# Wigner Research Centre for Physics

> research institute in Budapest, Hungary

**Wikidata**: [Q1161072](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1161072)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HUN-REN_Wigner_Research_Centre_for_Physics)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/wigner-research-centre-for-physics

## Summary
The Wigner Research Centre for Physics is a prominent research institute located in Budapest, Hungary, operating under the Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN). Named after Nobel laureate physicist Eugene Wigner, the centre was established on January 1, 2012, replacing the former Central Research Institute for Physics. It conducts specialized research through its primary constituent bodies: the Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics and the Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics (current valid value as of 2023).
- **Location:** Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29–33., Budapest District XII, Hungary (Postal Code: 1121).
- **Coordinates:** Latitude 47.48886, Longitude 18.95442.
- **Inception:** January 1, 2012.
- **Parent Organization:** Hungarian Research Network (since September 1, 2019); formerly the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (until August 31, 2019).
- **Structure:** Comprises the Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics and the Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics.
- **Named After:** Eugene Wigner.
- **Predecessor:** Replaces the Central Research Institute for Physics.
- **Identifiers:** GRID ID: grid.419766.b; ROR ID: 035dsb084; ISNI: 0000000417598344; Ringgold ID: 162159; Open Funder Registry ID: 501100014549.
- **Website:** http://wigner.hu/ (Hungarian), https://wigner.hu/en (English).

## FAQs
### Q: Where is the Wigner Research Centre for Physics located?
A: The institute is headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, specifically in District XII at Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29–33.

### Q: When was the Wigner Research Centre for Physics founded?
A: The centre was established on January 1, 2012, replacing the Central Research Institute for Physics.

### Q: Who operates the Wigner Research Centre for Physics?
A: The centre is part of the Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN). It was previously part of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences until August 31, 2019.

### Q: What research institutes are part of the centre?
A: The Wigner Research Centre for Physics includes the Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics and the Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics.

## Why It Matters
The Wigner Research Centre for Physics serves as a critical node in Hungary's scientific infrastructure, acting as the successor to the Central Research Institute for Physics. By consolidating expertise in particle physics, nuclear physics, solid state physics, and optics, the centre facilitates advanced research in fundamental and applied physical sciences. Its establishment and subsequent integration into the Hungarian Research Network in 2019 represent a strategic organization of national research assets. Named after Eugene Wigner, a pioneer of nuclear theory, the centre upholds a legacy of high-level theoretical and experimental inquiry. Through its specialized institutes, it contributes to the global body of knowledge in physics while supporting the development of scientific talent within Hungary.

## Notable For
- **Broad Research Scope:** Encompasses both particle and nuclear physics as well as solid state physics and optics under one umbrella.
- **Historical Legacy:** Serves as the direct successor to the Central Research Institute for Physics (often referred to as KFKI).
- **Strategic Reorganization:** Successfully transitioned from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to the Hungarian Research Network in 2019.
- **Eponym:** Honors Eugene Wigner, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist renowned for his contributions to the theory of the atomic nucleus.
- **Comprehensive Identifiers:** Recognized across multiple academic and funding databases (GRID, ROR, ISNI, Ringgold, Open Funder Registry).

## Body
### Organizational Structure
The Wigner Research Centre for Physics is a research institute classified as a research center. It is composed of two primary subsidiaries:
*   **Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics:** Focuses on high-energy and nuclear research.
*   **Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics:** Focuses on condensed matter and optical sciences.

### History and Naming
Founded on **January 1, 2012**, the centre replaced the **Central Research Institute for Physics**. It was renamed to honor **Eugene Wigner**, the Hungarian-American physicist and Nobel laureate. Originally established under the **Hungarian Academy of Sciences** (MTA), the centre's organizational affiliation changed on **September 1, 2019**, when it joined the **Hungarian Research Network** (HUN-REN).

### Location and Contact
The institute's headquarters are situated in **Budapest, Hungary**.
*   **Address:** Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29–33.
*   **District:** Budapest District XII.
*   **Postal Code:** 1121.
*   **Coordinates:** 47.48886 N, 18.95442 E.

### Official Nomenclature
The centre has undergone several naming updates reflecting its parent organization:
*   **2012–2019:** MTA Wigner Fizikai Kutatóközpont (MTA Wigner Research Centre for Physics).
*   **Current (from 2023):** HUN-REN Wigner Fizikai Kutatóközpont (HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics).

### Digital and Academic Identifiers
The organization is indexed in major research databases:
*   **GRID ID:** grid.419766.b
*   **ROR ID:** 035dsb084
*   **ISNI:** 0000000417598344
*   **Ringgold ID:** 162159
*   **Open Funder Registry ID:** 501100014549
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/122720s6

## References

1. [Source](https://wigner.hu/hu/rolunk)
2. [Source](https://wigner.hu/en/about-us)
3. Open Funder Registry