Zuzana Armutidisová
Mayor
Municipality of Veverské Knínice
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
A mayor who doesn't see her job as a calling, but as a mission.
Marek Bárdy
CEO
VR Training, VR Rescue
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
Ing. Marek Bárdy, Ph.D., MBA is the founder of VR Rescue and the #mocPOmom initiative. In his work, he connects technology, education and public interest with the goal of systematically increasing society's preparedness for crisis situations. Marek is behind the development of first aid training in virtual reality, which strives to make the ability to help a common skill, not the exception. His long-term ambition is to build solutions with a measurable impact, an expert basis and a real social impact. For us, technology is not an end, but a means to strengthen the responsibility, certainty and readiness of society to respond when life is at stake. Because everyone has #mocPOmom
Andreas Bärnreuther
Deputy-Project Manager (HEU ASCEND)
City of Munich
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Andreas Bärnreuther is a sociologist and for many years was in charge of media and public relations in an NGO. He was also involved in the coordination of projects financed by the European Social Fund (ESF). Since 2023, Andreas has been working with Stefan Synek to manage the ASCEND project in the city of Munich.
Wojciech Bełch
Head of Team for Participatory Planning and Design
Czech Technical University in Prague
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Wojciech Belch connects the worlds of economics, social sciences and energy. As a graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) and the University of Warsaw, his experience – deepened during study stays at Charles University in Prague – has given him a unique perspective on societal challenges. After a career in international relations and finance, he joined the University Center for Energy-Efficient Buildings (UCEEB) at the Czech Technical University in Prague in 2020. Today, he leads a team focused on the “non-technical” side of green transformation and participatory processes, helping cities and neighborhoods navigate the social, organizational and economic changes necessary to make communities, spaces and their energy systems green, sustainable, inclusive and resilient.
Leopold Benda
Company executive
BENEKOV ESCO s.r.o.
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
CEO of a company focused on the development and supply of technologies in the field of renewable energy. Long-term focus on the fields of biomass boilers, photovoltaic power plants, battery storage. Investments in landscape revitalization.
Jan Beneš
Head of Clinic
Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University and University Hospital Pilsen
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Prof. MUDr. Jan Beneš, Ph.D., MHA is a physician and academic working at Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, and Faculty Hospital Pilsen. He is the head of the Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Care Medicine and at the same time the vice-dean for simulation education. He is the head of the Simulation Center (SIM/PL), which focuses on modern education and training of healthcare professions. A typical feature of his work is the connection of clinical medicine, education, research and innovation. But most importantly, the ability to handle multiple roles at once, without losing track of what is happening at the patient's bedside.
Jan Borák
Rector’s Representative for Security and Information Technology
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Ing. Jan Borák, Ph.D. senior leader with more than 15 years of experience in managing security agendas in the public sphere ● Member of the top management of the Czech University of Life Sciences with responsibility for the area of security ● Managing the physical, technical, information and cyber security of an institution with 2,000 employees and 20,000 students ● Experience in crisis planning and implementation of national and international security standards ● Member of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports' working group for strengthening security at universities.
Johana Burešová
konzultant datové platformy Golemio
Oict.
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
"Johana Burešová
Konzultantka pro datovou platformu Golemio | OICT.
Johana je člověk, který vás provede světem otevřených dat – od první otázky až po fungující katalog. V OICT. se věnuje nástroji LKOD, který institucím veřejné správy pomáhá plnit zákonné povinnosti v oblasti otevřených dat jednoduše a bez zbytečné zátěže.
Před působením v Golemiu strávila šest let prací na projektech pro planetária a science centra po celém světě.
Mimo práci ji najdete na zahradě u úlů.
Johana Burešová
Consultant for the Golemio Data Platform | OICT
Johana is the person who will guide you through the world of open data – from your first question to a fully functioning catalogue. At OICT, she works with LKOD, a tool that helps public sector institutions meet their open data obligations simply and without unnecessary burden.
Before joining Golemio, she spent six years working on projects for planetariums and science centres around the world.
Outside of work, you'll find her in the garden tending to her beehives."
Vít Buriánek
Analyst
Police of the Czech Republic, Regional Directorate of the Olomouc Region, Prostějov District Department
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Vít Buriánek is proof that modern police work today takes place both in the field and behind the screens of high-tech devices. At the Prostějov Territorial Department, he works as an analyst who has the available camera systems "under his thumb". He has been serving with the Police of the Czech Republic for over 16 years, so he has not only official procedures but also the digital evolution of security under his fingernail. His main domain is the extraction of records when solving crimes - he is the one who searches the sea of pixels for the key details that will move the investigation forward and convict the perpetrator.Vít is a technology enthusiast who literally lives by innovations in the world of IP cameras. Moreover, he does not confine his expertise only to police offices; he works closely with the Prostějov City Police on the concept and development of MKDS. Vít's goal is for technology in Prostějov to not be just passive observers, but a smart and effective tool for a safer city. He believes that technological advancement is absolutely essential in the fight against crime, and therefore he constantly monitors the latest trends, which he can apply with insight in practice.
Martina Čechová
Circular Economy Manager
OLO Inc.
