URBIS

Pavla Hubálková

Science journalist

She originally thought she would become a neuroscientist. However, during her Fulbright stay in the USA, instead of discovering a “cure for Alzheimer’s,” she realized that she enjoyed communicating science even more.

She now works as a freelance science journalist and moderator, most frequently writing for WIRED Czech Republic and hosting the programme Žárovky on Czech Radio. She also communicates science through social media and her newsletter #PíšuOVědě (“I Write About Science”). This year, her book Invisible Women in Science was published.

Jan Kubata

Chief Executive Officer
BVV Trade Fairs Brno

Industry & Business

Jan Kubata is the CEO of Veletrhy Brno, where he plays a key role in the development and management of one of the most important trade fair organizations in Central Europe. Under his leadership, the company focuses on modernization and innovation, with an emphasis on implementing new technologies. His vision includes developing international cooperation and strengthening Veletrhy Brno’s position in the global market. Thanks to his experience in both the private and public sectors, he contributes significantly to building a living laboratory at the Brno Exhibition Center.

During his career, he served as director of the CzechTrade agency’s foreign office in the United States and later became director of the CzechTrade foreign network, an integral part of which is supporting Czech companies in doing business abroad, trade fair business, and foreign trade. He has also held public office, including as mayor of Ústí nad Labem and deputy minister of justice.

Karel Havlíček

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade
Ministry of Industry and Trade

Public sector

Karel Havlíček is a Czech economist, manager, academic, and politician with many years of professional and public experience. He graduated from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT), holds an MBA from the Prague International Business School, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Economics in Prague (VŠE), Faculty of Business Administration, and was awarded the title of associate professor at VŠE’s Faculty of Finance and Accounting. Professionally, he led the Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Sole Proprietors of the Czech Republic and managed the Sindat industrial group for nearly twenty years, where he was also a co-owner. He was a member of numerous government advisory bodies, including Vice-Chairman of the Government Council for Research, Development, and Innovation, and the author of the Czech Republic’s innovation strategy “Czech Republic: The Country for the Future.” He has served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Industry and Trade, and Minister of Transport. In his role in the opposition, he focused on economic policy, served as chairman of the ANO shadow cabinet, and authored the economic strategy “Czech Republic: A Country for the Future 2.0.” He is a long-time educator, founder of the Faculty of Economic Studies at VŠFS, and author of dozens of academic publications.

His interests include rock and folk music. He is married and has two children. He is fluent in English, German, and Russian. He has a working knowledge of Spanish, French, and Chinese.

Petr Štěpánek

Chief Executive Officer
Center for Regional Development of the Czech Republic

Public sector

Petr Štěpánek heads the Center for Regional Development of the Czech Republic, which manages European funds focused on regional cohesion and cross-border cooperation. Previously, he led the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic, was instrumental in launching the Green Savings program, and served as a consultant on projects for the European Investment Bank and the UNDP.
At the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, he focuses on smart cities, design, and brand management; he previously taught at the Czech Technical University in Prague and at the Faculty of Arts and Architecture at the Technical University of Liberec. He has also contributed to research on policies related to affordable and sustainable housing.

Jaromír Wasserbauer

Head of Division
Ministry of the Environment

Public sector

Jaromír Wasserbauer, Ph.D., was born on April 30, 1985, in Havlíčkův Brod. He graduated from the Secondary Industrial School of Chemistry in Brno and subsequently from the Faculty of Chemistry at Brno University of Technology, where he earned his Ing. and Ph.D. degrees in the field of mechanical properties of inorganic materials. In 2021, he was appointed associate professor in the field of Chemistry, Technology, and Properties of Materials at the Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology. He served as head of the Laboratory of Metals and Corrosion at Brno University of Technology. He has established himself professionally in the field of materials research and surface treatments of metal alloys. He also oversaw collaboration with industrial partners and was responsible for the technical and administrative management of grant projects (e.g., TAČR, TRIO, and GAČR). He is the author of numerous publications in impact-factored journals, holds EN ISO 9001 laboratory certification, and serves as the course coordinator for several courses in chemical engineering. At the Ministry of the Environment, he intends to focus on environmental protection through modern technological processes. His interests include his family, self-education, energy, ecology, and new technologies.

Marek Sovka

Deputy Governor
South Moravian Region

Public sector

Marek Sovka is the Deputy Governor of the South Moravian Region for regional development and coordination of the EDU II project (Units 5 and 6 at Dukovany). He has long been dedicated to rural development, supporting municipalities, and major strategic projects in South Moravia. Today, he is most focused on the project for the new units at Dukovany, where he brings together municipalities, the region, the state, and the public to ensure that the entire region benefits from this “project of the century.” Beyond politics, he is deeply involved in the community life of small towns—from supporting associations and cultural events to projects for seniors and landscape revitalization. He enjoys modern communication, social media, and finding ways to explain complex topics to people in a simple and understandable way.

Martin Příborský

Representative
City Hall of Brno

Public sector

JUDr. PhDr. Martin Příborský, EMLE "A member of the Brno City Council responsible for strategic development and metropolitan cooperation. He holds degrees in law and political science and has professional experience from the European Commission in Brussels, where he focused primarily on competition policy, the protection of the EU’s financial interests, and EU funds. He has been active in Brno’s local politics for several years. In his work, he focuses on supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, science, and research, as well as on preparing key strategic development documents. In the area of metropolitan cooperation, he is primarily responsible for managing EU funds and the Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) instrument, which support strategic metropolitan projects."

