Signed in Budapest on Jan. 14, 2025, the agreement brings together Hungary’s market-leading construction company and one of the country’s most important technical universities. The partnership focuses on developing the construction industry ecosystem, boosting digital and sustainability-related competencies, and preparing future engineers for the sector’s increasingly complex challenges.

The agreement was signed by Market Építő Zrt. CEO Sándor Scheer and Budapest University of Technology and Economics Rector Charaf Hassan.

Beyond traditional engineering expertise, the construction industry now requires digital specialists, sustainability experts and leaders with complex project management skills. As competition for talent intensifies not only within the sector but across industries, Market Építő Zrt. aims to integrate market-driven innovation directly into higher education through the partnership. The company has been a defining player in Hungary’s high-rise construction sector for three decades and has taken a pioneering role in areas such as BIM, LEAN methodologies and digitalization.

The agreement goes beyond a single project and launches a comprehensive professional program. Market continues to develop its four core operational pillars — customer experience, teamwork, quality and operational efficiency — and now seeks to transfer this dynamic mindset into university education.

“For Market Építő Zrt., this cooperation is a forward-looking partnership that strengthens industry innovation and contributes to sustainable development. We believe that knowledge sharing and the transfer of practical experience are essential to preparing the next generation of engineers. Through this, we not only secure professional succession but also actively shape the future of the construction industry,” Scheer said at the signing ceremony.

The partnership is built on mutual benefits. BME has committed to providing professional training programs for Market employees, promoting the company among students, and inviting Market to participate as a bidder in the university’s infrastructure development tenders. The shared objective is to ensure that students complement their theoretical knowledge with modern, labor market-relevant competencies, including digital skills and a sustainability-oriented approach.

“Today’s engineers need digital literacy and a comprehensive mindset alongside classical knowledge. The planned cooperation with Market’s experts, their involvement in education and in our research and development activities, provides a guarantee that our students will graduate with multidisciplinary knowledge. We are not merely teaching, but building the professional community of the future together with economic actors,” Hassan said.

As part of the cooperation, the partners will develop a professional program addressing the industry’s most pressing challenges. Key focus areas include construction digitalization and BIM-based design, supporting data-driven decision-making in practice; sustainability, with research and development into green building materials and energy-efficient technologies; and project management and leadership, aimed at strengthening the managerial skills required in modern engineering work.

Market professionals will deliver courses at the university, participate in final examination committees, and act as external consultants for theses and student research projects. The goal is to ensure graduates enter the labor market with multidisciplinary knowledge and strong practical relevance.

Innovation and talent development also play a central role in the agreement. Subject to capacity, Market Építő Zrt. will support BME’s Induktor program by providing experts and infrastructure for doctoral students working on PhD topics with clear corporate application. Talent development is a strategic priority for the company, and the university partnership builds on earlier initiatives, including participation in the “Teach for Hungary” program and support for vocational training through the Tudásépítő-Team initiative.