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Martina Čechová works at OLO – Waste Removal and Disposal in Bratislava, where she is dedicated to developing projects in the field of waste prevention and support for the circular economy. She is particularly involved in activities related to the KOLO reuse center, which connects environmental, community, educational and social aspects of waste management in the capital. Her work focuses on developing partnerships, communicating with the public and creating programs that support the reuse of objects and responsible consumption. She has also been involved in educational and community activities in the field of sustainability for a long time.
Wim De Kinderen
Chairperson
ENoLL - European Network of Living Labs
Veřejný sektor / 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 actors in negotiations with partner regions and European institutions. In this role, he is responsible for political lobbying, networking and communication, and project development. Within the city of Eindhoven, he is a member of the strategy department. During his career so far, he has mainly dealt with regional economic development issues in Belgium.
Marta I. De Los Rios White
Head of Capacity Building and Research
European Network of Living Labs - ENoLL
Občanská společnost / Civil society
Marta I. De Los Rios White is the Head of Capacity Building and Research at ENoLL. She is a process engineer with a Master’s degree in Sustainable Cities and has experience in managing international projects. She is an expert with more than a decade of experience in sustainable and participatory process improvement and transformation, co-creation of solutions and capacity building. With proven skills in strategic and systems thinking, leadership and teamwork, her work focuses primarily on project management and capacity building. Marta has extensive experience in sustainable and participatory process improvement and co-creation of solutions with a systemic and strategic approach. She is an experienced project manager with experience in supporting the implementation of international cooperation projects for various donors, in particular the European Commission.
Jakub Diviš
Researcher
CTU UCEEB
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Jakub Diviš focuses on sustainable construction, environmentally friendly materials and building quality assessment. At CTU UCEEB, he participates in the development of the SBToolCZ methodology and is dedicated to its use for comprehensive assessment of building quality and sustainability.
Dennis Dokter
Smart Cities Cluster Lead
Nexus
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Dennis leads the Nexus Smart Cities Cluster, where he collaborates with Nexus members, public sector leaders, businesses and research partners to create and implement data-driven strategies for innovation in complex urban environments. He advises organizations on innovation, testing, validation and scaling, enabling confident decision-making in systems characterized by uncertainty, interdependence and rapid change. As a recognized expert in data-driven decision-making in complex systems, Dennis brings deep knowledge of data, research methodology, impact and validation and digital twins. He specializes in translating advanced analytics and digital twin capabilities into practical, decision-ready tools for policymakers, city authorities and industry leaders. Dennis plays an active role as a thought leader in the Digital Twin Consortium, where he chairs and contributes to international working groups, helping to define best practices, digital governance and standards for the implementation of digital twins across sectors. Through this work, he influences how organizations around the world design, manage and operate data-driven systems. With his extensive experience in European research programs, Dennis is passionate about cutting-edge interdisciplinary innovation and building ecosystems that connect academia, industry, society and the public sector. In his work, he consistently focuses on achieving measurable impact, ensuring that data and digital twins go beyond experiments and lead to real-world outcomes.
Lisa Enarsson
Senior Project Manager
City of Stockholm
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Lisa Enarsson is a Senior Project Manager at Stockholm City Council, where she works within the Department of Environment and Health. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environment and Health from Umeå University (1996) and is part 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 co-creating measures to support climate transformation. In parallel, she manages Stockholm’s involvement in the ASCEND project – Accelerating Positive Clean Energy Districts. Lisa also contributes as a sustainability expert to the development of a new city district in Stockholm, planned on the site of the former Bromma Airport. Her project portfolio includes initiatives such as Scale Stockholm, ASCEND, Mainstreaming Sustainability, GrowSmarter and Sustainable Järva.
Milan Fára
Senior Ministerial Counsellor, Crime Prevention Department
Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
He has been involved in security and crime prevention since 1991, having worked for the Czech Police for 16 years. He also served as a crime prevention coordinator at the local and regional levels (first at the Příbram Police Department, then the Central Bohemian Region). Since 2019, he has been working in the crime prevention department of the Ministry of the Interior, his agenda includes, among other things, situational prevention, security in the vicinity of industrial zones in connection with the employment of foreigners, and the security of schools and school facilities. He is also a consultant for the South Moravian, Plzeň and Zlín regions. He has many years of teaching and lecturing experience in the field of crime prevention, protection of soft targets, personal safety, property protection and primary prevention of risky behavior, including professional international conferences. From 2017 to 2019, he was a member of the Permanent Advisory Council of the Minister of the Interior for the Protection of Soft Targets. He is currently a member of the Commission of the Republican Committee for Crime Prevention for Situational Prevention and a member of the Interdepartmental Working Group for the Protection of Public Spaces.
Lukáš Folbrecht
Secretary of the Electromobility Platform
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
For the fifth year, Lukáš Folbrecht has been leading the Electromobilní Platforma association, which brings together companies, universities and scientific and research organizations interested in the development of e-mobility in road transport in the Czech Republic and ensuring favorable regulatory conditions. The platform is a member of E-Mobility Europe and the main partner of Czech ministries and state and local government institutions in addressing issues related, in particular, to the provision of charging infrastructure and the gradual electrification of passenger car, truck and bus fleets.
Barbora Hejtmánková
Researcher
CTU UCEEB
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Bára Hejtmánková works at CTU UCEEB in the Sustainable Construction team, where she focuses on architecture, public space, and the integration of greenery in cities. Her work focuses on assessing the quality and resilience of urban areas with an emphasis on natural elements and sustainable approaches to urban development.
