The University of Pécs with its 10 faculties and 29 helath care units is a determining knowledge base of the region.
The promotion of innovation in the member states of the European Union plays a distinguished role in improving competitiveness, which can be promoted mainly by spreading effective research and development (R&D) activities as broadly as possible and by giving priority to innovation (especially the practical utilization of the results of R&D).
The university knowledge base can be interpreted along three dimensions with respect to the innovative activities pursued at the University of Pécs. One concerns research results, which are produced in the university environment, that is, in labs and in the heads of researchers. The second one involves teaching, whereby a highly qualified labour force is trained that can succeed in the knowledge industry. The third one is the service dimension, which can ensure several important services that support the utilization of innovations for economic players surrounding the University.
The mission of the University of Pécs as a regional knowledge base is to help develop innovation-oriented and knowledge-based economy, create the environment that is necessary for the optimal flow of knowledge between local knowledge bases and innovative entrepreneurs, and promote innovative activities.
The main goal of the University of Pécs is to build a bridge between the economy and science, channel research towards the demands of the industry, and initiate and promote the utilization of new research findings at the University and the academic institutes. In December 2011, the UP Research - Development and Innovation Strategy 2011-2020 was accepted, under which the university has declared the existence as a research university and the commitment to innovation. The University of Pécs is particularly active on the following research fields: health and medical sciences, natural sciences, human sciences, social sciences and arts.