50 Years of History

The Institute of Computing Technology of the Technical College in Košice (ICT) was established by merging the Department of Production Process Control at the Faculty of Metallurgy and the Computing Center of the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Technical College in Košice. Its purpose was to provide computing services for students and employees throughout the university. The technological and administrative premises of the newly founded ICT were located at Park Komenského 6 and 8.

The first computer was the M6000 control minicomputer (produced in the USSR). Later, the mainframe computers EC 1021 and EC 1033, as well as the first SMEP minicomputers, were put into operation. These mainframes required large, air-conditioned halls. Data and programs were stored on punched paper tapes, punched cards, magnetic tapes, and—by today’s standards—physically large disk cartridges with capacities ranging from a few to several dozen megabytes. Operations ran in two or three shifts, typically in batch mode. To work in interactive mode, employees and students had to reserve machine time, often spending evenings and nights at ICT. There were no computer networks and no electronic mail. Communication between ICT staff and users of computing services was more personal than it is today.

In 1987, a new building of the ICT was officially opened at Němcova Street 3, where the ICT is still located today. This building became the site of large mainframe computers (2 × EC1045) and SMEP minicomputers (SM4/20, CM1420, SM5212, etc.). It was also equipped with a large terminal room (EC and SMEP terminals) for users since, at that time, computer and terminal networks had not yet been established at the Technical College of Košice.

In 1990, the teaching and research staff of the ICT were transferred to the Faculty of Mining at the Technical College of Košice (currently the FBERG TUKE), where many of them still work as teachers. The operational staff and a small number of research staff remained at the Institute of Computing Technology (ICT).

The period after 1990 was not only marked by major social changes but also by significant technological transformations. It was a time of the widespread adoption of personal computers, the expansion of computer networks, and the gradual development of an internet-based and information-driven society.

Since 1974, more than 400 employees have worked at ICT. Initially, the institute had fewer than 20 staff members. By the late 1980s, the institute functioned as a collaborative hub for SAV and ICT institutes in Košice, with up to 130 employees.

The institute covered a broad range of activities — from operational and teaching tasks to research and development. Among its most notable achievements were:

Development of control systems for industrial robots
Design and implementation of control systems for metallurgical technologies
Processing of payroll and personnel data processing
Design and implementation of the first library loan systems for the University Library
Support for large-scale teaching of programming fundamentals at the Technical College in Košice.

Many experienced staff members later left ICT to join private companies or founded their own businesses. Currently, 39 employees work at ICT, providing ICT services for TUKE.