Dear Civil Engineering Student,

We have 5 great reasons why you should consider joining the Scientific Students’ Association (TDK):

1. You can gain practical and useful knowledge through it.
2. Participation is considered as an advantage if you apply for a scholarship, grant or for a master's degree or phd programme.
3. Your TDK paper can contribute to your thesis, and presenting your TDK research helps you gain valuable presentation experience.
4. The best TDK papers from the Faculty will be published in the annually released TDK Collection, which is a genuine scientific publication.
5. It can help you in your career, whether you’re aiming for a scientific, design, or industrial path. Not only because it looks good on your resume, but also because of the valuable professional experience and connections you gain while writing the paper.

What exactly is TDK?

TDK is the abbreviation for the Scientific Students’ Association (Tudományos Diák Kör). The name originated because, in the past, a professor would gather students around them to research and experiment together. Today, it works differently, which is why we have the TDK Conference. Every November, students who feel it’s worth devoting time and energy prepare for this event. The only requirement for a topic is that it goes beyond regular university coursework. In terms of format, it involves writing a paper and giving a presentation, prepared with the help of a supervising instructor who is an expert in the field. Successful papers and presentations at the Faculty TDK Conference can advance to the OTDK, which is the national competition for TDK research. More detailed information is available on the Faculty’s TDK website.

If you are interested in TDK:

• Attend the next conference and listen to what others are presenting. You can find the exact date here.
• Explore the list of available TDK topics, which you can filter by department or instructor.
• Check out previous TDK papers. You can do that here.
• Connect with instructors you like! Every instructor is happy to work with students interested in TDK, and each department has a TDK coordinator, whom you can find here.
• You can also learn about ongoing Scientific Students’ Association activities at the Faculty on the BME institutional TDK website, or by contacting Zsuzsa Szalay and Ákos Vinkó for further information.

Innovation Student Conference (IDK)

What exactly is IDK?

The Innovation Student Conference (IDK) aims to give wide public visibility to the innovative, industry-applicable ideas and results of BME students and to help them embark on the path to implementation. IDK is an event created to showcase student innovation, complementing the Scientific Student Conference (TDK). While TDK focuses on new scientific results, IDK emphasizes practical applicability, industrial utilization, and business potential, giving students an opportunity to present their innovative ideas in the context of real market needs.

What to expect?

We are looking forward to seeing creative, realized ideas that carry the spark of novelty! We also offer challenges for entrepreneurial-minded students to tackle.

If you are interested in IDK:

• Explore the list of IDK topics! These topics include faculty research and development projects or practical challenges from industry partners.
• If you have an exciting idea, a self-developed project, a new app, a unique method, or any innovative solution that is not a traditional scientific work – this is the place for you! You can also apply with your own topic or challenge. If a student applies with their own idea, the university provides consultation opportunities to assist with the project submission.
• The Innovation Student Conference is held annually, alongside the TDK conference. Join the next conference and hear what others are presenting.
• The top three entries of the Innovation Student Conference (IDK) – in addition to participating in the National Innovation Student Conference (InnODK) – are given the opportunity to further develop their ideas using university resources (incubation, venture capital). Projects can also be advanced in cooperation with companies if there is external interest.
• Award-winning works, after the incubation process, are showcased at a professional event or exhibition, where investors and industry professionals – including international partners – are invited. This presentation takes place each spring or early summer as part of the BME InnoSummer event, coordinated with other university innovation programs such as Innovation Day and the Pro Progressio Innovation Awards ceremony.
• For more information, check the websites of the Hungarian Startup University Program, the BME Centre for Innovation Management and Cooperation, and the BME InnoLab.

Have questions? Contact the Civil Engineering Faculty’s IDK coordinator: Dr. Ákos Vinkó, vinko.akos@emk.bme.hu

The unified BME TDK portal provides a platform that brings together activities and news related to the scientific student research work carried out at the individual faculties, while maintaining the autonomy of each faculty.