Debrecen4U May 20, 2026

Students Search for Transport Solutions of the Future

Students in Debrecen are working on solutions for the future of public transport during a two-day innovation competition, developing ideas ranging from more user-friendly bus stops and improved passenger information systems to the redesign of transport links serving industrial parks.

Held at the University of Debrecen’s Innovation Centre, the competition focuses on improving public transport through innovative ideas that could contribute to the development and popularity of the city’s transport network. Nearly 160 young people have entered the contest, with 54 teams registered.

The team led by Sándor Almási is working on improving comfort features at bus stops and modernising passenger information systems. The students are also drawing on their own daily experiences as regular public transport users, shaping their proposals from a practical perspective. “I commute to school, so this topic is especially important to me. There are both positive and negative experiences connected to public transport, and we believe that in the future it needs to be sustainable and safe, so we are incorporating these aspects into our project,” Almási explained.

The idea competition is being organised as part of a European Union-funded project, with students from several faculties of the University of Debrecen, as well as from Fazekas Mihály Secondary School and Medgyessy Ferenc Secondary School, taking part. Their work is supported by mentors from a range of professional fields.

Participants could choose from themes including the development of transport serving Debrecen’s industrial parks, making bus stops more practical and accessible, or designing new traffic engineering solutions. “We are looking for innovative solutions and opportunities that help people use public transport more effectively. We have access to a huge amount of data, including information from the database of DKV Zrt.,” said Szabolcs Tóth, CEO of DKV Zrt.

The Smart City approach first appeared in Debrecen around ten years ago. Initially, the city worked together with residents to identify areas requiring development. The resulting strategy is built on three main pillars, one of the most important being the development of intelligent transport systems.

“We involved young people who live here and study either at the University of Debrecen or at local secondary schools. They are able to examine these challenges from a fresh perspective and with new approaches that could eventually lead to tangible solutions,” highlighted Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa.

At the end of the two-day competition, the best teams will receive valuable prizes. In addition to cash rewards, participants may also win day tickets to Campus Festival, special DKV experience journeys, and participation in science courses organised by Agora Science Centre.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu