Mr. István Joó - The category of The Person Who Has Done the Most for Innovative Investment and Investment Abroad

István Joó is the CEO of HIPA National Investment Agency, the government commissioner responsible for investment promotion and the implementation of priority large investments in Hungary.

István Joó previously served as Deputy State Secretary for Foreign Economic Development and Deputy State Secretary for Export Promotion at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.Between 2020 and 2022, he was the Government Commissioner responsible for the Planet Budapest 2021 Sustainability Expo and World Summit, and in 2019 and 2016 he was the chief organiser of the Budapest Water Summits. He holds an Executive Master of Business Administration, an Energy Specialist and an Economic Agricultural Engineer.

Under István Joó's leadership, the HIPA National Investment Promotion Agency has achieved record results in terms of domestic investment promotion every year since 2022: in 2023, the Agency attracted €6.5 billion in foreign working capital, and in 2024, €13 billion, which is an outstanding achievement on the continent.

Under István Joó's leadership, the National Investment Agency has received a number of prestigious awards. Among others, the Agency has won the prestigious AIM Investment Award of the Region in Dubai, and has been ranked among the best investment agencies by Site Selection Magazine.

aiMOTIVE - Innovative Investment Firm categrory

The aiMotive Informatics Ltd, part of Stellantis since 2022, started a €55 million research and development project in October 2023 to develop an artificial intelligence platform that will provide Level 3 self-driving capabilities for all car models produced by the group. The investment, scheduled to be completed by the end of April 2026, will create 40 new high-value-added jobs.

Specialising in automated driving solutions, aiMotive Informatikai Kft. was acquired by Stellantis Group in November 2022, marking the largest exit in Hungarian startup history. Stellantis, the result of the merger between PSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), has industrial operations in 30 countries and products in more than 130 markets.

aiMotive offers an integrated portfolio of software, tools and hardware products, complemented by proprietary data management tools. These include the aiSim simulation tool, aiData, which provides automated driving data control services, and aiWare for optimized neural network execution. However, aiDrive, a complete software suite for self-driving, will be exclusively available for Stellantis vehicles.

The company, which also has offices in the US, Germany, and Japan, has now launched a €55 million R&D program that will result in the full range of Stellantis car models being able to implement Level 3 (L3) self-driving.

MEDICOR Elektronics Zrt. - Innovative Investment in Abroad Firm categrory

Program: Foreign Market Growth Support
Target country: Turkey
Project content.

The new manufacturing facility would also act as a component and sub-assembly supplier and development base for MEDICOR Electronics Ltd. to facilitate the procurement of high-quality, lower-cost products and services.

During the implementation period of the project, it is planned to implement the unified operation of new sensors for control and regulation, intelligent application, and safe communication with medical systems, which have not been used before. In addition, further development and customisation of a system consisting of several cameras and a unit for processing their control signals, capable of monitoring all newborns and premature babies, will be carried out.

The results obtained will allow non-contact monitoring of the infant's body temperature distribution, respiration, data recording and artificial intelligence-based extraction and data reduction. This type of development and application is unknown in current international developments of infant incubators.

Its products are purchased in Western EU countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria. Company's products have also been included in the aid programmes of UN agencies such as UNICEF and WHO.

Mr. István Lám- Creating the Innovative Investment Environment category

István Lám, co-founder of Tresorit.
István Lám is one of the active shapers of the Hungarian FDI ecosystem, focusing on developing links between universities and multinational companies. In recent years, he has been involved in several initiatives that have promoted knowledge sharing, innovation, and talent management in Hungary. These projects aim to increase the country's competitiveness and make Hungary more attractive to foreign investors.

Lám, an alumnus of BME's Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, is also keen to work with higher education institutions to help develop training programs that match the needs of international companies, thus contributing to the supply of a skilled workforce. Konrétan, an active member of the BME MBA Advisory Board, has advised and supported the business development work of more than 100 MBA students over the past 5 years. He is also a regular supporter, sponsor, and jury member of the Danube Cup student entrepreneur pitch competition, launched by BME and Corvinus Universities and now developed into a successful international network.

Through his professional activities, István Lám has become a key player in the FDI ecosystem, bridging the gap between education and global industry and supporting university-researcher collaboration, which is essential for long-term economic development.