In October 2014, the Research Centre for Mongol Studies (Mongol Sudlaliin Töv) was established within the Department of Mongolian and Inner Asian Studies at the Institute of East Asian Studies, Eötvös Loránd University. The centre was officially inaugurated by Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia, during his official visit to Hungary.

President of Mongolia Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and Ágnes Birtalan at the opening ceremony of the Research Centre.

Following the democratic transition of the 1990s, Mongolia underwent a renewal and has since placed great emphasis on preserving, researching, and promoting Mongolian culture. After years of economic growth, the Mongolian state prioritized support for research activities in Hungary among its first international initiatives. The President of Mongolia provided financial support, IT equipment, and a wide range of publications to the Research Centre, while Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) offers the necessary infrastructure for its operation.

The official academic opening of the Research Centre took place on November 12, as part of a scholarly workshop attended by Dr. B. Enkhtuvshin, President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Dr. S. Chuluun, Director of the Institute of History, and numerous other Mongolian and Hungarian researchers.

Group photo taken during the visit of the President of Mongolia.

Under the leadership of Ágnes Birtalan, the Research Centre is staffed by two young researchers during its initial six-month phase. During this period, key priorities include processing and publishing online the findings from expeditions conducted among the Oirat communities of Western Mongolia (1991–2014) and materials collected on Mongolian Buddhism (2005–2014). The programme also includes organizing an international workshop on Mongolian Buddhism (April 16–17), and developing an online educational platform for teaching the Mongolian language and culture to the Mongolian diaspora abroad, in cooperation with the Embassy of Mongolia in Budapest and the Association of Mongolians in Hungary.

The establishment of the Research Centre was met with highly positive reception both in Mongolia and within international Mongolian studies circles.

B. Enkhtuvshin, President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, and Ambassador T. Gandi in front of the Research Centre