A key role is assigned to information and communications technologies (ICT) in the implementation of the strategic plans of European Union Member States and in the enhancement of the E.U. world market competitiveness. Because of its importance, recent years have seen a host of analyses in this area at both European and national levels. Research and development achievements in the ICT area have fundamentally determined the global technological development underpinning the development of world economy; within that the competitiveness of the domestic industry and its development options. 

Our daily activities are increasingly supported and monitored by intelligent environments and e-technologies in which software and intelligent signal processing, data management and planning systems in the form of software, play dominant roles. The research activity of intelligent environments and e-technologies is directed towards areas where large distribution systems, consisting of a host of intelligent services, millions of computers and data collection points, will form the basic infrastructure of the knowledge based society, economy and service systems in the foreseeable future. Embedded intelligence is capable of contributing decisively to every facet of life, from a minor investment to the wider efficiency of the operations of society, its production and service processes. ICT, besides its role as an independent branch, has an  importance bearing on the improvement of the efficiency and the enhancement of competitiveness of other industries. The dual role of ICT can be observed in the wide technology, economy and science profile of BME. 

While BME is undoubtedly a leading influential institute in Hungary in the areas of basic and applied technology/scientific research, its unique opportunity and responsibility lies in that it is capable of cultivating complex and interdisciplinary research areas with the aid of the competence synergy of its faculties. This would be difficult if not impossible at all in other smaller institutions. Therefore BME aims to deliberately strengthen these areas and – in complement with its own capacities – to also become the centre of national and international cooperative researches. In concordance with this aim, the BME ICT strategy - taking in consideration international trends and domestic development guidelines - targets the cultivation of those areas where BME already possesses significant research achievements in certain and more specific domains. Building on this, the University intends further to develop and strengthen the cooperation of its faculties and research groups with the aim of achieving significant results in the future. By the deliberate development of these activities, the University becomes capable of joining more  intensive international research networks, whilst at the same time satisfying domestic and special development needs to support the development strategies of the Government.

In the spirit of the above, we have divided our ICT strategy in two major parts: (1) basic technologies, and (2) application oriented research directions (those that pose research and development challenges to the whole of the University). 

The strategic plan reflects the wide and rich spectrum of BME. In order to implement these strategic directions, action plans have been prepared which place thematic concentration at the forefront; the focusing of individual strategic directions along defined objectives in which BME can play an important national role in the economy as regards the creation of knowledge transfer, sample applications and the involvement of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). This strategy can only properly fulfil its role if it is followed by a well-defined action program. In order to implement the principles and directions outlined in the strategy, as the first phase of the action program, we have defined six projects.