Plenary Speakers

Roland Jakab is the Chief Executive Officer of the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network and a prominent figure in Hungary’s digital innovation ecosystem. HUN-REN is Hungary’s flagship national research organisation and a key pillar of its research and innovation landscape. HUN-REN comprises 15 research institutions with more than 5,000 employees, including approximately 3,400 researchers, working across a wide range of scientific disciplines of STEM, LIFE and frontier sciences.
Prior to his current role, he spent nearly 30 years at Ericsson, where he held a variety of senior executive positions both in Hungary and internationally. With more than 20 years of experience in telecommunications, research and development, and technology strategy, he has played a pivotal role in the rollout of 3G, 4G, and 5G networks, as well as in advancing the adoption of AI, IoT, cloud, and edge technologies.
He has been actively involved in the development and application of artificial intelligence for more than a decade, contributing to the creation of Hungary’s National AI Strategy. He currently serves as Chairman of the AI Coalition.
Operating at the intersection of science, industry, and public policy, Roland Jakab is committed to translating research excellence into scalable, market-driven innovation. He brings a strategic perspective on fostering collaboration between research institutions, businesses, and governments to accelerate technology transfer, enhance industrial competitiveness, and transform scientific knowledge into tangible economic and societal value.