 million HUF. The revenue-generating capacity of the center is based on the development of THz sources, as well as industrial machine-time utilization and contract manufacturing activities. Revenue from the commercialization of THz sources is expected to build up gradually with the market introduction of the technology and the expansion of international partnerships. Industrial utilization of machine time and contract manufacturing activities also represent significant revenue potential, with a projected return on investment within six years.

The center is not only a milestone in research and industry, but also in education, as there has so far been no higher education institution in Hungary with such a level of machining capacity. The development therefore creates opportunities to launch engineering micro-training programs, industrial continuing education courses, and professional demonstrations, thereby strengthening knowledge transfer between university and industry.

Source: University of Pécs News Centre