Szabolcs Szolnoki

Deputy State Secretary for Technology, Ministry for National Economy

As the Deputy State Secretary for Technology at the Ministry for National Economy, his primary focus is designing and implementing programs that enhance the technological maturity of Hungarian companies. In addition to his governmental role, he is an active researcher and PhD candidate.

In previous roles, he served as the Chief Innovation Officer to the President of the John von Neumann University, where his responsibilities included providing counsel and initiating projects focused on university-centric innovation ecosystems. He is the founder of an international NGO, where he addressed innovation and humanitarian technology transfer.

As Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Valorisation at Express Innovation Agency, he was tasked with making scientific knowledge accessible and applicable to industry, translating research into tangible benefits for society and the economy.

He also held the position of Deputy CEO for Innovation and Business Development at EAC Group, one of the fastest-growing multi-strategy firms in the CEE region, operating in consulting, investment, and IT development.

From 2017 to 2021, he served as a diplomat for scientific and technological affairs in Tel Aviv, where he initiated projects in fields such as cybersecurity, fintech, life sciences, mobility, and space industries. He previously headed startup relations at the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency (HEPA) and led the development and management of Budapest’s municipal startup incubator and microfinance provider (BVK).

Early in his career, he worked as an employment policy expert at the Ministry for Economy and in a parliamentary group. He is also actively involved in co-managing his family’s businesses.