A record number of data stewards gathered for the 9th Hungarian Data Steward Meeting series, organized by the ELTE National Laboratory for Digital Heritage (ELTE DH-LAB), the ELTE Research Centre for Linguistics (ELTE NYTK), and the HUN-REN Data Repository Platform (HUN-REN ARP). Exceptionally, the meeting also served as a training session for members of the HUN-REN Data Steward Network. This time, the event was led by Júlia Egyed-Gergely (ELTE TK) and Ákos Lencsés (ELTE NYTK).
The event, held on March 18, 2026, focused on modern digital systems related to the data steward profession and unique pieces of museum hardware history. The event was hosted by HUN-REN SZTAKI - in not one, but two of the institution’s buildings.
The meeting began with an informal discussion among data stewards, a “speed dating” session, where new acquaintances could be made, new connections built, or even pairs who already knew each other could pick up the thread of their previous conversations.
Following the series of one-on-one discussions, participants listened to presentations by three developers from the Department of Distributed Systems (HUN-REN SZTAKI DSD) at SZTAKI. András Micsik presented several of the team’s recent projects that specifically support research data management, data storage, data access, data sharing, and data reuse. In his presentation, he discussed repositories, search engines, and graphs, including the digital infrastructures of the KDK Repository and the Voices of the 20th Century Archive and Research Group developed for ELTE TK KDK, the joint search engine created as part of the MILAB project also in collaboration with TK KDK, the COURAGE knowledge graph developed for ELTE HTK (formerly BTK) and TK KDK, the MTMT2, a map-based browser for literary correspondence, the Semantic Web, the Wikidata, and the SZTAKI Dictionary, which was ahead of its time and is still in operation today.
Ákos Kukucska presented one of the latest developments currently underway at SZTAKI DSD, the RSpace electronic lab notebook (ELN) system, which supports the digitization of laboratory work. In his presentation, he discussed the initial steps, the development process, and the planned features. The developers aim to tailor the service to actual needs, so they welcome all feedback from the professional audience.
In the third presentation of the event, Balázs Pataki demonstrated how AI-driven developments could usher in a new generation of data repositories. Participants were able to see firsthand how the ARP Data Repository could be used even more efficiently in the future by transferring slow and repetitive workflows to AI agents. During the spectacular demonstration, data stewards were introduced to the VibeARP Caos interface and services.
Following the presentations, the participants had the opportunity to view the exhibition through an informative and highly engaging guided tour and hands-on demonstration led by Sándor Manno and József Kovács (HUN-REN SZTAKI) and were able to view the hardware history exhibition titled “60 Years of Digital Milestones with HUN-REN SZTAKI,” located in the auditorium of the institution’s Lágymányos building. The presentation and the equipment on display - some of which were operational and could be seen in action - were a true journey through time for those in attendance.
The presentation of András Micsik:
The presentation of Ákos Kukucska:
The aim of the Data Steward Meeting series is to provide an opportunity for Hungarian data stewards to meet informally, talk, get to know each other, and discuss the latest news, events, trends, and issues in the field. The series, which brings together Hungarian data stewards is open to anyone interested. The next event is expected to take place in the spring of 2026. For the exact date and location, please contact @email. The organizers look forward to seeing all interested data stewards at future events!
Reports from previous meetings:
- 1st Hungarian Data Steward Meeting
- 2nd Hungarian Data Steward Meeting
- 3rd Hungarian Data Steward Meeting
- 4th Hungarian Data Steward Meeting
- 5th Hungarian Data Steward Meeting
- 6th Hungarian Data Steward Meeting
- 7th Hungarian Data Steward Meeting
- 8th Hungarian Data Steward Meeting
Images: Júlia Egyed-Gergely (ELTE TK), Zsuzsa Sidó (DH-LAB/ELTE HTK MI), Zoltán Tóth (HUN-REN SZTAKI)