Miroslav Žbánek

Chairman 
The Statutory City of Olomouc, the Association of Municipalities of the Metropolitan Area and Agglomerations of the Czech Republic, the Chamber of Deputies

Public sector

Miroslav Žbánek, MPA, is the chairman of the Association of Municipalities of the Metropolitan Area and Agglomeration (SO MOA). He serves as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic and as vice-chairman of the Committee on Public Administration and Regional Development. He is a member of the Government Council for Public Administration and the Committee on Regional Policy of the Czech Republic. He has many years of experience at both the municipal and metropolitan levels—he served as mayor of the Statutory City of Olomouc for seven years and chairs the Steering Committee of the Olomouc Agglomeration. In his role, he strives to build a stable platform for the coordination of metropolitan areas and agglomerations. He emphasizes the sharing of know-how, strengthening cooperation, and preparing for the 2028+ period, including participation in the creation of strategic documents. Another key issue for him is the importance of integrated territorial investments as a tool for developing and strengthening the role of metropolitan areas in the Czech Republic.

Tomáš Dubský

First Vice Chair
Association of Local Governments of the Czech Republic

Public sector

Mayor of the municipality of Vysočina, chair of the Working Group on Rural Services, and advocate for preserving rural life.

Pavla Hubálková

Science journalist

She originally thought she would become a neuroscientist. However, during her Fulbright stay in the USA, instead of discovering a “cure for Alzheimer’s,” she realized that she enjoyed communicating science even more.

She now works as a freelance science journalist and moderator, most frequently writing for WIRED Czech Republic and hosting the programme Žárovky on Czech Radio. She also communicates science through social media and her newsletter #PíšuOVědě (“I Write About Science”). This year, her book Invisible Women in Science was published.

Monna Salmi

Senior Specialist
Council of Tampere Region

Public sector

Monna is a Finnish expert in urban development and innovation who works at the intersection of urban development, public administration, competitiveness, and innovation policy. Her work focuses on strengthening regional innovation ecosystems and building cooperation between cities, regions, the state, research institutions, and businesses. She is particularly interested in how cities can function as strategic platforms for economic growth and renewal, and she brings practical experience from the Tampere region, one of Finland’s leading innovation hubs.

At the URBIS conference, Monna will present insights from the Finnish model of collaborative governance and innovation policy, with a special focus on Finland’s strategy for sustainable urban development and the InnoCities network. Her perspective combines strategic public leadership, regional development thinking, and a strong belief in cities as engines of innovation, regeneration, and public value.

Wim De Kinderen

Chairperson
ENoLL - European Network of Living Labs

Public sector

Wim De Kinderen works at the Brainport Eindhoven EU Office in Brussels, where he represents the city of Eindhoven (NL), Brainport Development, and other economic entities in negotiations with partner regions and European institutions. In this role, he is responsible for policy advocacy, networking and communication, and project development. Within the city of Eindhoven, he is a member of the strategic department. Throughout his career to date, he has focused primarily on issues of regional economic development in Belgium.

Ákos R. Wetters

Co-founder & Director
Kimitisik B.V.

Industry & Business / Commercial Sector

Ákos R. Wetters is a mentor, coach, and lecturer working at the intersection of entrepreneurship education, educational innovation, and innovation ecosystems. He began his career at international corporations in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, after which he founded four companies in the fields of operations, supply chain consulting, intrapreneurship, and open innovation. In the academic sphere, he focuses on research into challenge-based learning within entrepreneurship education. Today, he mentors students, professionals, and startups, helping them build an entrepreneurial mindset, foster collaboration, build relationships, and drive innovation across teams, organizations, and ecosystems. He is curious, creative, and positive by nature, and is inspired by new ideas, adventure, and great espresso.

David Michalička

Mayor
The Town of Říčany

Public sector

David Michalička has been the mayor of Říčany since 2020. By trade, he is a builder and designer, but above all, he is a dad, a sports enthusiast, and an ordinary guy. Říčany is close to his heart.

His priorities include infrastructure, as well as innovation and support for community life. He has long been driving progress in Říčany in the areas of active mobility, public transportation, technology, and the care of public spaces and the surrounding landscape.

There’s no point in writing more—let’s meet in person ;)

Kamil Čermák

Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
ČEZ ESCO, a.s.

Industry & Business

Kamil Čermák is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of ČEZ ESCO, a company that provides comprehensive energy services to businesses, cities, and municipalities in the Czech Republic. He is a long-time advocate for modern energy solutions, including energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. He believes that communication and cooperation within regions are among the key factors in the modernization of the energy sector. Kamil Čermák was named Smart City Personality of the Year in 2018. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Modern Energy Association and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Alliance for a Zero-Emission Future.

Pavla Hubálková

Science journalist

She originally thought she would become a neuroscientist. However, during her Fulbright stay in the USA, instead of discovering a “cure for Alzheimer’s,” she realized that she enjoyed communicating science even more.

She now works as a freelance science journalist and moderator, most frequently writing for WIRED Czech Republic and hosting the programme Žárovky on Czech Radio. She also communicates science through social media and her newsletter #PíšuOVědě (“I Write About Science”). This year, her book Invisible Women in Science was published.

Miroslav Žbánek

Chairman of the Association of Municipalities of the Metropolitan Area and Agglomeration (SO MOA)
Statutory City of Olomouc, Association of Municipalities of the Metropolitan Area and Agglomeration of the Czech Republic (SO MOA), Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic

Public Sector

Miroslav Žbánek, MPA, is the Chairman of the Association of Municipalities of the Metropolitan Area and Agglomeration (SO MOA). He serves as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic and as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Public Administration and Regional Development. He is also a member of the Government Council for Public Administration and the Committee for Regional Policy of the Czech Republic.

He has extensive experience at both municipal and metropolitan levels—he served for seven years as Mayor of the Statutory City of Olomouc and chairs the Steering Committee of the Olomouc Agglomeration. In his role, he focuses on building a stable platform for coordinating metropolitan areas and agglomerations. He places emphasis on knowledge sharing, strengthening cooperation, and preparing for the post-2028 period, including involvement in the development of strategic documents. A key topic for him is also the importance of Integrated Territorial Investments as a tool for development and for strengthening the role of metropolitan areas in the Czech Republic.