Jitka Hofmanová
Waste Management Innovation Expert
Reuse Federation
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Jitka Hofmanová has a long-standing commitment to waste prevention and is looking for ways to move it from theory to practice. She enjoys coming up with new ideas and trying out innovations that can help change the way we in the Czech Republic think about things, their use, and what happens to them at the end of their life. She leads projects that aim to contribute to the gradual reduction of waste and the increase in opportunities for the reuse of things and materials. In addition to project work, she connects people from different fields - organizes round tables, moderates discussions and opens a dialogue between public administration, experts and other actors who can push changes forward.
Vladimír Holík
Lecturer
Masaryk University, Faculty of Education
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Vladimír Holík is a history and civic education teacher at a primary school. He is also a didactician of Citizenship Education at the Faculty of Education of Masaryk University. At his home "elementary school", he leads the school parliament, is the coordinator of the ERASMUS+ program, the Participatory Budget We'll Put You in Schools in Brno, and the future coordinator of the Czech Military Education Program. He has long been dedicated to the issue of Czech soldiers serving in the Austro-Hungarian army in the First World War, focusing on the Italian front. This list of activities is not intended to captivate the reader. Let's take it more as an explanation for the fact that when he's not at work, he's running around in the Slovenian Julian Alps (which is his promised land, by the way, where he's definitely going to move one day) on the ruins of trenches, bullying every fellow traveler with endless comments and unsolicited information about every (literally) hole in the ground. He considers all of this - for reasons that are incomprehensible to others - to be his mental hygiene.
Michal Hrotík
Board Member
OVANET Inc.
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
Ing. Michal Hrotík is part of the management of OVANET a.s., where he is dedicated to the development of modern ICT services in Ostrava. As part of his activities, he develops the metropolitan network, data services and technological projects that help the city function smartly and reliably. The area of security also plays a significant role, where he participates in the development and operation of the Municipal Camera System, which is a key element of the city's infrastructure. Michal also promotes the use of artificial intelligence, especially in the area of technical and user support, where OVANET has long participated in the development of an AI assistant for faster incident resolution and more effective user support.
Martin Hušek
Director
Hradec Králové Services Inc.
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Director of Hradec Králové a.s., which provides a comprehensive waste management system for Hradec Králové and surrounding municipalities, co-founder and operator of the REUSE project in Hradec Králové.
Tomáš Chmela
Starosta města Slavičín a náměstek hejtmana Zlínského kraje
Město Slavičín a krajský úřad Zlínského kraje
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
"Mgr. Tomáš Chmela je výraznou osobností regionální politiky a veřejného života na jihovýchodní Moravě. Ve své práci dlouhodobě propojuje strategický rozvoj samospráv s důrazem na inovace, ochranu životního prostředí a modernizaci venkova.
Aktuální působení:
Starosta města Slavičín: Od roku 2018 stojí v čele města, kde se zaměřuje na projekty energetické soběstačnosti, rozvoj infrastruktury a zapojování občanů do rozhodování.
Náměstek hejtmana Zlínského kraje: V krajské radě zodpovídá za oblast strategického rozvoje, územního plánování a venkova. Jeho cílem je zvyšování konkurenceschopnosti regionu a podpora projektů s vysokou přidanou hodnotou.
Odborný profil a priority:
Expert na regionální rozvoj: Před vstupem do politiky působil jako výkonný ředitel SMS ČR (Sdružení místních samospráv ČR), kde se podílel na legislativě ovlivňující život stovek obcí v Česku.
Inovace a udržitelnost: Je aktivním zastáncem moderních technologií v samosprávě (Smart City) a udržitelných řešení v oblasti energetiky a krajinotvorby.
Vzdělání: Absolvent Masarykovy univerzity v Brně, kde získal hluboký vhled do problematiky veřejné správy a historie.
„Tomáš Chmela je známý svým věcným přístupem a schopností hledat praktická řešení pro rozvoj regionu, která respektují jeho specifika, ale zároveň směřují k moderní budoucnosti.“"
Vít Janovský
Head of Personalized Telemedicine Team
CTU UCEEB
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Vít Janovský works at CTU UCEEB, where he focuses on the issue of home care for people with reduced self-sufficiency in the context of smart cities. He connects the areas of telemedicine, assistive technologies, IoT, sensors and smart housing with the aim of improving the quality of life and accessibility of health and social care.
Patrik Jíra
CTO
Wattlink
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Patrik Jíra is the CTO of the technology and energy community Wattlink. He has more than 20 years of experience in software development for domestic companies and the banking sector, as well as for startups in the USA and Australia. In the last year, he has been actively involved in community energy and the digitalization of processes related to energy sharing.
Vladimíra Karasová
Head of Promotion and Environmental Education Unit
OZO Ostrava Ltd.
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
For 23 years, he has been in charge of promotion and communication, awareness and education, social responsibility at the Ostrava Garbage Collectors (OZO Ostrava), and since last year, he has also been managing the Ostrava Reuse Center, which is the largest and most colorful reuse center in the Czech Republic.
Jakub Kiska
Vedoucí developmentu
NOHO
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
"Ing. Jakub Kiska je vedoucím developmentu ve společnosti NOHO z Hradce Králové. Vystudoval Fakultu stavební ČVUT a je autorizovaným inženýrem v oboru pozemní stavby. Profesní dráhu začal v projekci a technickém dozoru, postupně se zaměřil na development, kde dnes působí.
