On 15 June 2026, the conference Industrial and Economic Transformation of the Czech Republic and the EU: How to Support Investment in the Czech Republic in the Context of the European Competitiveness Fund and the Rise of the Digital Economy took place at the premises of the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics (CIIRC CTU). Organized in cooperation with the Czech Business Council for Sustainable Development (Czech BCSD), the event brought together representatives of industry, public administration, the financial sector, and academia.
The conference focused on the transformation of European industry amid growing global competition, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and digitalization, and the ongoing decarbonization of the economy. Speakers agreed that the future prosperity of the Czech Republic will depend on its ability to combine industrial transformation with technological innovation while making effective use of new European investment instruments.
The conference was divided into two thematic sessions. The first panel examined the current state and emerging trends in industrial and economic transformation in the Czech Republic, the European Union, and globally, addressing their impacts, risks, and opportunities. Following an opening presentation by Michaela Chaloupková (Czech BCSD), the panel featured Prof. Vladimír Mařík (CIIRC CTU), Eduard Muřický (Ministry of Industry and Trade), Petra Ondrušová (Czech Banking Association), Zdeněk Zajíček (Czech Chamber of Commerce), Andrea Ferjenčíková (National Development Bank), and Josef Kotrba (Energy Association of the Czech Republic).
The opening remarks highlighted that competitiveness has become one of the central priorities of European policy. While previous discussions focused primarily on reducing emissions and meeting climate targets, increasing attention is now being paid to ensuring that European industry remains strong, innovative, and capable of competing successfully on the global stage.
In his keynote address, Prof. Vladimír Mařík, Scientific Director of CIIRC CTU, emphasized that the future competitiveness of the Czech economy will increasingly depend on integrating artificial intelligence, digitalization, and interdisciplinary collaboration. He recalled CIIRC CTU’s long-standing role in developing and implementing the Industry 4.0 concept in the Czech Republic. He also highlighted the cooperation among the institute’s three national centers: the National Centre for Industry 4.0, the National Centre for Construction 4.0, and the newly established National Centre for Transport 4.0. Their close collaboration, he noted, creates the conditions necessary for managing industrial and digital transformation across key sectors of the Czech economy.
“Researchers, industry, and public administration must work together. The cooperation of these three stakeholders is essential if digitalization and artificial intelligence are to genuinely strengthen the competitiveness of the Czech Republic,” said Prof. Mařík.
A significant part of the program was devoted to the forthcoming European legislative proposal, the Industrial Accelerator Act, which aims to accelerate the transformation of European industry and support strategic investments. According to the participants, the initiative represents an opportunity not only to decarbonize energy-intensive industries but also to foster the development of new technologies, modernize manufacturing, and strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty.
Throughout the discussions, speakers repeatedly stressed that regulatory measures alone will not be sufficient. Success will require creating favorable conditions for investment, streamlining permitting procedures, and improving coordination between government, businesses, financial institutions, and research organizations. Effective cooperation among these stakeholders was identified as one of the key prerequisites for the successful transformation of the Czech economy.
The second panel addressed whether the Czech Republic is sufficiently prepared for the ongoing changes and what additional steps are needed to succeed in the digital economy. Following introductory remarks by Markéta Jechová (Czech BCSD), the discussion featured Prof. Vladimír Mařík (CIIRC CTU), Eduard Muřický (Ministry of Industry and Trade), Josef Kotrba (Energy Association of the Czech Republic), Kateřina Špáníková (Czech Banking Association), Zdeněk Zajíček (Czech Chamber of Commerce), and Pavlína Žáková (Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic). The debate focused primarily on digitalization, the application of artificial intelligence, investment in innovation, and strengthening cooperation between research institutions and industry.
Considerable attention was also devoted to the new European Competitiveness Fund, which is expected to channel hundreds of billions of euros into innovation, clean technologies, energy, and industrial transformation over the coming years. Participants pointed out that access to these resources will increasingly depend on Europe-wide competition, with success determined by the quality of projects, strong partnerships, and effective strategic planning.
In the conference’s concluding remarks, summarized by Petr Dovolil, participants agreed that the Czech Republic has reached a pivotal moment. Industrial transformation is no longer driven solely by environmental commitments but has become a matter of economic resilience, technological advancement, and long-term competitiveness. The country’s success will depend on its ability to connect investment, innovation, digital technologies, and cooperation across both the public and private sectors.