Petr Nedvědický

Mayor
Statutory City of Ústí nad Labem

Public Sector

Petr Nedvědický, PhDr. Ing., has served as Mayor of the Statutory City of Ústí nad Labem since 2018. He also holds positions as a member of the Ústí Region Council and as a representative of the Střekov city district in Ústí nad Labem. In his role as mayor, he is responsible for the city budget, development of transport infrastructure, municipally owned companies, crisis management, municipal police, and the Činoherní studio theatre. His work focuses primarily on supporting economic development, improving the quality of life for residents, and modernizing urban infrastructure.

Key recent achievements include the city’s involvement in the 5G PRO 5 CITIES project and cooperation with the European Investment Bank, which included Ústí nad Labem’s development projects in the annual report of the EIB Advisory Services. This report regularly presents projects prepared with the bank’s expert and technical support.

Jan Nadrchal

Mayor
Statutory City of Pardubice

Public Sector

Jan Nadrchal (*1987, Pardubice) is a Czech politician who has served as Mayor of the Pardubice since 2022. He has been active in local politics for many years and has closely connected both his professional career and public service with his hometown, which he considers the natural centre of his personal and professional life.

He graduated from a secondary school focused on information technology and later studied Computer Support in Archival Science at University of Hradec Králové. He began his professional career in 2007 at the Fire Rescue Service of the Pardubice Region. He later worked as a programmer and software developer at ASSORTIS Electric and GEOVAP, specialising in systems for public administration and municipalities.

He entered municipal politics in 2018 as a member of the council of the Pardubice V city district, where he subsequently also served on the district council board. In the same year, he was elected to the Pardubice City Council. In 2020, he became Deputy Mayor responsible for development, strategy, and the environment, and in 2022 he was elected Mayor of Pardubice.

His professional and political career has been closely tied to his hometown of Pardubice, where he applies his experience in information technology and public administration to the management and development of the city.

Martin Příborský

Councillor
Brno City Hall

Public sector

Martin Příborský is a member of the Brno city council responsible for strategic development and metropolitan cooperation. He is a graduate of law and political science and has professional experience from the European Commission in Brussels, where he focused primarily on competition policy, the protection of the EU’s financial interests, and EU funds.

He has been active in Brno municipal politics for several years. In his work, he focuses on supporting business, innovation, science, and research, as well as on preparing key strategic development documents. In the area of metropolitan cooperation, he is primarily responsible for EU fund management and the Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) instrument, which supports strategic metropolitan projects.

Zdeněk Kovářík

Council Member
Prague City Hall

Public sector

Pavla Hubálková

Science journalist

Dennis Dokter

Smart Cities Cluster Lead
Nexus

Barry Singleton

Engagement Manager
Nexus

Christina Salmhofer

Sustainability strategist
Development Administration

Public sector

Christina Salmhofer has been working as a sustainability manager since 2011 within the Royal Seaport project at the City Development Administration of Stockholm. Her responsibilities include implementing overall sustainability objectives, overseeing the monitoring, evaluation, and improvement of policies, goals, and strategies. She is also involved in cross-departmental cooperation and collaboration with private developers, energy suppliers, and universities, as well as initiating research and development projects.

Before joining the City of Stockholm, Christina worked as a consultant at WSP Global and as an environmental manager in Swedish real estate companies Wihlborgs Fastigheter and Fabege.

Christina holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management and Policy from the University of Lund in Sweden and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Graz in Austria.

She enjoys:

• building networks by engaging and connecting people
• working in a systematic and structured way with a focus on the bigger picture
• learning new things and re-evaluating
• sharing experiences
• challenging norms and established ways of doing things
• motivating people to contribute and collaborate

Gretel Schaj

Head of the Markets and Partnerships Department. An expert in governance and management and digital innovation.
BABLE Smart Cities

Industry & Business

Gretel Schaj is Head of the Markets and Partnerships Department for Southern Europe and a leading expert in governance and digital innovation at BABLE Smart Cities.

Over the past decade, she has worked at the intersection of governance, sustainability, and digital transformation, designing multi-stakeholder processes, governance frameworks, and co-creation strategies that help governments and cities turn complexity into actionable steps.

She has led numerous projects across Europe, secured nearly €100 million in public sector funding, and trained officials in more than 20 countries. She brings both deep policy expertise and hands-on experience to the field of ethics and governance of emerging technologies.

František Kubeš

Head of the Department of Strategic Development and Cooperation
Brno City Hall

Public sector

František Kubeš has been leading the Department of Strategic Development and Cooperation of Magistrát města Brna since 2019.

From 2014 to 2019, he worked at the Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic, where he served as Head of the Urban Policy Unit and, in the final two years, was responsible for leading the entire Department of Regional Policy.

Prior to that, he worked at the then City Strategy Office, where he contributed to the city’s first modern strategy, Strategy for Brno, and participated in various international projects.

His professional interests include strategic and regional development, cohesion policy (with an emphasis on Integrated Territorial Investments), and the development of innovation-friendly environments, including the Smart City concept. He also lectures at universities and speaks at professional events both in the Czech Republic and abroad.

Ondřej Vysloužil

Director
City Office of Spatial Planning and Architecture

Public sector

He graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at the Brno University of Technology. After his studies, he worked at the Atelier 8000 studio in Prague, later at Atos 6 in Ostrava, and subsequently founded his own practice, Vysloužil architekti.

Since 2019, he has served as Director of the Městský ateliér prostorového plánování a architektury (MAPPA), which he helped build from its inception into its current form. MAPPA is Ostrava’s main conceptual workplace in the fields of architecture, urbanism, and city development.

He has long focused on topics related to urban development, public space, and housing, with an emphasis on cooperation between the public and private sectors. He is a certified architect and a member of the Czech Chamber of Architects and the Housing Investment Advisory Board (HIAH).

František Kubeš

Head of the Department of Strategic Development and Cooperation
Brno City Hall

Public sector

František Kubeš has been leading the Department of Strategic Development and Cooperation of Magistrát města Brna since 2019.

