Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Deputy Director of Technology Centre Prague
Robert Plaga graduated from the Faculty of Business Economics at Mendel University in Brno, a master’s degree in Economic Policy and Administration, majoring in Finance, and subsequently obtained a doctorate, also in the field of Economic Policy and Administration. At the same university, he founded and managed the Center for Technology Transfer and Cooperation with Industry.
In 2015, he joined the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports as a specialist deputy for the management of the Higher Education, Science and Research Section. From 2017 to 2021, he was the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports. From 2022 to 2025, he headed the board of the National Accreditation Office for Higher Education as its chairman. He also has experience in local government, where he served as a member of the Brno City Council.
Michal Pazour is Deputy Director at the Technology Centre Prague, where he specialises in the evaluation, analysis and design of research and innovation policies. He coordinates national projects evaluating research and innovation policies and exploring measures to strengthen national innovation systems. Michal is the author or co-author of numerous analytical and policy studies prepared for the Czech government, the European Commission, the European Parliament or the OECD.
Before joining the Technology Centre, Michal worked as an innovation policy analyst at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.
Director General for Higher Education, Science and Research
Dana Bilíková graduated in English Philology and Andragogy from the Faculty of Arts at Palacký University Olomouc. She then worked at this faculty in various roles, serving as its Vice-Dean for Project Management from 2014 to 2022. She also has experience as an external evaluator for projects funded through OP VVV (Operational Programme Research, Development and Education), OP JAK (Operational Programme Johannes Amos Comenius), and the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic. She was also a member of the Council of Higher Education Institutions of the Czech Republic.
She came to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports from the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, where she served as Director General of the Section for Science, Research and Innovation.
Vice-Rector for research and doctoral studies, Masaryk University in Brno Within the Masaryk University's Grant Agency (GAMU) she actively contributes to creating favorable conditions for excellent incoming researchers, and established the Career Restart grant scheme to facilitate the reintegration of women scientists into research after career breaks. She is also active in popularization of science, mainly genetics. For her work she received many awards, including Czech Republic´s Medal of Merit in the Field of Science (2025). Vice-Rector for research, Jagiellonian University in Kraków Member of the Academy Council, Czech Academy of Sciences Since 2004, he has been a senior researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the CAS (IAP), and an associate professor (since 2015, professor) at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University. In 2010, he became the head of the Department of Space Physics and the chairman of the IAP Council. From 1995 to 2004, he worked as a research fellow and assistant professor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, and as a researcher at the IAP. Ondřej Santolík is active in many professional organisations and committees, having served as vice-president of the Science Council of the CAS, a member of the scientific advisory structure of ESA, and elected vice-president of URSI. He teaches in the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programmes at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. Senior Engineering Director and Lead of Honeywell Advanced Technology Europe He dedicated the first decade of his career at TRW Automotive in Test, Validation and Prototyping. He eventually became the Engineering Site Manager overseeing key projects for the company. Jan holds his Master’s and PhD degrees in Applied Mechanics from the University of West Bohemia and MBA from University of St. Francis in Joliett, IL.
Šárka Pospíšilová leads the Center of Molecular Medicine at the Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) and played an important role in the establishment of CEITEC institute. She also acts as a head of the Department of medical genetics and genomics and laboratory Center of molecular biology and genetics at the Department of hematology and oncology, both at the Medical faculty MU and University hospital Brno. She is still an active researcher in the field of medical genomics and runs several European and national projects.
In 1997, Wojciech Macyk completed studies in chemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry of Jagiellonian University (JU) in Kraków. He earned his doctorate from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in 2000, habilitated as a doctor of chemical sciences at the Jagiellonian University in 2009, and was appointed professor of chemical sciences at the same university in 2016.
Since 2024, Wojciech Macyk has been JU Vice-Rector for Research. Previously, he was dean of the JU Faculty of Chemistry, vice-dean for research and cooperation, chair of the Chemical Sciences Discipline Council, head of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry and head of the Photocatalysis Group.
He is, among others, a member of the European Photochemistry Association, the Polish Chemical Society, the Polish Catalysis Club and the FNP Fellows Club. He chaired the interdisciplinary team for evaluation of Iuventus Plus projects at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and currently serves as deputy chair of the interdisciplinary team for Diamond Grant and Iuventus Plus projects.
Ondřej Santolík graduated in the field of Physical Electronics and Optics between 1985 and 1990 and received his RNDr. degree from Charles University in Prague. In 1995, he completed his doctorate in Plasma Physics and Ionised Media at the same university. In the same year, he also defended his doctorate in Physics at Université d'Orléans in France.
Since 2022, Jan Ludvik has served as the leader of Honeywell’s Advanced Technology organization in Europe. He joined Honeywell Aerospace Technologies in 2014 and has since held a series of increasingly senior management roles in Research and Development. He leads a dynamic group of 150+ engineers and scientists focused on developing aerospace technologies in Europe. His team is dedicated to addressing megatrends including autonomy and sustainability, ensuring that Honeywell remains at the forefront of innovation in the aerospace sector.
Deputy Director of Technology Centre Prague
Michal Pazour is Deputy Director at the Technology Centre Prague, where he specialises in the evaluation, analysis and design of research and innovation policies. He coordinates national projects evaluating research and innovation policies and exploring measures to strengthen national innovation systems. Michal is the author or co-author of numerous analytical and policy studies prepared for the Czech government, the European Commission, the European Parliament or the OECD.
Before joining the Technology Centre, Michal worked as an innovation policy analyst at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.
