On Monday, 10 December President-elect Donald Trump hosted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his delegation, including Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The meeting was also attended by Elon Musk, owner of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, as well as Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security advisor.
This high-profile gathering holds significant importance for Hungarian–American relations, which have deteriorated under Joe Biden’s Democratic administration. However, in addition to global foreign policy issues, the discussions addressed a topic that has received little attention in the Hungarian and international press but is crucial for Hungary: the future of Hungarian–American cooperation in space technology and the development of Hungary’s space industry.
As part of the Hungarian delegation, Gellért Jászai, President of the Hungarian 4iG Group, also participated in the meeting at Mar-a-Lago. A key focus of the discussion was the presentation of 4iG’s HUSAT satellite programme, the first privately initiated and funded project in Central and Eastern Europe aimed at developing telecommunications and earth observation satellite capabilities, Növekedés.hu reported.
As part of the initiative, a space technology manufacturing centre being constructed in Martonvásár as a greenfield investment by the 4iG Group and Remred (another Hungarian space technology company). From 2026, the facility will produce satellites with a maximum total weight of 400 kilograms for low Earth orbit.
Discussions also covered the 4iG Group’s satellite programme, including advancements in artificial intelligence and potential opportunities for Hungarian–American cooperation in commercial and technological fields.
‘4iG Group plans to launch, deploy, and operate one geostationary orbit satellite (HUGEO) and eight low Earth orbit satellites (HULEO) by 2032’
Gellért Jászai emphasized that the meeting, held in a friendly atmosphere, marks an important first step toward expanding cooperation between the parties. He noted that this collaboration could facilitate the introduction of new technologies and foster the development of economic relations across the Atlantic.
As part of the HUSAT programme, the 4iG Group plans to launch, deploy, and operate one geostationary orbit satellite (HUGEO) and eight low Earth orbit satellites (HULEO) by 2032. The programme aims to launch the first two satellites in the constellation (GEO+LEO) by the end of 2028.
4iG’s satellite development programme encompasses the entire value chain, including the production of satellites for low Earth orbit, satellite operations, and data processing, with the exception of launch services.
In recent years, Hungary has invested significant resources into the space technology sector. Alongside plans to send a Hungarian astronaut to space in cooperation with the American company Axiom Space, the country’s space technology companies are also achieving remarkable success.
‘Hungary’s economic ecosystem, infrastructure, and intellectual capital collectively position it to become a significant player in the space industry,’ declared Minister of National Economy Márton Nagy in May. He emphasized that Hungary’s satellite manufacturing capabilities are not just a matter of economic and security interest but also a question of sovereignty. Nagy added that the sector has a bright future, as the space industry is among the fastest-growing and most resilient industries worldwide, with its value projected to rise from $630 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2035, according to international surveys.
Nagy also highlighted that the space industry, representing the pinnacle of technological advancement, has an extremely strong multiplier effect, meaning that the innovations and technological advancements it spawns can manifest in many other economic segments.
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