From 2014 to 2019, he worked at the Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic, where he served as Head of the Urban Policy Unit and, in the final two years, was responsible for leading the entire Department of Regional Policy.

Prior to that, he worked at the then City Strategy Office, where he contributed to the city’s first modern strategy, Strategy for Brno, and participated in various international projects.

His professional interests include strategic and regional development, cohesion policy (with an emphasis on Integrated Territorial Investments), and the development of innovation-friendly environments, including the Smart City concept. He also lectures at universities and speaks at professional events both in the Czech Republic and abroad.

Jiří Hudec

vedoucí odboru strategického rozvoje
Statutární město Ostrava

Má na starosti agendu externího financování a strategického plánování, přičemž projektový management a metropolitní spolupráce se v posledních letech staly klíčovými součástmi jeho portfolia. Dovedně propojuje řízení rozvojových aktivit města s významnými investičními projekty. Mezi projekty pod jeho vedením patří nová koncertní hala, příprava propojení oblasti Černá louka s areálem Dolních Vítkovic přes pozemky vlastněné soukromými investory, rozvoj T-Parku, podniková mateřská škola, Zoologická zahrada a botanický park Ostrava, kreativní prostor Fajna dílna a rozšiřování iniciativ mezinárodní spolupráce. Jiří také působí jako hlavní odborný garant Strategického plánu rozvoje statutárního města Ostravy pod značkou fajnOVA, který klade velký důraz na zapojení občanů i odborníků. Dále je zodpovědný za implementaci a vyhodnocování této strategie.

Kateřina Kuhrová

projektová manažerka
Eurocities

Kateřina získala bakalářský titul v oboru Městské inženýrství na Vysokém učení technickém v Brně, poté pokračovala ve studiu na Univerzitě v Grazu a na Univerzitě Ca’ Foscari v Benátkách, kde získala magisterský titul v oborech Sustainable Development a Environmental Sciences. V minulosti se zabývala využitím satelitních dat ze systémů Copernicus pro územní plánování, konkrétně pro městskou zeleň a mobilitu. Pracovala v Evropské výkonné agentuře pro klima, infrastrukturu a životní prostředí (CINEA), kde se věnovala řízení a hodnocení projektů financovaných EU zaměřených na městskou mobilitu z programu Horizon Europe Transport. V současné době pracuje jako projektová koordinátorka v Eurocities, síti velkých evropských měst s více než 200 členy v rámci EU i mimo ni. Kateřina pracuje v týmu pro mobilitu a zaměřuje se na bezpečnost silničního provozu, kvalitu života, veřejný prostor, inovace v oblasti mobility a rozhodování založené na datech.

Anniina Autero

Head of development
City of Tampere

Public sector

Anniina Autero is an expert in smart cities specializing in connecting resilience, sustainability, and digital innovation through advanced technological solutions. She leads Horizon Programme projects focused on developing digital twins for urban environments, actively engaging citizens and businesses in co-creating safer and more sustainable cities.

Her work emphasizes the practical application of these innovations in real-world settings. Previously, she led the Smart Urban Security and Event Resilience project, where cutting-edge situational intelligence tools were successfully implemented during the 2024 Ice Hockey World Championship at Nokia Arena.

Her contribution has been recognized by Silicon Leaders Magazine, which named her in 2024 among the most influential leaders shaping the future of smart cities. At the URBIS Brno conference, she shares insights on how cities can use digital twins and collaborative approaches to strengthen resilience and improve urban life.

Eva Nečasová

Head of the Services Team – Innovation in Social and Healthcare Sector
JINAG

Public sector

Eva Nečasová works at the innovation agency JINAG, where she leads the Services team focused on innovation in the social and healthcare sector.

She enjoys connecting people, good ideas, and opportunities that can bring meaningful change to people’s lives and the functioning of the region. In her work, she primarily focuses on using modern technologies in public services and finding ways to bring them closer to municipalities, organizations, and citizens themselves. She believes that innovation makes the greatest sense when it is created in collaboration and has a long-term impact.

Marek Bárdy

CEO
VR Training, VR Rescue

Industry & Business

Marek Bárdy is the founder of VR Rescue and the initiative #mocPOmoc.

In his work, he connects technology, education, and the public interest with the aim of systematically increasing society’s preparedness for crisis situations. He is behind the development of virtual reality first aid training, which seeks to make the ability to help others a common skill rather than an exception.

His long-term ambition is to build solutions with measurable impact, a strong expert foundation, and real societal relevance. For him, technology is not the goal, but a means to strengthen responsibility, confidence, and society’s readiness to respond when lives are at stake.

Jan Beneš

Head of Clinic
Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University and University Hospital Pilsen

Academia & Research

Jan Beneš is a physician and academic working at Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University and University Hospital Pilsen. He serves as Head of the Department of Anaesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Medicine and also as Vice-Dean for Simulation-Based Education. He is the head of the Simulation Centre (SIM/PL), which focuses on modern training and education of healthcare professionals.

A defining feature of his work is the integration of clinical medicine, teaching, research, and innovation, alongside the ability to manage multiple roles while maintaining a clear focus on patient care.

Jana Majrichová

Vice President
The Czech Red Cross

Civil society

Vice President of The Czech Red Cross (Český červený kříž), focusing within the organization primarily on first aid education. As a healthcare instructor, she has been teaching first aid for several decades.

As a long-term volunteer, she is mainly dedicated to first aid training, especially working with children and organizing competitions in providing first aid. In her civilian life, she works in the legal profession. She loves her family, traveling, and, when she has a moment of free time, she goes cycling, running, or skiing.

Martin Rybár

Deputy Governor for IT and European Affairs
Pilsen Region

Public sector

After graduating from university, he started working in telecommunications, initially in sales support and later as head of a sales department. He subsequently moved into the field of telecommunications infrastructure construction, mainly FTTH networks, which he led as a project manager.

Since 2022, he has been serving as a councillor of the city of Přeštice. He spent two years working at the Ministry of the Environment in the minister’s office, and since 2025 he has been Deputy Governor of the Plzeňský kraj.

