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Reference name: SZKI

Computer Science Coordination Institute

Type:
Research institute
Date of foundation:
1968
Address:
Budapest, Donáti Street 35-45.
Budapest, Iskola u. 8, 10, 12, 16.
Founders:
  • OMFB - Professional Controller.
  • KGM
  • KSH
    • Main goals and areas of activity

    The Institute was tasked with organizing and directing the participation of domestic contributors in the creation of the Unified Computer System (ESzR) established within the framework of the KMST, and coordinating the work of domestic and foreign professional organizations operating in this field. The basic goal of the ESzR cooperation was to copy the hardware devices of the then market-leading IBM-360 computer family, with the partial tasks being divided between the then “friendly” countries. The SZKI was also the background institution for the French-Hungarian computer technology cooperation.

    Over time, taking advantage of its opportunities, the Institute also undertook various hardware, software, and application development tasks, such as the development of management information systems, document management, and archiving systems, software quality assurance, and system integration.

    Senior management
    Key figures, key people
    • József Dénes, Head of the Mathematics Laboratory (MAL)
    • Ervin Kovács, Head of Hardware Laboratory (HWL), later Director
    • Pál Németh, Head of the Hardware Systems Laboratory (HRL), later Director
    • Győző Kovács, head of the Computer Laboratory (SzL), later director
    • József Drasny, Head of Design Automation Laboratory (TAL), circuit board technology
    • Bálint Dömölki, Head of the Theoretical Laboratory (ELL)
    • György Leporisz, Managing Director 1990s
    • Tamás Rázga, Managing Director 1990s
    • Bence Adorján, scientific and technical-economic advisor (1969–1972), deputy director of the SZKI (1972–1981), retired scientific advisor (1981–1989).
    Number of IT employees
    Initially, there were a few dozen people, and at its peak, in 1985, the group of companies employed about 700 people.
    Revenue
    Initially, due to the nature of the ESZR project ("no matter what the price, but we, here, in this country, will create a computer culture"), this was not very understandable, but at the same time, an income obligation was imposed on the Institute even in the year of its establishment. Its operation was initially financed by the OMFB (National Technical Development Committee). At the peak of its operation, in 1985, the group of companies realized a consolidated sales revenue of 1 billion HUF, about 20% of which came from capital exports. In 1990, before its closure, the company's result was -57,800 thousand HUF.
    IT developments/products/Projects
    Participation in the development of the French computer Mitra 15 based on French-Hungarian cooperation. Takeover and production of the French licensed computer Mitra 15, then further development for VIDEOTON, in cooperation with VIDEOTON. Successful approval of the R10 (EC 1010), based on Mitra 15 and further developed for the ESZR connection, in cooperation with VIDEOTON.

    In 1969, an agreement was reached between Siemens Ag and SZKI that 50% of the purchase price of a Siemens 4004/45 computer could be met by SZKI through software development and/or services. Based on this, SZKI supplied Siemens with software worth several hundred million DM, half of which could be placed in its own foreign currency account as collateral for the purchase of equipment.

    Creation of the self-developed M05X (microcomputer) (1975) and its successful use in the freight transportation system of MÁV.

    MEDICOR M055 microcomputer-controlled medical diagnostic screening station.

    International testing of the self-developed R15 (EC 1015) computer in 1979, followed by production of the machine at SZKÜBT between 1982-84.

    Based on National Semiconductors IMP16, 512K memory, in-house development, application: automation of the east-west main line of MÁV (Béla Hubert and Gyula Iványi).
    IDTR (Interactive Design and Document Management System) – M08X Microcomputer based on Z80 (64K memory, application: research on brain electrical stimuli).
    MIP Modular Image Processing Image Processing System (János Föglein, Dr. Csaba Hegedűs, Dezső Kelemen).
    VIKING (seabed research system; (Dr. Géza Álló, László Feró, Gábor Stanszy).
    Recognita OCR, the first, deservedly world-famous Hungarian software (lead developer Emőke Kovács).
    Private, large-scale X.25 networks (OTP and Siemens on request).

    MProlog programming language (Péter Szeredi).

    PROPER-8 microcomputer (Z80, 64K) – PROPER-16 IBM PC compatible (8086, 80286, 80386, 256K-1024K) personal computer developed, put into production at Labor MIM and sold in thousands.
    Development of SoftOrg automated software development and lifecycle management application suite in collaboration with Számalk.

    Development and distribution of the Qualigraph software quality control program (János Szentes).

    Provision-86 digitizer card (up to 24-bit, 512×512 pixel resolution, 25-30 pieces made).
    IBUSZ, IBUSZ BANK On-line information system (1990, the largest in Hungary at the time).
    KENTAUR, Komlpex, Unified PCB Design Automation System (1975).

    Transformations
    Initially (and declared), the sole purpose of the Institution was to comply with the obligations imposed on our country by the draft ESRF,
    However, its founding charter allowed it to undertake independent research and development activities. Accordingly, it was transformed in 1984 and continued its activities as the Computer Research Institute and Innovation Center.
    To exploit the opportunities offered by the new form, various subsidiaries were established in the 1980s: 1982. SCI-L, 1984. SCITEL (for the production of M08X, then Proper16).
    1989. Recognita Rt., 1990. IQSOFT Intelligent Software Development-Manufacturing and Sales Rt.
    In 1993, the privatization of SZKI began, and the ÁVÜ founded Szki Kft., with 60 employees and a significant reduction in real estate.
    In 1995, the Institute ceased to exist without a final settlement or legal successor.
    Interesting facts

    Experts contributing to the establishment of the Institute:

    Zsolt Náray (Director General until his retirement), Dr. Bence Adorján (General Director - later Deputy Director General), Dr. Garij Reznyikov (Head of the International Department), Gyuláné Honti (Head of the Administration Department)

    During its operation, SZKI designed and created numerous tools and produced a large amount of research documents.
    It has an invaluable contribution to the development of manufacturing technological processes and the systematization and maintenance of the related information base.
    What made SZKI great was that it fulfilled its ESZR commitments, while redeveloping the tools with legally sound solutions based on legal Western licenses.
    The SZKI indicated at one of the ESZR Chief Design Council meetings that it is an important task to clarify operational issues that have been neglected so far.
    In the C10 committee, the delegates of the SzKI achieved that the Sofia Convention does not apply to software, i.e. software is a commodity and does not have to be shared without compensation.
    This step practically launched the career of business software in our country.
    The Institute was authorized to operate abroad on a market basis, thus becoming one of the successful international trading companies of the era.
    Source works
    Created: 2016.06.14. 20:30
    Last modified: 2025.02.25. 14:19
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