Podílí se na přípravě a realizaci pasivních bytových domů Sousedství 1, 2 a 3, které navazují na již dokončené projekty Cihlovka 1, Cihlovka 2 a Mechovka. Společně tvoří základ nového uhlíkově neutrálního obytného souboru.
Společnost NOHO ve spolupráci s městem Hradec Králové rozvíjí brownfield v Kuklenách. Jakub Kiska je rovněž členem týmu mezinárodního projektu DUT RESPED."
Morten Kildahl Sorensen
Strategic Programmes Orchestrator and Entrepreneurship Solutions cluster coordinator
Climate KIC
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
„Morten Kildahl Sorensen působí jako koordinátor strategických programů a vedoucí klastru Entrepreneurship Solutions v organizaci Climate KIC, kde využívá více než dvacetileté mezinárodní zkušenosti k budování mostů mezi výzkumem, soukromým sektorem a veřejnými institucemi.
Jeho odbornost spočívá v navrhování optimálních mezinárodních obchodních platforem a realizaci konkrétních akčních plánů, které podporují spolupráci v Evropě, Číně, Indii, zemích ASEAN a USA. Morten se specializuje na odhalování základního potenciálu organizací s cílem vyvinout strategie, které otevírají dveře k ziskovým a udržitelným projektům. Klíčovým zaměřením jeho práce je koordinace ekosystémů prostřednictvím propojování startupů, scale-upů a korporací za účelem společného vytváření inovativních řešení, kterých by samy nedokázaly dosáhnout.
Jeho rozmanité profesní zázemí zahrnuje vedoucí pozice v oblasti finančního řízení a zeleného sektoru v Centru pro vodní excelence Dánské technické univerzity, v různých klastrových organizacích a na dánském ministerstvu zahraničních věcí. Tato jedinečná kombinace zkušeností z oblasti veřejné politiky i soukromého podnikání mu umožňuje efektivně řídit komplexní iniciativy s účastí mnoha zainteresovaných stran.
Díky svým zkušenostem z globálních poradních rad a řídících skupin vedl Morten platformy a projekty v oblasti životního prostředí a energetiky s cílem podporovat udržitelné obchodní výsledky prostřednictvím prohloubené spolupráce. "
Milan Kladníček
Director
Municipal Police Zlín
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Ing. Milan Kladníček, MBA, DBA Director of the Zlín City Police• member of the executive board of the Association of Municipal and Municipal Police of the Czech Republic, • chairman of the Zlín Region of the Association of Municipal and Municipal Police of the Czech Republic, • member of the Board of Directors of Municipal Police of Statutory Cities and the Capital City of Prague • member of the Republican Committee for Crime Prevention in the Czech Republic, • member of the Security Commission of the Association of Cities and Municipalities of the Czech Republic, • member of the working committee for municipal and municipal police at the Ministry of the Interior, • member of the working committee for the protection of soft targets at the Ministry of the Interior, • member of the Scientific Council of the Faculty of Logistics and Crisis Management of Tomas Bata University in Zlín.
František Kubeš
Head of Strategic Development and Cooperation Department
Brno City Municipality
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
František Kubeš has been the head of the Department of Strategic Development and Cooperation of the City of Brno since 2019. From 2014 to 2019, he worked at the Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic as the head of the Urban Policy Department, and in the last two years he was responsible for leading the entire Regional Policy Department. Before that, he worked in the then City Strategy Office, where he worked, among other things, on 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 supporting an environment conducive to innovation, including the Smart City concept. He lectures at universities and professional events in the Czech Republic and abroad.
Martin Kunc
Head
Municipal Police Žďár nad Sázavou
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Mgr. Martin Kunc – Head of the Municipal Police of Žďár nad Sázavou, graduate of the Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague and the Pedagogical University in Hradec Králové. In the years 1991–2003 he worked for the Police of the Czech Republic. Since 2003, Martin has held the position of Head of the Municipal Police of Žďár nad Sázavou and is also the Vice-Chairman of the Association of Municipal and City Police in the Vysočina Region.
Michal Kuzmič
Commercial Director and Head of Interdisciplinary Cooperation
CTU UCEEB
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Michal Kuzmič works at CTU UCEEB as a commercial director and head of interdisciplinary cooperation, where he focuses on developing partnerships with industry and supporting the application of research results in practice. He connects academia and the commercial sphere, participating in projects focused on sustainable cities and innovations in the field of energy and construction.
Jiří Liberda
CEO
Škoda Digital s.r.o.
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
Jiří Liberda leads Škoda Digital, which is behind a number of innovations in the field of smart mobility. He has long been dedicated to the development of electronic control systems for rolling stock and the digitalization of public transport, combining technical know-how with a vision of modern, autonomous solutions.
Jana Majrichová
Vice President
Czech Red Cross
Občanská společnost / Civil society
Vice-president of the Czech Red Cross, who is mainly involved in first aid education in this organization, where she has been teaching first aid as a medical instructor for several decades. As a long-time volunteer, she is most dedicated to teaching first aid and especially to working with children and first aid competitions. In civilian life, she works in law, loves her family, traveling, and if she has a moment of free time, she rides a bike, runs, or skis.