He is a father of two young children and spends his free time hiking. He is a big fan of fantasy and science fiction, which he enjoys in the form of books, comics, films, and TV series.

Luděk Šantora

Director
Administration of Information Technologies of the City of Pilsen

Public sector

Luděk Šantora works at the Administration of Information Technologies of the City of Pilsen, where he focuses on the digitalisation of municipal services, data infrastructure, cybersecurity, and the development of technological projects, including the city’s drone initiatives (dronySIT).

He is also the managing director of the city innovation centre BIC Pilsen (Business and Innovation Centre Pilsen). He contributes to the development of the Pilsen innovation ecosystem and the emergence of technology start-ups.

In the long term, he focuses on the practical application of innovation in public administration and on developing the city’s security ecosystem in the Pilsen Region.

Konstantin Novikov

CEO
VR medical s.r.o.

Industry & Business

Konstantin Novikov is the co-founder and CEO of VR Medical, where he connects the worlds of technology, healthcare, and innovation. He believes that virtual reality should not be just an impressive novelty, but a practical tool that supports patients and clients, therapists, and healthcare and social care institutions in everyday practice.

He studied Industrial Engineering and Management at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, where he earned both an MSc and a PhD. He also gained valuable international experience during his studies in Turkey and Taiwan, and further expanded his managerial education with an MBA from Cambridge Business School, focusing on financial management.

In 2018, he co-founded VR Medical, which now collaborates with leading healthcare institutions in the Czech Republic and abroad. He is a person who enjoys finding ways to make complex things simpler, more meaningful, and with real impact. His focus is not on showcasing what technology can do, but on demonstrating who it can truly help and how.

Lubomír Teichmann

Jednatel
Zdravotní a sociální služby sro

Komerční sektor / Industry & Business

Výzkum a výroba moderních technologií pro spojení soc. zdravotního pomezi

Lumír Prejda

Vedoucí strážník
Městská policie Hlučín

Veřejný sektor / Public sector

Jako vedoucí strážník se s kolegy starám o blaho a bezpečí občanů města. I proto jsem se rozhodl využít zařízení eHelper, aby se dědečkové a babičky cítili komfortně.

Andrea Švestková,

Pověření starostky města Hlučín
Město Hlučín

Veřejný sektor / Public sector

Spojuji technicke věci s obyčejným lidským přístupem – zajímá mě, co lidé opravdu potřebují, jaké mají možnosti a co jim pomůže cítit se doma bezpečně. 

Dagmar Peřinová

Deputy Director, Head of the Participation Team
South Moravian Agency for Public Innovation (JINAG), Association

Public sector

In the South Moravian Region, Dagmar has long been dedicated to finding ways to better connect villages, towns, and the public, and to creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue and collaboration. At JINAG, she develops and leads projects, events for various target groups, and educational programs that help people become more involved in the world around them. She devotes a large part of her work to children and young people. For example, she is behind initiatives such as HackaTEEN and Vylepši si školu, because she believes that the work we do with the younger generation today will pay off in the future—in how they think about their surroundings, how they get involved, and what shape they will one day give to villages, cities, and society as a whole. With her team, she also works on other topics—from collaboration on social issues, to helping implement a climate action plan, to building the Infopoint agenda within the Local Action Group (LAG). She enjoys work that connects people, good ideas, and tangible changes in practice. She also speaks about her field experiences at conferences both here and abroad.

When she’s not working, you’ll find her at the conductor’s podium with a children’s choir, on her motorcycle, or at the shooting range.

Jakub Rybář

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports Representative for Science Outreach and Talent Development
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports 

Public sector

A man who believes that “concrete investment in concrete talent is more than concrete itself.” At the Ministry (MŠMT), he is responsible for ensuring that Czech R&D isn’t just about drawing down funds, but about making real strides toward becoming a social elite. A fan of supercomputers, a scout for scientific talent, and a proponent of the idea that even government can have drive. If you don’t run into him at a panel discussion, he’s probably busy planning with someone how to make the Czech Republic a technological powerhouse.

Vladimír Holík

Instructor
Masaryk University, Faculty of Education

Academia & Research

Vladimír Holík is a history and civics teacher at an elementary school. He is also a professor of civics education at the Faculty of Education at Masaryk University. At his home elementary school, he leads the student council, serves as the coordinator for the ERASMUS+ program, coordinates the “Dáme na Vás” participatory budgeting initiative for schools in Brno, and will serve as the future coordinator of the School Educational Program. He has long been engaged in research on Czech soldiers who served in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I, with a particular focus on the Italian front. This list of activities is not meant to impress the reader. Rather, let’s take it as an explanation that if he’s not at work, he’s running around the Slovenian Julian Alps (which, by the way, is his promised land, where he says he’ll definitely move one day) among the remains of trenches, while tormenting every fellow traveler with endless comments and unsolicited information about every (literally) hole in the ground. He considers all of this—for reasons incomprehensible to others—to be his mental hygiene.

Dita Kaiserová

projektový manager
MAS Rozkvět, z.s.

Public sector

Dita Kaiserová works at MAS Rozkvět, where she focuses on community development, supporting local communities, and connecting people across generations. She has long been involved in projects centered on community centers, rural clubs, and support for families, seniors, children, and youth, as well as finding ways to keep rural life active and open. She particularly enjoys working with people, finding common solutions, and creating spaces where different groups of residents can come together.

In addition to her professional role, she is also active as a citizen—she supports local initiatives, community events, and volunteer activities that strengthen relationships between people and increase interest in public affairs. She believes that a strong community arises mainly where people have the opportunity to influence things together, get involved, and feel that their voice matters.

