The MATFIN Foundation Celebrated Its First School Year

The end-of-year event for MATFIN’s extracurricular high school program and the first graduating class of its Olympiad School was held on 12 June at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). Approximately 250 students, teachers, and guests attended the event.

Established by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Ferenc Krausz, the MATFIN Foundation launched its extracurricular program for 9th- and 10th-grade high school students in the autumn of 2025. The program aims to support participants in their preparation for secondary school graduation and subsequent university studies in mathematics, physics, and informatics, while encouraging them to pursue careers in engineering, science teaching, and research. Outstanding teachers in their respective fields were invited to develop the curriculum and teaching materials, and they employ interactive, experience-based methods to bring the worlds of mathematics, physics, and informatics closer to students. In addition to financial compensation, teachers involved in the initiative receive continuous professional development opportunities.

The initiative currently operates in 25 schools across 19 Hungarian cities, which also serve as regional hubs, engaging not only their own students but also young people from surrounding communities. The organizers are continuously expanding the network to achieve nationwide coverage.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dávid Bereczkei, Director of the MATFIN Foundation, announced that additional schools will join the extracurricular study group network next school year. According to the foundation’s plans, each county in Hungary will eventually have at least one school serving as a regional center. Starting in September, the Olympiad School will be extended by one day, offering intensive training from Wednesday through Saturday to students preparing for competitions.