Zdeno Malík
Principal Investigator of the DUT MONUPED Project
CTU UCEEB
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Zdeno Malík specializes in digital tools and strategies for sustainable construction. He teaches parametric design and modeling of buildings at the Czech Technical University in Prague and is dedicated to advanced modeling of their behavior and energy systems. Zdeno is the main investigator of the MONUPED project focused on positive energy districts in protected areas. In addition to research, he works as an engineer for optimizing building operations in an international environment.
David Michalička
Mayor
Town of Říčany
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
David Michalička has been the mayor of Říčany since 2020. His original profession is a builder and designer, but otherwise he is mainly a dad, a sportsman and a normal guy. Říčany is close to his heart. His priorities include infrastructure, but also innovation and support for community life. He has been advancing Říčany in the long term in the areas of active mobility, public transport, technology, but also care for public space and the surrounding landscape.
ESZTER MIKLÓS
senior communication manager / project manager
HROD Social Economy and Community Development Centre
Občanská společnost / Civil society
„Eszter Miklós působí jako manažerka pro komunikaci a projekty v Centru pro sociální ekonomiku a rozvoj komunit HROD. Má odborné vzdělání v oblasti řízení sociálních inovací a veřejné politiky. Díky svému humanitnímu akademickému zázemí našla své profesní zaměření na pomezí komunikace, kulturních a kreativních odvětví (CCI), sociálních inovací a sociální udržitelnosti. Ve své funkci koordinuje komunikaci mezi partnery projektu a vede externí komunikaci projektů HROD v oblasti městského rozvoje a sociální participace, čímž zajišťuje viditelnost a zapojení zainteresovaných stran.
Její práce je poháněna přesvědčením, že k smysluplné změně dochází tam, kde se setkávají nápady, komunity a odpovědné obchodní praktiky. Velmi si cení příležitostí k profesní výměně a společnému uvažování o městském rozvoji, participaci a sociálních inovacích.“
Juraj Moravčík
Director General
Slovak Environment Agency
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
PhDr. Juraj Moravčík Since 2024, he has been working as the Director General of the Slovak Environmental Agency, a professional organization of the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic, where he actively shapes the strategic direction of the agency, is responsible for coordinating professional activities in the field of environmental protection and for the implementation of national and European policies in this area.An important part of the agency's activities is the administration of financial mechanisms and subsidy schemes motivating the public and municipalities to adopt more environmentally friendly solutions. The Obnov dom program, which is one of the agency's most important initiatives, achieved extraordinary results under his leadership - in two years it supported the renovation of more than 27,000 houses with a total value of 400 million euros.
Tomáš Mrkvica
Founder
Circular Centre Hradec Králové
Občanská společnost / Civil society
Tomáš Mrkvica is the founder of the Circular Center Hradec Králové and the initiator of projects focused on the development of reuse materials and circular construction in the Czech Republic. He has long been connecting cities, schools, construction companies and community initiatives with the goal of returning construction and other materials back into circulation and developing new skills in the areas of repair, deconstruction and upcycling.In Hradec Králové, it is currently preparing the creation of a circular yard, an infrastructure for sorting, storing and reusing building materials. At the same time, it is collaborating with research institutions and cities on systemic solutions that can help transform the way we handle materials, not only in the construction industry.
Konstantin Novikov
CEO
VR medical s.r.o.
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
Ing Konstantin Novikov PhD MBA is the co-founder and CEO of VR Medical, where he connects the world of technology, healthcare and innovation. He believes that virtual reality should not be just a fancy novelty, but a practical tool that helps patients and clients, therapists and healthcare or social institutions in their everyday care. He studied industrial engineering and management at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, where he received his Ing. and Ph.D. degrees. He also gained valuable experience during his studies in Turkey and Taiwan and expanded his management education with an MBA at Cambridge Business School with a focus on financial management. In 2018, he co-founded VR Medical, which today cooperates with leading healthcare institutions in the Czech Republic and abroad. Konstantin is a person who likes to find ways to make complex things simpler, more meaningful, and with real impact. He's not about showing what technology can do. He's about showing who and how it can really help.
Vít Nebenfűhr
MKDS Specialist
BKOM Inc.
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Vít Nebenfűhr has been working in the field of low-voltage distribution systems for over 30 years. First as a designer, then as an investor in public administration, and now as a specialist in a municipal company in the position of camera system administrator.
Martina O´Reilly
Koordinátorka projektu OPZ+
MAS Frýdlantsko-Beskydy z.s.
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
"Mgr. Martina O’Reilly je patriotkou z Beskyd, která se dlouhodobě věnuje rozvoji tohoto regionu a podpoře místních komunit.
Už více než 12 let aktivně působí v obci Čeladná, kde se angažuje v kulturní komisi a zároveň již druhé volební období zastává mandát v obecním zastupitelstvu. Na tuto činnost přirozeně navázala svou prací v MAS Frýdlantsko-Beskydy, kde se společně s kolegyněmi věnuje podpoře rozvoje venkova především v sociální oblasti.
Jako koordinátorka projektu z programu Operační program Zaměstnanost Plus se zaměřuje na posilování sociální práce v malých venkovských obcích, rozvoj komunitních aktivit pro mládež i seniory a koordinaci komunitního plánování sociálních služeb. Ve své činnosti propojuje potřeby obyvatel, samospráv a poskytovatelů sociálních služeb s cílem budovat funkční a soběstačné komunity. Díky společnému úsilí se podařilo vytvořit meziobecní model sociální podpory založený na sdílení kapacit, koordinaci a vzájemné spolupráci.