Alexandr Nogrády

Město Český Krumlov
Starosta

Alexandr Nogrády je starostou města Český Krumlov od roku 2022. Ve své práci se mimo jiné zaměřuje na to, jak propojit aktivní zapojení mladých lidí do veřejného dění.
Založil Parlament dětí a mládeže Český Krumlov s myšlenkou nejen dát mladým lidem hlas, ale také ten hlas slyšet. Mladou generaci nevnímá pouze jako budoucnost města, ale jako jeho aktivní součást už dnes. Proto město pod jeho vedením podporuje realizaci studentských projektů a vytváří příležitosti, aby se děti a studenti mohli podílet na proměně prostředí, ve kterém žijí.
Současně prosazuje zavádění digitálních technologií do fungování městského úřadu a podporuje chytrá řešení, která zjednodušují komunikaci s občany, zefektivňují veřejnou správu a pomáhají připravovat město na budoucí výzvy.
Věří, že právě mladí lidé jsou přirozenými nositeli inovací a že spojení jejich kreativity, odvahy přicházet s novými nápady a možností moderních technologií může přinášet konkrétní řešení pro rozvoj města.

Michal Kuzmič

Sales Director and Head of Interdisciplinary Collaboration
CTU UCEEB

Academia & Research

Michal Kuzmič serves as Commercial Director and Head of Interdisciplinary Collaboration at CTU’s UCEEB, where he focuses on developing partnerships with industry and promoting the practical application of research findings. He bridges the academic and commercial sectors and participates in projects focused on sustainable cities and innovation in the fields of energy and construction.

Andreas Bärnreuther

Deputy-Project Manager (HEU ASCEND)
City of Munich

Public sector

Andreas Bärnreuther is a sociologist who spent many years overseeing media and public relations for a nongovernmental organization. He also helped coordinate projects funded by the European Social Fund (ESF). Since 2023, Andreas has been working with Stefan Synek to manage the ASCEND project in Munich.

Lisa Enarsson

Senior Project Manager
City of Stockholm

Public sector

Lisa Enarsson is a senior project manager at the City of Stockholm, where she works in the Department of Environment and Health. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Environment and Health from Umeå University (1996) and is a member of the core team behind the Climate Positive Stockholm initiative.
She currently leads the Scale Stockholm project, which focuses on building platforms for transformation by engaging local communities, associations, and businesses in jointly developing measures to support climate transformation. Concurrently, she oversees Stockholm’s participation in the ASCEND project—Accelerating Positive Clean Energy Districts.
As a sustainability expert, Lisa is also contributing to the development of a new urban district in Stockholm, planned for the site of the former Bromma Airport. Her project portfolio includes initiatives such as Scale Stockholm, ASCEND, Mainstreaming Sustainability, GrowSmarter, and Sustainable Järva.

Marek Šmíd

Consultant
OICT

Public sector

Marek worked as a research scientist in the field of Smart City – Urban Climate. He has experience in both the public sector (the UK Environment Agency, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, the Basque Centre for Climate Change, and several universities) and the private sector (data science in the media industry and BI/DWH in the energy sector).

At OICT, he works on the Golemio data platform, focusing on energy-related topics and the digitalisation of agendas and processes of Prague City Hall.

Robert Wawerka

Head of the Smart Building Monitoring and Control Research Department
CTU UCEEB

Academia & Research

Robert Wawerka is a graduate of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Brno University of Technology. He gained professional experience during several years working in Scandinavia and Southeast Asia, where he focused on sustainable construction and building energy efficiency. At the ČEZ Group, he specialized in the Smart City sector and the development of electromobility.
Since 2019, he has headed the Smart Building Monitoring and Control research department at CTU’s UCEEB. He participates in national and international projects, including the Horizon 2020 ARV project, which focuses on creating climate-positive and circular communities in Europe, where he serves as the lead coordinator of the Czech consortium.

Zdeno Malík

Principal Investigator of the DUT MONUPED Project
CTU UCEEB

Academia & Research

Zdeno Malík specializes in digital tools and strategies for sustainable construction. At the Czech Technical University in Prague, he teaches parametric design and building modeling and focuses on advanced modeling of building behavior and energy systems. He is the principal investigator of the MONUPED project, which focuses on positive-energy districts in historic preservation areas. In addition to his research, he works as a building operations optimization engineer in an international setting.

Jakub Kiska

Head of Development
NOHO

Industry & Business

Jakub Kiska is the Head of Development at NOHO based in Hradec Králové.

He graduated from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague and is a certified engineer in building construction. He began his professional career in design and technical supervision and gradually specialized in real estate development, where he now works.

He is involved in the preparation and implementation of passive residential buildings Sousedství 1, 2, and 3, which follow earlier projects Cihlovka 1, Cihlovka 2, and Mechovka. Together, these form the foundation of a new carbon-neutral residential complex.

In cooperation with the city of Hradec Králové, NOHO is also developing a brownfield site in Kukleny. He is additionally a member of the team of the international DUT RESPED project.

Laura Otýpková

Head of the Responsible Energy Section
Frank Bold

Civil society

Laura Otýpková is a lawyer who believes that the law can be a tool for real change. At Frank Bold, she leads the Responsible Energy team—together with her colleagues, she advocates for the development of renewable energy sources and community energy, and works toward legislative and systemic changes that move the entire sector forward.

Her work isn’t just about legal provisions. Laura and her team actively support specific community energy projects and were instrumental in the founding of the Community Energy Union. What drives her most in all of this? Seeing that her work has a real impact and that the world around her is a little better because of it.

At URBIS, she looks forward to sharing her experiences—because change happens faster when we talk about it openly.

Lukáš Janota

CEO and Managing Director
EnerCo Solutions, s.r.o.

Industry & Business

Lukáš Janota, Ph.D., is the founder and CEO of EnerCo Solutions, a company that integrates modern energy, software, and data analytics. He has long been involved in community energy, energy system optimization, and decentralized energy. He also serves as a research scientist and assistant professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FEL) at the Czech Technical University (ČVUT) in Prague.

