Uni of Miskolc, CATL Debrecen Sign Cooperation Agreement

The official signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement took place between the University of Miskolc and CATL Debrecen (the Hungarian subsidiary of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited) in Miskolc on June 20. As part of the agreement, CATL as a market leader in the battery manufacturing industry will not only help students gain practical experience but will also contribute to the development of the university's curriculum and support the scientific and research activities of the educational institution.

With CATL contributing to the education of students at the University of Miskolc, the contract covers a wide range of academic disciplines in the fields of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science.

The strategic partnership will allow CATL to participate in the training of engineering students and researchers. This will provide the company with a skilled workforce to successfully operate and develop its Debrecen facility in the long term.

“CATL is building its second European factory in Debrecen, which will support our European customers and contribute to the electrification process in Europe. As a market and technology global leader, our company provides best-in-class batteries to customers. To operate our Hungarian plant, we plan to rely on Hungarian talent to whom we will transfer CATL’s world-class knowledge and experience in a new industry. Thanks to our cooperation with the University of Miskolc, we are now able to support young professionals in higher education in Hungary, providing them with up-to-date, practical knowledge and international career opportunities in a dynamically developing new industry,” said Jason Chen, general manager of CATL European Operations, at the event.

The University of Miskolc has a strong R&D capacity, especially in engineering and materials science. Through this collaboration, CATL will have access to the University's expertise and research results, which can contribute to the development of battery technologies.

“For generations of Hungarian technical intellectuals, the University of Miskolc is one of the most important educational institutions. Our engineering, business and science graduates shape the present and future of leading companies in Northern Hungary and the country. The University of Miskolc has valuable innovative intellectual capital that strengthens our competitiveness. Our university must compete not only in the academic field, but also to win joint research projects with industry and business. We are confident that the close and mutually beneficial cooperation between the University of Miskolc and business community will play an even more decisive role in the future innovation race," said Zita Horváth at the signing of the strategic cooperation agreement with CATL Debrecen.

The CATL factory being built in the Southern Industrial Park of Debrecen will soon become one of the largest employers of the Eastern Hungarian region. The company has made a long-term commitment to Hungary and considers it important to actively participate in the training of employees and support institutions at all levels of education. In February 2024, the company signed an agreement with the Debrecen Vocational Training Center, and in the coming period, it intends to cooperate with several other educational institutions that play an important role in the region.