Miroslav Pavelka
Internal PhD Candidate
Department of Information Technologies, FEM, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Ing. Miroslav Pavelka is a senior security consultant, teacher at the Czech University of Life Sciences and lecturer at the Judicial Academy. He has been living in IT, personal data protection, cybersecurity management and IT and security law for 30 years. He is an internal doctoral student and lecturer at the Department of Information Technology at the Faculty of Economics and Business of the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague. He has been dedicated to education across the public, commercial and non-profit sectors for a long time, and is involved in university projects, ICT management and eGovernment development. In his practice, he focuses on understandable and practical solutions. He enjoys debunking common myths, translating complex cybersecurity into normal Czech and reminding management that it is not just about laws, but above all about their own managerial responsibility. He still loves to learn and tries to solve two big mysteries: why management is so happy to commit mass digital suicide by ignoring cyber threats, and why this myth about headless cliff jumping is still unfairly carried by the Norwegian Lemurs.
Dagmar Peřinová
Deputy Director, Head of Participation Team
South Moravian Agency for Public Innovation JINAG
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
In the South Moravian Region, Dagmar has long been dedicated to how to better connect municipalities, cities and the public and how to create space for meaningful debate and cooperation. At JINAG, she prepares and leads projects, events for various target groups and educational programs that help people become more involved in the events around them. She devotes a large part of her work to children and young people. For example, she is behind activities such as HackaTEEN or Improve your school, because she believes that what we do with the young generation today will come back to us in the future - in how they will think about their surroundings, how they will get involved and what shape they will one day give to municipalities, cities and the entire society. She and her team also work on other topics — from cooperation on social issues, to assistance in implementing the climate action plan, or building the Infopoint agenda at MAS. She enjoys work that connects people, good ideas, and concrete changes in practice. She also talks about her field experiences at conferences here and abroad. When she's not working, you can find her in front of the choirmaster's podium at the children's choir, on a motorbike, or at the shooting range.
Lumír Prejda
Senior constable
Hlučín City Police
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
As a senior police officer, I and my colleagues are responsible for the well-being and safety of the city's citizens. That's why I decided to use the eHelper device to make grandparents feel comfortable.
Katarína Ruschková
Head of Environmental Department
Statutory City of Jihlava
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Katarína Ruschková is a long-time head of the environmental department, a singer, deputy mayor of Sokol, a coach of acrobatics on scarves, but also a mother of two sons and an active citizen for whom the responsibility of each of us for what is happening around us is important. In this spirit, she tries to influence her surroundings at all levels.
Jan Růžička
Researcher
CTU UCEEB
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Jan Růžička works at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University and at the Czech Technical University UCEEB, where he focuses on sustainable construction, natural building materials and building quality assessment. In his work, he connects technical, environmental and social aspects of design and has also been involved in the issues of BIM and comprehensive building assessment for a long time; Jan also works as a practicing architect focused on ecological architecture and passive houses.
Martin Rybár
Deputy Governor for IT and European Affairs
Pilsen Region
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
After graduating from college, he joined telecommunications, first in sales support, then as head of the sales department, then moved to the area of construction of telecommunications structures, mainly FTTH networks, which he led as a project manager. Since 2022, he has been a councilor of the city of Přeštice. For two years, he worked at the Ministry of the Environment in the minister's office, and since 2025, he has been the deputy governor of the Pilsen region. He is the father of two small children, and spends his free time hiking. He is a big fan of fantasy and sci-fi, which he consumes in the form of books, comics, films and series.
Lukáš Řádek
Deputy Mayor
Statutory City of Hradec Králové
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Deputy Mayor of Hradec Králové with a focus on strategic development and investments, modern energy and urban mobility. In 2023 - 2025, he also served as an advisor to the Minister of Industry and Trade. He bases his professional efforts on finding synergy between specific solutions and a long-term vision of a harmonious environment
Christina Salmhofer
Sustainability strategist
Development Administration
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Christina Salmhofer has been working as Sustainability Manager for the Royal Seaport project at the City of Stockholm Development Department in Sweden since 2011. Her responsibilities include implementing overall sustainability goals, overseeing the monitoring, evaluation and improvement of policies, targets and strategies. In addition, her work involves interdepartmental cooperation and cooperation with private developers, energy suppliers, universities and initiating research and development projects. Before joining the City of Stockholm, Christina worked as a consultant at WSP Environmental and as an environmental manager at the Swedish real estate companies Wihlborgs AB and Fabege AB. Christina holds a Master's degree in Environmental Management and Policy from Lund University, Sweden, and a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences from Karl Franzens University Graz, Austria. Christina enjoys - building networks by engaging and connecting people - working systematically and structured with a focus on the big picture - learning new things and rethinking - sharing experiences - questioning norms and established ways of doing things - motivating people to contribute and collaborate
Gretel Schaj
Head of Markets and Partnerships Department. Expert in Governance and Digital Innovation
BABLE Smart Cities
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
Gretel Schaj is Head of Markets and Partnerships for Southern Europe and Senior Governance and Digital Innovation Specialist at BABLE Smart Cities. For 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 concrete action. She has managed numerous projects across Europe, secured nearly €100 million in public sector funding and trained civil servants in over 20 countries. She brings both deep policy knowledge and practical experience in the areas of ethics and governance of new technologies.