He received the Werner von Siemens Award for his contributions to the field of smart energy. At EnerCo Solutions, he believes that the energy sector should not be based on impressions and oversimplifications, but on expert, data-verified, and scientifically grounded solutions that work in real-world practice.

EnerCo Solutions is not just a software provider. It helps cities, municipalities, and energy communities manage modern energy systems simply, efficiently, and without unnecessary stress. The company has received numerous awards for its innovative and smart energy solutions.

Patrik Jíra

CTO
Wattlink

Public sector

Patrik Jíra is the CTO at Wattlink, a technology and energy company. He has over 20 years of experience in software development for domestic companies and the banking sector, as well as for startups in the U.S. and Australia. Over the past year, he has been actively involved in community energy and the digitization of processes related to energy sharing.

Jiří Sucharda

First Deputy Mayor
The Town of Varnsdorf

Public sector

If all goes well, he’ll live to see his 62nd birthday. Although he’s divorced, he’s working with his four adult children to save the planet. He started out as a car mechanic and driver, soon adding a degree in mechanical engineering and a fire safety certification to his resume, and he’s been putting out fires ever since. And that’s literally true—for over 30 years, he has led the volunteer fire department in Varnsdorf and for over 10 years, the municipal police. He settled in Varnsdorf in 1989, where he first managed traffic, sold industrial gases, and ran a foundry, before finally landing a job at city hall as a fire prevention officer and the town’s first-ever IT specialist. He handles crisis management, workplace safety, the city’s public address system, the website, and the magazine. He has been involved in local politics as a city council member, councilor, and deputy mayor since 2002, and for the past two years, he has also served as a council member in the Ústí nad Labem Region. In his free time, he restores classic cars, flies drones, takes photos, dives, or rides his motorcycle across Europe. Following in the footsteps of his father and brothers, he is an active and engaged citizen who embraces every new challenge.

David Matuška

Project Manager for Energy Consulting in the Central Bohemian Region
Central Bohemian Region

Public sector

David has more than 30 years of experience managing organizations, projects, and teams (at the local, regional, and international levels). He has managed an international company with more than 300 employees and branches in 13 countries, and he has also served as mayor of a small town. He enjoys traveling and playing sports (he holds a professional basketball coaching license). He currently manages the EPSK project (Energy Consulting for the Central Bohemian Region).

Kateřina Vosičková

Director
Olomouc Region Energy Center, z.ú.

Public sector

Kateřina Vosičková earned degrees in Management and Economics in the Public Sector from the Moravian College in Olomouc and in Public Administration and Regional Development from the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague. From 2013 to 2024, she served as the city’s energy manager in the Department of Property Management and Maintenance of the City of Prostějov, where she implemented an energy management system across municipal organizations and focused on managing consumption points, energy consumption records, securing energy supplies, energy legislation, and projects focused on reducing the energy intensity of buildings and renewable energy sources.

In 2024, she joined the Olomouc Region as head of the Energy Department, and since 2025 she has served as director of the Olomouc Region Energy Center.

Lenka Bacovská

Deputy Director
Center for Investment, Development, and Innovation, Hradec Králové Region

Public sector

After graduating from a technical high school, she earned a degree in politics and public administration with a specialization in public finance from the University of Pardubice. She has been working in the field of project management for nineteen years, focusing, among other things, on projects in the areas of the environment and energy conservation. In 2018, she prepared the Hradec Králové Region and its organizations for ISO 50001 certification. Since that same year, she has been appointed by the Hradec Králové Regional Council as the internal auditor of the region’s energy management system, and she is constantly working on its gradual development. A major contribution to the entire system was the implementation of a project that included the introduction of a remote metering system for heat, electricity, gas, and water in the region’s organizations. In 2023, this project received the Czech Ministry of the Interior’s Innovation in Public Administration Award and the eGovernment THE BEST Award. She is currently focused on projects in the field of renewable energy sources, setting up an electricity sharing system within organizations in the Hradec Králové Region, and the activities of the Energy Consulting and Information Center for municipalities in the Hradec Králové Region.

Tomáš Kantor

Partner
Národní centrum Dopravy 4.0

Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research

Expert na strategické řízení a udržitelnou mobilitu. Je senior konzultantem společnosti 4Euro Partners a spolupracovníkem Národního centra dopravy 4.0. Specializuje se na strategické plánování, studie proveditelnosti i dopadové studie (CBA) a implementaci principů Smart Cities v rozvoji regionů. Během své praxe vedl desítky projektů. Má bohaté zkušenosti s modernizací dopravních systémů, od revitalizace vozových parků MHD až po analýzy pro lídry trhu jako ŠKODA Transportation či ARRIVA. Věnuje se propojování vyspělé telematiky s ekologicky šetrnými projekty rozvoje měst a regionů. Na panelové diskusi „Udržitelná mobilita – cesta k prosperitě obcí a regionů“ představí mobilitu nikoliv jako náklad, ale jako klíčový investiční nástroj pro ekonomický růst a zvýšení kvality života obyvatel.

Michal Ulrich

SUMP National contact point

Veřejný sektor / Public sector

Michal Ulrich se celý profesní život zabývá problematikou dopravy se zaměřením na plánování udržitelné městské mobility, ekonomickou efektivnost projektů a financování z fondů EU. Od roku 2011 pracuje na Ministerstvu dopravy. V souvislosti s dopravním plánováním (nejen v městských regionech) vždy prosazoval a prosazuje myšlenku zasazování problematiky do širšího kontextu. Od roku 2025 vykonává funkci národního kontaktního místa pro plány udržitelné městské mobility (SUMP National contact point).

Jan Zvara

Vedoucí Oddělení dat, analýz a evaluací
Statutární město Brno

Veřejný sektor / Public sector

Jan Zvara se dlouhodobě věnuje regionálnímu rozvoji, vizualizacím a publikaci dat. Stojí za zrodem a rozvojem klíčového městského portálu data.brno.cz, který slouží jako centrální uzel pro otevřená data, interaktivní analýzy a vizualizace o životě v Brně. Jeho hlavní misí je prosazování principů rozhodování založeného na datech (evidence-based policy) do správy moderní metropole. Věří, že transparentní práce s daty a jejich srozumitelná interpretace jsou základem pro efektivní komunikaci mezi městem a jeho obyvateli. Pravidelně vystupuje na odborných konferencích, kde sdílí brněnské know-how v oblasti digitalizace a smart city konceptů.

