As part of the celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA), the scientific event “Directions and Innovations in Semiconductor Technology” was held on 14 October 2026 at the Academy’s headquarters in Budapest. The event was chaired by Dr. János Volk, researcher at the HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research, and featured presentations by our colleagues Péter Lajos Neumann and Tímea Nóra Török. Péter Neumann presented his research on memristor-based logic gates, highlighting the potential of VO₂-based devices for energy-efficient computing. Tímea Török introduced neuromorphic MEMS signal processing in acoustic sensing, exploring innovative approaches to next-generation auditory technologies. The event provided an opportunity to share recent scientific developments and discuss emerging directions in semiconductor research. The full event recording is available online: Watch on YouTube

Once again this year, two teams from the Microsystems and Nanosensors Laboratories of the HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research (EK-MFA) successfully completed the 115 km UB Trail running event. Our colleagues participated in two teams: Microns: Zsófia Baji, Barbara Beiler, Dóra Bereczki, Károly Bodnár, Péter Fürjes, Zsombor Szomor Gyorsítófeszültség: Ferenc Braun, Levente Illés, János Volk The event was a great opportunity to demonstrate teamwork, endurance, and determination beyond the laboratory. Congratulations to both teams on their outstanding achievement!

We are pleased and proud to announce that Dr. Zsófia Baji, a researcher at the HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research, has received the 2026 L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science Award. She received this prestigious recognition for her outstanding research in the field of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). Her work contributes to the advancement of modern microelectronic technologies. The Hungarian For Women in Science programme, established 24 years ago, aims to support outstanding female researchers and recognise their scientific achievements. We warmly congratulate our colleague on this prestigious award!

A VO2 memristor-based spike encoding scheme of piezo-MEMS cantilevers' signals is realized in our recently published article, aiming at the application in fully implantable cochlear implants. The article is available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bspc.2026.110761

At the 200th General Assembly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, our colleague János Volk was awarded an MTA Prize for his outstanding research achievements and for the steps he has taken to apply and utilize those results. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

The team of the HUN-REN EK MFA Mikrosystems and Nanosensors Laboratories completed the 209 km ULTRABALATON distance in 21 hours. Our runners:Károly BodnárFerenc BraunKata ElmerPéter FürjesLevente IllésZsófia KiszelyZsombor SzomorJános Volk Special thanks to our captain, Barbara Beiler, for the organization, care, and constant encouragement—even from afar!Thanks to Péter Neumann for the logistics, and to everyone for the support!

Our TDK student, Kende Dobos, received 1st Prize at the Students’ Scientific Conference (TDK) of Óbuda University, Kandó Faculty. Title: Acoustic Sound Source Localization Using Digital Signal ProcessingSupervisor: Ferenc BraunUniversity Consultant: Zsolt MolnárSection: Measurement Technology Congratulations.

Kende Dobos delivered presentation at the XLI Kandó Conference 2025, held in Budapest, Hungary. His contribution, entitled “Acoustic Sound Source Localization Using Digital Signal Processing,” presented a DSP-based methodology for the precise localization of acoustic sound sources.

The ULTRABALATON TRAIL is a challenge that only the most committed runners dare to undertake. This year, our three-member team completed the demanding 115-kilometre course in 12 hours and 8 minutes. Their achievement is the result of rigorous preparation, perseverance, and exemplary teamwork. Team members: Illés Levente Volk János Braun Ferenc Congratulations to the team, and heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported this outstanding accomplishment!

Zsófia Baji has been awarded the prestigious Hungarian State Eötvös Scholarship, which enables the further international development of her research.

Over two exciting days, the journey began at our MEMS lab in Budapest and continued with a campus visit to Infineon’s state-of-the-art fab in Villach, Austria. Participants gained unique insights into front-end production, failure analysis, and the cutting-edge R&D shaping the semiconductor industry. They also had the valuable opportunity to present their research directly to Infineon specialists. A big thank you to the Infineon IPCEI team for their warm welcome and knowledge sharing!

Poster presentation by Zsófia Baji at the AVS-ALD ALE 2025 Conference, Jeju, South KoreaTitle: Vanadium sulfide layers with atomic layer depositionCo-authors: Zsófia Bérces, Zsolt Fogarassy, Zoltán Szabó, Zoltán Kovács, Konrád Kandrai, Péter Petrik, Péter Nemes-Incze, Péter Vancsó

Tímea Török has been awarded the János Bolyai Research Scholarship for a period of 3 years. Research project title: "Nanoscale memristors for neuromorphic and high-frequency applications"

Presentation of Tímea Török at the First Symposium on Physics and Chemistry for Unconventional Computing, AGH University of Krakow

April 4th, 2025; János Volk successfully defended his D.Sc. thesis, “Highly Ordered ZnO Nanowires,” at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Z. Baji et al:  Novel precursor for the preparation of vanadium sulfide layers with atomic layer deposition Editor's PickLD Zsófia Baj, Zsolt Fogarassy,  Attila Sulyok, Zsolt Endre Horváth, Zoltán Szabó https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0004127

Z. Baji et al: Enhancing the nucleation in atomic layer deposition: A study on vanadium sulfide and oxide layers Available to Purchase Special Collection: Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) Zsofia Baji,  Zsolt Fogarassy, Orsolya Hakkel; Zoltán Szabó https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0004247

Future materials conference 2024, Athens, Greece: Nucleation and growth of atomic layer deposited vanadium sulphide layers, Zsófia Baji, Zsolt Fogarassy, Orsolya Hakkel, Zoltán Szabó

Four highly accelerated colleagues (Gyorsítófeszültség: Levi, Feri, Laci és Jani) conquered the 115 km UB Trail in just under 11 hours, earning 10th place in their category. In 2025, we’re raising the voltage even higher!

We are delighted to announce that our part-time staff member, Ms Tímea Nóra Török, has successfully defended her doctoral dissertation and was awarded the prestigious 'summa cum laude' degree. We are proud of her pioneering research in the Development and Investigation of Ultra-Small On-Chip Resistive Switching Memory Devices. Our sincere congratulations to her and supervisor, Prof András Halbritter at BME.

Our TDK student, J. Áron Vándorffy received 1st Prize on Students' Scientific Conference (TDK) of Budapest University of Technology and Economics. Title: Development of a 2DEG-based selective frequency sensing system Supervisors: Péter Lajos Neumann Section: Electronics devices and technologies Congratulations.

BME-MFA team participates the opening meeting of the EU Horizon Pathfinder Challenges project, Quantum Bits with Kitaev Transmons (QuKit) at TU Delft.  The joint project of eight EU stakeholders aims to develop a novel qubit that is immune to most decoherence mechanisms currently limiting mainstream implementations of a quantum computer. This qubit, the Kitmon, is based on a hybrid between superconducting qubits and a two-dimensional platform.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mssp.2023.107902

Success of the HUN-REN EC Microsystems and Nanosensors Laboratories Team at the ULTRABALATON TRAIL The ULTRABALATON TRAIL is a challenge that only the most determined runners will take on. Our team completed the 115 kilometre course in 12 hours 35 minutes. Success was the result of hard work, dedication and coordinated teamwork. Team members: Beiler Barbara Bereczki Dóra Braun Ferenc Fürjes Péter Illés Levente Szomor Zsombor Volk János Congratulations to the team, and thank you to everyone who contributed to this amazing success!