A joint study by Bosch Hungary and Richter Gedeon Nyrt., presented at the BoschxRichter Innovators’ Day on Sep. 23 at the Bosch Budapest Innovation Campus, explored which trends the public sees as the most promising for the coming decade.

According to the survey, respondents view the automotive industry as the most innovative sector in mobility. Many believe that a transition to electromobility in Europe is realistic within a decade. Looking further ahead, 10 to 15 years from now, many expect the arrival of smart cities, the renaissance of public transportation, and the widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered buses and trains.

In the pharmaceutical industry, the public expects innovation to deliver breakthroughs in treating currently incurable diseases, reducing side effects, and combating resistant illnesses. Among the most promising trends identified were new mechanisms of action, personalized medicines, gene editing, and 3D-printed organs.

“The results of the study also confirm that there is particularly strong social demand for innovations in the automotive industry. Developments in transportation are key for the future, whether in manufacturing, public transit, or the smart cities of tomorrow,” said István Szászi, head of Bosch in Hungary and the Adriatic region.

For Gábor Orbán, CEO of Richter Gedeon Nyrt., the findings underscore how strongly people connect innovation to everyday needs.

“For the public, innovation is not an abstract concept but a direct expectation, particularly when it comes to incurable diseases or the side effects of treatments,” he emphasized.

The Age Divide

Hungarian society remains somewhat divided in its approach to technology. While 51% of respondents said they feel close to new developments, 48% take a more cautious view. Differences are significant across age groups: 64% of 16–29-year-olds are open to innovation, compared with just 39% among those over 60. Educational background and income levels also influenced attitudes.

The research revealed that while Hungarians recognize the potential of cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence (59%), defense and security (58%), and industrial automation (53%), they want to see significant progress in areas that directly affect their daily lives.

More than three-quarters of respondents prioritized sustainable energy (81%), climate protection (80%), and healthcare and biotechnology (77%) as areas where innovation is most needed.

Such developments could provide solutions to challenges including energy security and storage, the adoption of new energy sources, biodiversity preservation, reduced carbon emissions, and addressing water scarcity.

When asked about mobility, nearly half of the respondents (48%) identified the automotive industry as the most innovative sector, and 40% also considered it the most useful. Urban micromobility (32%), logistics (32%), and public transport (31%) were also highlighted as key areas where innovation can bring substantial improvements.

Nearly one-third of Hungarians believe that urban infrastructure will become smarter, featuring real-time traffic monitoring and management, optimized traffic signals, intelligent roads, and parking systems that can “see” available spaces within the next 10–15 years.

Public Transport Renaissance

Around a quarter (23–26%) expect Europe to transition significantly to electromobility, phasing out internal combustion engines from both cars and public transport. At the same time, electric scooters and e-bikes could become a regular feature in nearly every household. Public transport could experience a renaissance, becoming more sustainable and comfortable, persuading more people to use it instead of private cars.

Hydrogen-powered buses and trains are seen as attractive, with 60% of respondents saying they would regularly use them in the future. However, enthusiasm is more limited for futuristic options such as flying taxis or vehicles controlled by voice or brain signals: 40% of respondents rejected these ideas, and one-third said they would not use self-driving robotaxis, despite their introduction in other countries.

Pharmaceutical innovation is considered just as vital as mobility. More than half of respondents (51%) stressed improved quality of life as their top expectation, while 37% pointed to efficiency and 34% to safety. The majority also expect innovation to address incurable diseases (60%), reduce drug side effects (51%), and respond to the rise of resistant illnesses (49%).

Interestingly, the survey revealed skepticism toward the mRNA-based technologies featured in our last issue (see “Karikó and the new Frontier of mRNA: Personalized Cancer Vaccines”): while 29% viewed them as rapidly developing, only 17% regarded them as useful. The relatively low trust levels are likely linked to the debates and controversies around the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, the public identified personalized medicine (32%), new therapeutic mechanisms (26%), and gene editing (24%) as the most promising trends in pharmaceutical development.

“The work we do at Richter Gedeon aims to turn scientific results into therapies that truly respond to patient needs. Innovation in pharmaceuticals is about improving lives, ensuring safety, and addressing the most pressing healthcare challenges,” Orbán said.

This was the third BoschxRichter Innovators’ Day, organized jointly by Bosch Hungary and Richter Gedeon, two of Hungary’s most innovative companies. The conference highlights global R&D trends while paying tribute to founders Robert Bosch and Gedeon Richter. The results of the study “Innovation Top List: These are the Innovations Hungarians Believe In” were unveiled as part of the event.

The survey was conducted by Europion Research on behalf of the two firms from May 16 to 19, using a mobile and web-based questionnaire. The representative sample of 1,072 Hungarian residents aged 16 and over was weighted by age, gender, education, settlement type, and region.

This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of October 3, 2025.