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.
Barry Singleton
Engagement Manager
Nexus
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Barry Singleton is the Partnership Manager at Nexus Leeds, the University of Leeds’ innovation hub. With 30 years of experience in sales and marketing across a range of industries including music, graphic arts and printing, Barry most recently served as the Director of Customer Relations at Scaled Insights, a Toronto-based AI startup that chose Nexus as its R&D partner for its innovation in ‘behavioural AI’. He now develops, supports and nurtures the community of innovation-driven businesses within Nexus. Barry has extensive experience in partnering, mentoring international founders and supporting R&D collaborations. He is passionate about mentoring start-ups and uses his extensive network and expertise to help entrepreneurs grow.
Dalibor Smažinka
Security Expert
VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, Faculty of Safety Engineering
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Mgr. Dalibor Smažinka, MBA, LL.M. has been working in the field of security technologies and physical protection for 20 years. He is a doctoral student at VŠB-TUO - Faculty of Security Engineering, where he is dedicated to the use of intelligent technologies for crime prevention and reducing IZS reaction times in urban environments. He cooperates with trusted manufacturers of security solutions, the closest to which is the Swedish company Axis Communications. He has been connecting three layers of security – physical, cyber and privacy protection – for a long time. He believes that a smart city must not only be effective, but above all safe and resilient.
Jiří Sucharda
First Deputy Mayor
Town of Varnsdorf
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
If all goes well, Medard will live to be 62 years old. He is divorced, but with his four adult children he is trying to save the planet. He started as a car mechanic and driver, soon added a mechanical engineering degree, a round stamp from fire protection and has been extinguishing whatever he can since then. And that literally - for more than 30 years he has commanded the volunteer firefighters in Varnsdorf and for over 10 years the city police. He took root in Varnsdorf in 1989, where he first directed traffic, sold technical gases, managed a foundry, and finally settled at the city office as a fire prevention specialist and historically the first IT specialist. He handles crisis management, occupational safety, city radio, the website and the magazine. He has been trying his hand at politics in the city as a representative, councilor and deputy mayor since 2002 and is now a representative in the Ústí nad Labem region for the second year. In his free time, he repairs vintage cars, flies a drone, takes photos, goes scuba diving, or travels around Europe on a motorbike. Following the example of his father and brothers, he is an active and engaged citizen and accepts every new activity as a challenge.
Luděk Šantora
Director
Pilsen City IT Administration
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Luděk Šantora works in the Information Technology Administration of the City of Pilsen, where he is dedicated to the digitalization of city services, data infrastructure, cybersecurity and the development of technology projects, including city drone activities (dronySIT). He is also the executive director of the city innovation center BIC Pilsen. He participates in the development of the Pilsen innovation ecosystem and the creation of technological start-ups. Luděk has a long-term focus on the practical use of innovations in public administration and the development of the security ecosystem of the city of Pilsen.
Libor Šebestík
Director of Municipal Police
Municipal Police Prostějov
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Graduate of administrative activities at the Faculty of Education of the University of Prague in Olomouc and the Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague. Because education is never enough, in 2025 he added an MBA degree from the Institute of Forensic Sciences and Security Studies - apparently to be sure that he would really have no free shelf for diplomas left at home. He is one of the founding members of the modern Prostějov Municipal Police, so when you say MP Prostějov, most colleagues think of him - and vice versa. Since 1996, he has been working as a deputy director, which is a position in which a person knows everything, solves everything and is responsible for everything. Since 2021, he has been officially handling this as a director. In 2000, he came up with the idea of a city camera system. At a time when it was not yet common to have a "smart" phone, let alone a city. At the time, it was a visionary step, but today it is a standard without which no one can imagine security in Prostějov. He has not only studied security, but also served it with honor. Instead of grand gestures, he prefers to build systems that work - and when they don't work, he knows exactly why. He is interested in modern technology and the history of technology and municipal police, so he can talk enthusiastically about both the latest camera chips and how it worked "under the emperor".
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.
Teichmann Lubomír
Executive Director
Health and Social Services Ltd.
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
Research and production of modern technologies for connecting the social and health sectors
Braňo Tichý
CEO
SafetyCrew
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
Braňo Tichý působí jako bezpečnostní manažer na veřejných akcích v České republice a na Slovensku včetně hudebních festivalů, koncertů a veřejných shromáždění. Kromě vzdělání v oboru psychologie je certifikovaným bezpečnostním manažerem pro sport a absolventem specializovaného vzdělávání v oblasti crowd managementu a ochrany měkkých cílů.
Tuan Trinh
Regional Node Director East
28DIGITAL
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
„Tuan Trinh má více než 15 let zkušeností jako technologický lídr a inovátor s rozsáhlými zkušenostmi v oblasti výzkumu a vývoje.
Má široké znalosti v oboru informačních a komunikačních technologií, a to jak v průmyslu, tak v akademické sféře. Získal magisterský titul v oboru informatiky a doktorát ve stejném oboru na Budapešťské technické a ekonomické univerzitě (BME) v Maďarsku. Působil jako docent informatiky na Corvinus University v Budapešti a jako hostující profesor na Univerzitě v Bernu ve Švýcarsku. Tuan Trinh byl pozván jako hostující vědec mimo jiné do Ericsson Research Budapest (Maďarsko), British Telecom (Velká Británie), Eurecom Institute (Francie), University of Luxembourg (Lucembursko) a ILNAS Luxembourg. Působil také jako hodnotitel financovaných projektů pro Evropskou komisi a maďarskou vládu.
