Ferenc Báti

He is one of the defining figures of Hungarian computer science (a good number of Hungarian professional acronyms can be linked to his name). He has held leading positions at several renowned computer science companies, such as the Central Institute of Physics (KFKI), Computer Application Company (Számalk), DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation), and IBM (International Business Machines).

The 20 years he spent at KFKI after graduating from university were of decisive importance to him: he worked in the team created by Mihály Sándory in various development areas of the TPA computer (as a development engineer, he played a prominent role in the development of ferrite ring and semiconductor magazines, as well as the TPA 1140-1148 and 1178 computers).

Between 1985 and 1950, he managed the minicomputer applications department of Számalk.

In 1990, he was invited to establish DEC's Hungarian subsidiary; he was its first domestic manager.

In 1995/96, he managed Oracle's Hungarian subsidiary.
He then continued his career at IBM, where he first launched the Business Computing Utility Business Unit (an early Application Service Provider solution) and then coordinated IBM's government program in Central and Eastern Europe.

He later worked as an independent consultant, including for Compaq Computer Hungary.

As a prominent Hungarian expert on DEC machines, head of IBM's government programs in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia, and coordinator of HP's European software center, he embodied the bridge between Western and Eastern European computing.

His notable social work includes: presidency of the Eastern Info Association (an IT association established by 6 Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county municipalities); leadership of the IT Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham).

His work was recognized by the Hungarian National Academy of Sciences with the Neumann Award in 2001.