The focus of this study is on presenting the concept of the Mini Company initiative launched in 2023 in the ZalaZONE automotive science park and proposing its development through international good examples. The aim of the project, based on the learning factory model, is to enable dual university students to experience the real market environment in a realistic, educational environment. The search for international good examples can help to further develop the concept, especially regarding the future role of automotive stakeholders. The presented results and good examples can be used in new research projects, develop teaching methods, and strengthen cooperation between industry and academia.

This paper reviews the role of high-speed rail (HSR) and other fast rail technologies in decarbonising inter-urban transport. It first outlines the global deployment of HSR, with particular emphasis on Europe and China, and situates these networks within the wider geography of fast rail systems. The paper then compares HSR with competing modes such as air transport and passenger cars along key dimensions including door-to-door travel time, energy use and emissions. Building on a qualitative synthesis of the international literature, it discusses the environmental, economic and social impacts of HSR, highlighting conditions under which HSR can deliver substantial modal shift and life-cycle greenhouse gas savings, as well as situations where benefits are more limited or unevenly distributed. Finally, the review briefly considers emerging fast rail concepts such as Maglev and Hyperloop and argues that they should currently be treated as complementary, long-term options rather than immediate substitutes for conventional HSR.