The 1st IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) and the University of Pécs International Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Innovation (ICBEI) was held on 24–26 October 2022, in Pécs, Hungary. The conference opened with welcome talks by Prof. Attila Miseta, the rector of the University of Pécs (UP), Prof. Miklos Nyitrai, the dean of the UP, and Prof. Metin Akay, the president of IEEE EMBS, who delivered the first keynote talk at the conference. Then, we enjoyed three more exceptional keynote talks by Dr. Yasemin Akay, Dr. Gabor Forgacs, and Dr. Istvan Ulbert (Figure 1). With the participation of 230+ people, nine keynote lectures, and nine health care companies holding exhibitions, the conference was exceptional and well organized by Dr. Luca Tóth, Dr. Adam Schiffer, and Dr. Peter Maroti, M.D., Ph.D., from the Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Innovation (Figure 2). The conference organizing team did a fantastic job. The attendance by several medical school students, the participation of health care companies (Figure 3), the hackathon competition, and several workshops were the highlights of the event. The first day of the conference concluded with a special wine tasting sponsored by the University of Pécs Wine Research Institute. Then, the conference organizing committee appreciation dinner hosted by Luca Tóth, Adam Schiffer, and Péter Maróti in the historical city of Pécs was indeed an exceptional social and cultural event (Figure 4).
Figure 1. The conference included keynote talks on topics ranging from neurotechnology to biofabrication and digital health. (Image courtesy of EMBS.)
Figure 2. Conference organizers and keynote speakers together staged a successful event. (Photo courtesy of Metin Akay.)
Figure 3. Health care companies provided information and networking in the exhibition area. (Photo courtesy of Metin Akay.)
Figure 4. Hospitality was shared by all at the appreciation dinner held in Pécs. (Photo courtesy of Metin Akay.)
On the second day, we enjoyed four inspiring keynote talks by Dr. Ali Tinazli, Natalie Mrachacz-Kersting, Akos Jobbagy, and Janos Vörös (Figures 5 and 6). The attendees enjoyed Hungarian hospitability, the UP brass band music, and gourmet food at the conference gala dinner [Figures 7(a) and (b)]. On the third last day, Prof. Ewaryst Tkacz gave a very insightful plenary lecture. Finally, Andre Cakici spoke about the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society activities as an Administrative Committee student representative. During the afternoon, 16 student presentations took place, along with 17 scientific poster presentations from young researchers in the BME field. Finally, Prof. Akay, the president of IEEE EMBS, reiterated the vision and commitment of the society to expand our membership and chapters and strongly encouraged Dr. Luca Tóth, the conference chair, to build and lead a new chapter. Many thanks to our IEEE EMBS Student Activities Committee team for their participations, help and engagement for the success of the conference. The planning of the 2nd IEEE EMBS and University of Pécs Conference is already underway as well as the initiation of the IEEE EMBS University of Pécs Student Chapter.
Figure 5. Dr. Natalie Mrachacz-Kersting provided a keynote lecture on brain–computer interface design for neurorehabilitation. (Photo courtesy of Metin Akay.)
Figure 6. Ali Tinazli shared insights on digitizing health diagnostics. (Photo courtesy of Metin Akay.)
Figure 7. (a) and (b) Participants engaged in networking and special activities throughout the conference. (Photo courtesy of Metin Akay.)
Yasemin Akay is an instructional and a research associate professor with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA. Her current research interests include molecular neuro-engineering, neural growth, and neuro-degeneration, brain cancer (GBM), addiction, CAD, and pain. She received the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in biomedical engineering from Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA, in 1991 and 1998, respectively. She is a Senior Member of IEEE.
Luca Tóth graduated in 2017 and became a medical doctor. After that, she started Ph.D. research at the Neurosurgery J Clinic, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree and a medical consultant and associate for the 3D Printing Centre, University of Pécs. In this centre, novel biomedical developments become reality. Her research focuses on novel therapeutic robotic and a high-end devices used for rehab purposes mainly on stroke and SCI patients. In the meantime, she is a clinician and working on a specialization in rehabilitation medicine.