1953 - Computer from prison
Although the Cybernetics Research Group (KKCS) of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) was not founded until September 1956, its roots can be traced back to the winter of 1953. It was then that some prisoners from Kozma Street Prison, who had been convicted in a trial for conspiracy and had previously worked as researchers, wrote a letter to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. They proposed the construction of an electronic computer, which they undertook to design. It is not known whether they ever received a reply, but the computer was certainly not built at the time.
Foundation of the MTA KKCS
In Hungary (for political and economic reasons among others), computer technology only reached prominence long after the first Western electronic computers had been introduced. This did not mean, however, that visionary researchers, including László Kalmár, László Kozma, Tihamér Nemes and Rezső Tarján, did not recognise the importance of the field. They built computers with experimental intent, wrote papers and worked to involve the MTA. This is how the MTA Cybernetics Research Group (MTA KKCS) was founded in 1956.
1959 - The M-3 computer goes into operation
Based on Soviet design documentation, the first Hungarian computer, the M-3, was built in 1959. While the M-3 was being built and put into operation, further developments were already underway: faster punched tape readers, magnetic drums with higher recording density, electron tubes with longer lifetimes, and so on. As a result, the M-3 machine in service at the KKCS differed significantly from both the original prototype and the M-3 machines built on its basis elsewhere. The development of the magnet drum is also linked to the first (successful) domestic export activity in computing.
1960 - Foundation of the MTA Computer Centre
The MTA Computer Centre, the successor to the KKCS, was founded in 1960, and several members of the Cybernetics Research Group continued their activities in this organisation. The MTA also received a Ural-2 computer four years later. The Ural-2 is a Soviet electron tube design, developed in the second half of the 1950s at the Penza Electronic Computer Factory.
1964 - Foundation of the MTA AKI
The Automation Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences was established to extend previous research in its field. Its first director was Ottó Benedikt.The institute was home to some of the founding fathers of SZTAKI, including Frigyes Csáki, Tamás Frey, István Rácz, Miklós Uzsoky and SZTAKI's founding director Tibor Vámos. In 1971, the American CDC 3300 computer was put into operation, the import of which had been preceded by many years of negotiations. Among other things, this was the basis for the intersection of the AKI and the SZK.
1973 Foundation of SZTAKI
The merger of the SZK and AKI in 1973 led to the establishment of SZTAKI, whose director was Tibor Vámos, who had overseen the two-year merger of the two institutes. The aim of the institute was to come up with applied engineering solutions in response to the needs of Hungarian and international industry and technology.
Although the Cybernetics Research Group (KKCS) of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) was not founded until September 1956, its roots can be traced back to the winter of 1953. It was then that some prisoners from Kozma Street Prison, who had been convicted in a trial for conspiracy and had previously worked as researchers, wrote a letter to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. They proposed the construction of an electronic computer, which they undertook to design. It is not known whether they ever received a reply, but the computer was certainly not built at the time.
Foundation of the MTA KKCS
In Hungary (for political and economic reasons among others), computer technology only reached prominence long after the first Western electronic computers had been introduced. This did not mean, however, that visionary researchers, including László Kalmár, László Kozma, Tihamér Nemes and Rezső Tarján, did not recognise the importance of the field. They built computers with experimental intent, wrote papers and worked to involve the MTA. This is how the MTA Cybernetics Research Group (MTA KKCS) was founded in 1956.
1959 - The M-3 computer goes into operation
Based on Soviet design documentation, the first Hungarian computer, the M-3, was built in 1959. While the M-3 was being built and put into operation, further developments were already underway: faster punched tape readers, magnetic drums with higher recording density, electron tubes with longer lifetimes, and so on. As a result, the M-3 machine in service at the KKCS differed significantly from both the original prototype and the M-3 machines built on its basis elsewhere. The development of the magnet drum is also linked to the first (successful) domestic export activity in computing.
1960 - Foundation of the MTA Computer Centre
The MTA Computer Centre, the successor to the KKCS, was founded in 1960, and several members of the Cybernetics Research Group continued their activities in this organisation. The MTA also received a Ural-2 computer four years later. The Ural-2 is a Soviet electron tube design, developed in the second half of the 1950s at the Penza Electronic Computer Factory.
1964 - Foundation of the MTA AKI
The Automation Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences was established to extend previous research in its field. Its first director was Ottó Benedikt.The institute was home to some of the founding fathers of SZTAKI, including Frigyes Csáki, Tamás Frey, István Rácz, Miklós Uzsoky and SZTAKI's founding director Tibor Vámos. In 1971, the American CDC 3300 computer was put into operation, the import of which had been preceded by many years of negotiations. Among other things, this was the basis for the intersection of the AKI and the SZK.
1973 Foundation of SZTAKI
The merger of the SZK and AKI in 1973 led to the establishment of SZTAKI, whose director was Tibor Vámos, who had overseen the two-year merger of the two institutes. The aim of the institute was to come up with applied engineering solutions in response to the needs of Hungarian and international industry and technology.