OPENING REMARKS

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

• Andrej Babiš, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

PANEL 1: SECURITY AS A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT

Security and the economy are closely interconnected. Key factors include capacities, investment, people, technology, and resilient supply chains. The Czech defence industry has the potential to become a pillar of state modernisation and, at the same time, a strong export player, provided it builds on research, development, and innovation and systematically increases domestic value added. It is not only about manufacturing; it is about designing, integrating, testing, modernising, and servicing, thereby creating well-paid jobs and know-how that cannot be easily replaced. Those able to scale production, deliver on time, and maintain systems over the long term will set the pace. At the same time, it is important to address the sustainability of growth, as the current boom is not guaranteed and may change faster than new investments can pay off.

How can we ensure that the defence industry remains sustainable in the long term even after the current arms boom subsides? How should investment in research and development be structured to increase value added and create well-paid jobs in the Czech Republic? What changes must the state make so that procurement accelerates modernisation while also encouraging innovation and domestic know-how? How should the involvement of Czech companies be structured so that key value added remains in the Czech Republic across production, integration, servicing, and life-cycle management? How can exports be supported while protecting strategic technologies and limiting risky dependencies?

Confirmed speakers:

• Andrej Babiš, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
• Zdeněk Zajíček, President, Czech Chamber of Commerce
• Jiří Hynek, President, Defence and Security Industry Association of the Czech Republic

Moderation:

• Michal Půr

COFFEE BREAK

PANEL 2: EFFECTIVE DEFENCE OF THE MODERN STATE

Modernising defence today is not only about acquiring new equipment; it is about the state’s ability to turn large-scale investments into truly operational military capabilities. Airspace security, air defence, unmanned systems, sensors, data integration, command and control, and interoperability with allies now determine whether a state can respond to threats that can emerge within minutes rather than days. The Czech Republic is entering a period of major defence modernisation, which will be not only a military challenge but also a budgetary, technological, and organisational one. The key task will be to transform major investments into genuinely usable capabilities that are operationally proven, sustainable over the long term, and supported by sufficient technical, service, and industrial infrastructure.

Which military capabilities should the Czech Republic prioritise in the coming years? How is airspace protection changing in the era of drones, long-range missiles, and layered air defence systems? What determines whether major modernisation projects genuinely increase the state’s combat readiness rather than remaining ambitious acquisitions on paper? How can we ensure that new systems function as an interconnected whole, remain compatible with allied structures, and are at the same time operationally and economically sustainable? Where does Czech defence currently face the greatest obstacles in implementing new capabilities?

Confirmed speakers:

• Karel Havlíček, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Industry and Trade
• Jaromír Zůna, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence

Moderation:

• Markéta Malá

VIP TALK: RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT IN DEFENCE

Defence spending is not merely a matter of budgetary percentages, but above all of the state’s ability to manage public funds responsibly, efficiently and with a clearly demonstrable impact on national security. Responsible investment in defence should therefore begin with a realistic assessment of threats and the risks arising from them, the identification of required capabilities, the establishment of strategic priorities, and their integration with multi-year financial, personnel and industrial planning. Success should be measured not only by whether a project was delivered on time and within budget, but above all by whether the new capability is operationally deployable, interoperable, and sustainable in terms of personnel and logistics throughout its entire life cycle.

What must the Czech Republic do to ensure that defence spending goes beyond merely meeting a budgetary target and leads to a measurable strengthening of the state’s capabilities? How can alliance commitments, long-term planning, the development of the Czech and European defence industries, and responsible financial management be effectively linked? Does the capability acquisition process within defence planning need to be revised? Where are its bottlenecks? And how should the Czech Republic proceed to ensure that investment in defence and security also strengthens the resilience of the state as a whole?

Confirmed speakers:

• Jakub Landovský, Government Commissioner for the Fulfilment of NATO Commitments; Director General of the Defence Policy and Strategy Division, Ministry of Defence
• František Mičánek, Senior Advisor for Defence, EY Czech Republic

COFFEE BREAK

PANEL 3: CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AS THE BACKBONE OF SECURITY

The security of the state does not rest on the armed forces alone. Its critical functions are also sustained by the integrated rescue system, the police, fire brigades, crisis management authorities, local governments, and companies operating networks, transport, logistics, data, and public services. Resilience has become a central part of today’s security debate, and its real test will come in the years ahead. Investment decisions, planning processes, and technological choices made today will shape how countries protect their citizens, maintain essential services, and strengthen critical infrastructure over the next decade and beyond. Cybersecurity has become a common denominator of almost every crisis, as attacks and disruptions spread through systems, networks, and supply chains. The key lies in predictable cooperation between the state and the private sector, clear rules for information sharing, joint scenarios and exercises, and practical civil preparedness that reduces chaos and accelerates response.

How should cooperation between the state, the integrated rescue system, local governments, and companies be structured so that it works in a crisis without improvisation? What rules for sharing information and data are needed to ensure a rapid response to incidents, including cyberattacks? How can the protection of critical infrastructure be unified across sectors to create compatible standards rather than fragmented solutions? What should crisis communication look like to maintain public trust and limit the spread of disinformation? What is the one concrete step that can be taken within twelve months to genuinely strengthen the resilience of the state?

Confirmed speakers:

• Lubomír Metnar, Minister of the Interior
• Lukáš Kintr, Director, National Cyber and Information Security Agency
• Juraj Šedivý, Chairman of the Board of Directors, CETIN; Chairman of the Board of Directors, CETIN International

Moderation:

• Markéta Malá

PANEL 4: LABOUR MARKET AND NATIONAL DEFENCE CAPABILITY

Modern capabilities are not only about technology. Without people, air defence, logistics, cybersecurity, maintenance, and crisis management do not function. Competition in the labour market is intensifying, and defence competes for the same professions as technology companies, the energy sector, and transport. The future depends on whether the state can make military service attractive, sustainable, and socially prestigious, and whether it can develop the active reserve as a genuine component of defence. Equally important is the connection with industry and education, so that a new generation of technical and digital talent emerges with the motivation to remain in the Czech Republic.

How can recruitment and retention in the armed forces be accelerated while also increasing the prestige of service? How should a system of career development, training, and benefits be structured so that it can compete with the private sector? How can the active reserve be scaled up so that it becomes a genuine reinforcement rather than merely a formal number? Is the current cooperation between the armed forces, educational institutions, and industry functioning effectively? What is one concrete change that could be implemented within twelve months to tangibly improve the lives and service of soldiers and increase public trust?

Confirmed speakers:

• Aleš Juchelka, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
• Zdeněk Pokorný, Vice-Rector for Strategy and Development, University of Defence

Moderation:

• Michal Půr

NETWORKING & LUNCH