István Kárász

Strategic Advisor & External Relations

István Kárász is an economist with a focus on development economics, innovation ecosystems, the EU and economic and trade diplomacy. His work is guided by a strong interest in how economic ideas translate into real-world behaviour, drawing on insights from behavioural economics to better understand the forces shaping societies and markets.

He believes deeply in the concept of “glocalization”—the idea that global engagement should go hand in hand with strong local roots. For him, sustainable development and resilient communities grow from the interaction between global knowledge and local heritage.

Beyond his professional work, István is passionate about arts, culture, and local identity. As a co-founder of BelArts, he is committed to fostering connections between artists, experts, and communities while celebrating local heritage and its deeper cultural roots. Through this initiative, he seeks to create spaces where creativity, dialogue, and community engagement can thrive.