Karel Havlíček

1. místopředseda vlády a ministr průmyslu a obchodu
Ministerstvo průmyslu a obchodu

Veřejný sektor / Public sector

Karel Havlíček je český ekonom, manažer, akademik a politik s dlouholetou odbornou i veřejnou praxí. Vystudoval Fakultu stavební ČVUT, titul MBA má z Prague International Business School, Ph.D. získal na VŠE v Praze, Fakultě podnikohospodářské, a titul docent obhájil rovněž na VŠE na Fakultě financí a účetnictví. Profesně vedl Asociaci malých a středních podniků a živnostníků ČR a téměř dvacet let řídil průmyslovou skupinu Sindat, kde byl i spolumajitelem. Byl členem řady vládních poradních orgánů, mj. místopředsedou Rady vlády pro výzkum, vývoj a inovace, a autorem inovační strategie ČR “Czech Republic: The Country for the Future”. Zastával funkce místopředsedy vlády, ministra průmyslu a obchodu a ministra dopravy. V opoziční roli se věnoval hospodářství, byl předsedou stínové vlády ANO a je autorem hospodářské strategie „Česko: Země pro budoucnost 2.0“. Je dlouholetým pedagogem, zakladatelem Fakulty ekonomických studií VŠFS a autorem desítek odborných publikací.

Mezi jeho zájmy patří rocková a folková hudba. Je ženatý a má dvě děti. Aktivně ovládá angličtinu, němčinu a ruštinu. Pasivně ovládá španělštinu, francouzštinu a čínštinu.

Miroslav Scheiner

zmocněnec ministra pro Smart Cities
Ministerstvo průmyslu a obchodu

Veřejný sektor / Public sector

Miroslav Scheiner působí na Ministerstvu průmyslu a obchodu ČR již 13 let. Jako zmocněnec ministra pro Smart Cities koordinuje český inovační ekosystém okolo tématu chytrých měst včetně jeho klíčových mezinárodních partnerství. V rámci evropského projektu PilotInnCities zavádí do České republiky a Podunají finskou metodu agilního pilotování podporující inovační experimenty startupů v municipalitách. Aktivně přispívá také k rozvoji nově vzniklé České platformy živých laboratoří (CZELLAP). Dále koordinuje již tradiční českou účast na Smart City Expo World Congress v Barceloně, stejně jako obnovenou domácí platformu URBIS The Smart Cities Meetup v Brně.

Dominik Gřešák

Projektový a komunikační manažer pro Smart Cities
CzechInvest

Veřejný sektor / Public sector

Působím v CzechInvestu, kde od roku 2024 zastávám pozici Projektového a komunikačního manažera pro Smart Cities se zaměřením na projekt PilotInnCities. Předtím jsem zde pracoval jako Regionální koordinátor programu Technologická inkubace. Profesní zkušenosti jsem získal také např. na Mendelově univerzitě v Brně jako lektor, výzkumný pracovník a PR referent anebo v Regionální rozvojové agentuře Východní Moravy jako Projektový manažer pro komunikaci.

Dušan Brabec

YoungLink
zakladatel

Dušan Brabec je zakladatel a CEO společnosti YoungLink, která vyvíjí digitální nástroje pro měření a rozvoj sociálních vztahů ve školách. Dnes propojuje akademický výzkum, vzdělávání a podnikání s cílem pomáhat školám lépe porozumět sociální dynamice tříd a efektivněji pracovat s prevencí rizikového chování, well-beingem žáků i rozvojem školního prostředí. Je aktivní v oblasti EdTech inovací a podpory digitální transformace vzdělávání v České republice i zahraničí.

Luděk Šantora

Ředitel
Správa Informačních Technologií města Plzně

Veřejný sektor / Public sector

Luděk Šantora působí ve Správa informačních technologií města Plzně, kde se věnuje digitalizaci městských služeb, datové infrastruktuře, kybernetické bezpečnosti a rozvoji technologických projektů včetně městských dronových aktivit (dronySIT). Současně je jednatelem městského inovačního centra BIC Plzeň. Podílí na rozvoji Plzeňského inovačního ekosystému, vzniku technologických start-upů. Dlouhodobě se zaměřuje na praktické využití inovací ve veřejné správě a na rozvoj bezpečnostního ekosystému města Plzně.

Georg Würffel

Chef Executive Officer
Zentrum für Digitale Entwicklung GmbH/ Center for Digital Development

Komerční sektor / Industry & Business

GEORG WÜRFFEL je výkonným ředitelem Centra pro digitální rozvoj (ZDE). Má za sebou více než 17 let odborné praxe v komunální správě, kde působil jako výkonný ředitel nebo vedoucí oddělení pro podporu podnikání a start-upů. Do řízení projektů vnáší široké znalosti v oblasti řízení aplikací a projektů, a to jak v rámci financování z fondů EU, tak i federálních dotačních programů a soutěží. ZDE již dokázalo vyvinout první certifikát „Smart City Expert (IHK)“ v Německu a dále rozšířit tyto zkušenosti v rámci evropských projektů. Pan Würffel aktivně přispívá těmito speciálními znalostmi v oblasti žádostí a koncepcí, stejně jako svou širokou sítí kontaktů, ke strategickému a technickému poradenství ZDE, a tak dokázal úspěšně podpořit různé německé modelové projekty Smart City při vývoji strategií a implementaci okamžitých opatření a uvést je do praxe. Pro udržitelnou implementaci aplikací je důležité budovat „digitální dovednosti“ v rámci správních orgánů a začlenit je do správních procesů.