Jedním z hlavních vrcholů jeho kariéry bylo, že se podílel na založení dvou inovačních center zaměřených na integraci vzdělávání, výzkumu a podnikání na univerzitách, a to Network Economics Group na BME, která se zaměřuje na inovace v oblasti disruptivních technologií na pomezí ekonomie a síťových technologií, a Fintech Centre na Univerzitě Corvinus v Budapešti, inovačního centra zaměřeného na finanční technologie.
Tuan Trinh je držitelem ceny Pollák-Virág od Maďarské vědecké asociace pro infokomunikace.“
Radim Trojan
Public Affairs Manager
Change for the Better
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
Radim Trojan leads the public affairs team at a sustainability-focused business platform that represents over 100 members and 12% of Czech GDP. He has experience in both the private sector, where he worked for a waste management company, and in non-profit organizations. He spends his free time either in nature, reading, or composing ambient music.
Michal Ulrich
SUMP National contact point
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Michal Ulrich has been dealing with transport issues throughout his professional life, focusing on sustainable urban mobility planning, economic efficiency of projects and financing from EU funds. He has been working at the Ministry of Transport since 2011. In connection with transport planning (not only in urban regions), he has always promoted and continues to promote the idea of placing the issue in a broader context. Since 2025, he has been acting as the National Contact Point for Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMP National Contact Point).
Koen Vervoort
Senior Stakeholder Strategist
European Network of Living Labs
Občanská společnost / Civil society
Since 2006, Koen Vervoort has been involved in living labs at i-City, IBBT, iMinds, City of Things and iMec and now serves as Senior Stakeholder Relations Strategist at ENoLL (European Network of Living Labs), where he strives to build bridges and create opportunities for all members and stakeholders.With twenty years of experience in user engagement, panel management, and stakeholder collaboration, they strive to strengthen the living lab community around the world.
Victor Scholten
Director Delft Centre for Entrepreneurship
TU Delft
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / Academia & Research
Victor Scholten is an associate professor and director of the Delft Center for Entrepreneurship at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Victor has been leading the center since 2016. Previously, he was head of the Master’s program in Management of Technology at Delft University of Technology and coordinator of the Bachelor’s minor in Technology-based Entrepreneurship. He has led and participated in many EU research projects. He specializes in technology entrepreneurship, founding teams and their networks, business model creation and business strategy. He has published in international journals such as Technovation and is the author of several books.
Ondřej Vysloužil
Director
Urban Studio of Spatial Planning and Architecture
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
He graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of the Brno University of Technology. After his studies, he worked at the Atelier 8000 studio in Prague, then at the Atos 6 studio in Ostrava, and then founded his own office Vysloužil architekti. Since 2019, he has held the position of director of the Municipal Studio of Spatial Planning and Architecture (MAPPA), which he helped build from its beginning to its current form. MAPPA is Ostrava's main conceptual workplace in the field of architecture, urbanism and city development. He has long been dedicated to the topics of urban development, public space and housing, focusing on cooperation between the public and private sectors. He is an authorized architect and a member of the Czech Chamber of Architects and the Housing Investment Advisory Board (HIAH).
Robert Wawerka
Head of Research Department for Monitoring and Management of Smart Buildings
CTU UCEEB
Akademická a výzkumná sféra / 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 of work in Scandinavia and Southeast Asia, where he focused on sustainable construction and building energy. At the ČEZ Group, he specialized in the area of Smart City and the development of electromobility. Since 2019, he has been leading the research department Monitoring and Control of Intelligent Buildings at CTU UCEEB. He participates in solving national and international projects, including the Horizon 2020 ARV project, focused on creating climate-positive and circular communities in Europe, where he acts as the main coordinator of the Czech consortium.
Ákos R. Wetters
Co-founder & Director
Kimitisik B.V.
Komerční sektor / Industry & Business
Ákos R. Wetters is a mentor, coach and lecturer working at the intersection of entrepreneurship education, educational innovation and innovation ecosystems. He started his career in multinational corporations in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, before founding four companies in operations, supply chain consulting, intrapreneurship and open innovation. In academia, he researches problem-based learning in entrepreneurship education. Today, he mentors students, professionals and startups, helping them build entrepreneurial mindsets, foster collaboration, build relationships and drive innovation across teams, organisations and ecosystems. He is curious, creative and positive by nature and is inspired by new ideas, adventure and great espresso.
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.
Jan Zvara
Head of Data, Analysis and Evaluation Department
City of Brno
Veřejný sektor / Public sector
Jan Zvara has been involved in regional development, data visualization and publication for a long time. He is behind the creation and development of the key city portal data.brno.cz, which serves as a central hub for open data, interactive analyses and visualizations of life in Brno. His main mission is to promote the principles of data-based decision-making (evidence-based policy) in the administration of a modern metropolis. He believes that transparent work with data and its understandable interpretation are the basis for effective communication between the city and its residents. He regularly speaks at professional conferences, where he shares Brno's know-how in the field of digitalization and smart city concepts.