The New Generation Centre has opened an office and talent centre in London.

The new office was officially opened by Minister of State for Family and Youth Affairs Katalin Novák from the Ministry of Human Capacities.

Following the opening ceremony on Wednesday, the Minister of State told Hungarian news agency MTI that after the twenty similar community spaces planned and opened in Hungary, the London office is the first of its kind outside Hungary.

One of the main goals of the programme is to support Hungarian talent and through opening the London office, the Ministry wishes to provide further opportunities for Hungarians living in the United Kingdom to maintain links with Hungary. The other main goal is to provide young people living in Hungary with an opportunity to showcase their talent in the UK, or even to find investors and present their products and trademarks.

According to Ms. Novák, the New Generation Centre’s first foreign office in London has been opened on an introductory basis. “This is a huge experiment” and existing feedback indicates there is a huge demand, she said. Young Hungarians living in the United Kingdom who have shown an interests in the scheme feel they need such a meeting place, a joint platform where they can share their experiences and receive assistance if needed. In addition, the programme provides the first opportunity ever for cooperation between all of the Hungarian student organisations operating in the UK.

In reply to a question on whether cooperation could develop between this latest initiative and the Hungarian Scientists Club in London, which was founded a few weeks ago with the aim of providing a forum for Hungarian scientists living and working in the United Kingdom and help them present their scientific work and develop relations, Ms. Novák said that an agreement on this had in fact already been signed. The Programme’s goals include the development of mentor programmes for Hungarians attending UK universities that not only link them to scientists working in the United Kingdom, but also to Hungarian scientific workshops.

“The Government views young Hungarian living in the United Kingdom as a very important resource, and if they are successful within their chosen field, be that in higher education, the field of science or the blue-collar sector, Hungary also profits from their work and talent”, the Minster of State said.

In reply to a question on whether there are plans to open further offices outside Hungary, Ms. Novák said that if the Centre is as successful as it currently promises to be, and if its activities succeed in providing substantive assistance to talented Hungarians, then it will be worth considering the opening of similar centres in future.

(Ministry of Human Capacities/MTI)