Minister of Defence Jana Černochová and Czech Technical University (CTU) Rector Vojtěch Petráček, together with University of Chemistry and Technology (UCT Prague) Rector Milan Pospíšil and Brno University of Technology (VUT) Vice-Rector Martin Weiter, participated as panelists in a discussion titled „Increased Defence Spending as a Challenge for the Involvement of Scientific Research and Innovation of Czech Technical Universities in Strengthening National Defence.“ The audience, composed of CTU students and faculty, engaged in a nearly hour-long Q&A session with the speakers.
Following the discussion, which was attended by over one hundred participants, Minister Černochová and Rector Petráček signed a Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic and the Czech Technical University in Prague. This document replaces a previous agreement from 2015 and expands the scope of cooperation between the two institutions.
“The signing of this memorandum marks significant progress across several overlapping domains – from transportation, communication, and cybernetics to construction, energy, logistics, technical servicing, and maintenance, among others. CTU is a leader in technical expertise and innovation, and its capabilities can substantially contribute to enhancing the Czech Republic’s defence potential,” emphasized Minister Černochová.
The memorandum outlines intentions for closer communication and collaboration particularly in education, research, development, and innovation. The partnership will also cover expert consulting, economic disciplines, human resource management, and other strategic areas.
CTU Rector Vojtěch Petráček welcomed the enhanced cooperation:
“I have long believed that defending the population against aggressors and authoritarian regimes is a fundamental mission of any democratic state. This is not a political statement – it is a fact. As Rector of CTU, I fully support the idea that our academic research can strengthen national defence across multiple fields, and this memorandum formalizes our shared commitment with the Ministry of Defence.”
CTU is in a position to offer the Ministry insights and support in projects focusing on new and breakthrough technologies with potential defence applications. In connection with strategic modernization programs and the need to develop suitable physical infrastructure, there are also opportunities for collaboration on the reconstruction and construction of technologically complex facilities.
To conclude the visit, CTU Rector Petráček accompanied Minister Černochová on a tour of the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics, and Cybernetics (CIIRC CTU). Welcomed by Professor Vladimír Kučera, Deputy Director of CIIRC, the Minister was introduced to cutting-edge technologies and their real-world applications during a presentation and tour of the RICAIP Testbed Prague experimental labs.