Director of the Research and Development Department, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports Deputy Director of the Structural Funds Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo, Japan; a Master’s in European Studies (European Law) from the Faculty of Law at Palacký University in Olomouc; and a Master’s in European Studies from the Faculty of Social Studies at Masaryk University in Brno. Managing Director, Technology Agency of the Czech Republic He gained experience not only in the protection of R&D results (patents, etc.), application of R&D results in practice, but also purchasing and use of know-how, including the due-diligence. Between 2014 and 2017, he acted as vice-chairman of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA CR). He is the author or co-author of scientific publications and patents. Currently, he holds the position of managing director of the TA CR, is an independent expert in Eurostars! programme and occasionally provides lectures. Assistant Researcher, Department of International Relations of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) Rui Munhá obtained a PhD in Chemistry in 2011, and he developed his scientific activity at the University of Lisbon, University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada), University of California (Irvine, USA) and the University of Aveiro. Rui was born in Lisbon. Senior Director, Xjenza Malta Having joined the Permanent Representation of Malta to the EU in 2015, Omar coordinated the preparatory work leading to the Malta’s first-ever Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Research and Innovation. Omar continued his stint at the PREU where he steered the Government of Malta’s position on major pieces of MFF-related programming legislation, notably Horizon Europe (2021-2027), the EU Space Program and the Regulations establishing the EIT and the Joint Undertakings under the EU’s Framework Program for R&I. Moving on to a senior management role within the Malta Council for Science & Technology, Omar has overseen the restructuring of this governmental body into a fully-fledged governmental agency (Science Malta Agency) mandated by law to regulate Malta’s R&I and Space policy and programming efforts. Over the years, Omar has been entrusted with the steering of strategic and challenging initiatives within the Maltese public sector, having notably chaired the Malta Space Task Force, entrusted with the drafting of Malta’s first National Space Strategy and now focused on the ushering of Malta’s first-ever legal framework for Space commercial activities. Omar has also led and concluded the technical-level process leading to Malta’s adhesion to the PECS Program of the European Space Agency (ESA), securing an annual national budgetary envelope of Eur 1.5 mio for a five-year period. More recently, Omar is overseeing the associate accession process of Malta to CERN.
Lucie Núñez is the Director of the Research and Development Department at MEYS. From 2016 to 2023, she worked as Head of the European Research Area Unit at the same institution. She is responsible for creating and developing strategy for an effective R&D strategy at national level and engaging stakeholders to ensure its successful implementation. Furthermore, she is involved in implementing international cooperation in R&D and coordination of the Czech participation in international R&D programmes, notably the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe.
Since 2013, Lucie Núñez has participated as national delegate in several expert groups and platforms established by the European Commission as well as in the Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Pavel Juráš has extensive experience in shaping strategic initiatives, including the SME Support Strategy of the Czech Republic 2021–2027 and the Programme Technologies and Applications for Competitiveness (funded by the ERDF), driving policies that enhance innovation and the competitiveness of Czech businesses. He and his team are currently responsible for negotiating the European Competitiveness Fund and leading related preparatory work in the Czech Republic. He also serves as the national contact point for the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). Pavel has also collaborated with the World Bank and the OECD on policy projects aimed at improving the business environment for Czech SMEs and strengthening their innovation capacity.
Martin Bunček graduated from University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology. He completed postgraduate studies at the Pharmaceutical Faculty of Charles University in Hradec Kralové and work stay at IMM in Oxford and TUe Eindhoven. He held the managerial position of R&D Director at GENERI BIOTECH Ltd. and ISO 9001 quality manager. Principal investigator or co-worker of national and international (FP6, FP7 EU) projects. He is dealing with external teaching: till 02/2014 as an assistant professor at the University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology, lectures molecular biology and genetics and molecular biological methods, at Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové in the gene therapy.
Rui Munhá is currently the Coordinator of the National Contact Points in the Pillar of Scientific Excellence and in the Widening & ERA Part of Horizon Europe, and a National representative in the ERA FORUM and the Programme Committee of Strategic Configuration. He is also a National Delegate/National Contact Point for the European Research Council and for Widening & ERA, and he is a member of the Governing Board of the COST Association (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).
Omar Cutajar is an experienced EU public affairs professional with 20+ years’ experience in front line representation and advocacy roles, spanning both the private and public sector, at EU and national Member State level. Omar started his career as an EU affairs policy advisory with the Malta Business Bureau, thereafter, heading its Brussels-based representation office for over 7 years.
Analyst at Technology Centre Prague He joined the Technology Centre Prague in June 2022, before that he worked for eight years at the Prague Institute of Planning and Development as a specialist in innovation policy and a specialist in city analysis, focusing on Prague’s research and development milieu and the Prague’s innovation policy with an extension to the economy, measuring economic competitiveness and mapping business activities in the territory of Prague. As a part of his previous work, he also dealt with the issue of the European Structural and Investment Funds. In the TC Prague he deals with the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of research and development organized by the EU, the participation of the Czech Republic in European framework programmes for research and development, the participation of private companies in European framework programmes and Czech Republic’s programmes supporting business research and development, and assesses effects of this participation on the competitiveness of the Czech Republic and its regions.
Vladimír Vojtěch works as an analyst at the National Information Centre for European Research of the Technology Centre Prague. He is a graduate of Charles University – Faculty of Science. His field of study was regional and political geography.
Head of the HiLASE Centre, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences He received his PhD from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Czech Technical University in Prague. Throughout his career, he has worked in international research environments across Europe and Asia, including as a Marie Curie Fellow in France and a visiting professor in Korea. Beyond his research activities, he is actively engaged in international cooperation, European research and innovation programmes, and strengthening links between research infrastructures, technology infrastructures and industry. He has extensive experience in the preparation, management and evaluation of projects under the European Framework Programmes. ERA Chair of Space Chemistry and Technology, Heyrovský Institute of the CAS Prof. Abel’s research bridges physical chemistry, chemical engineering and technology, with emphasis on complex molecular systems, advanced analytical methods, functional materials and instrumentation. At the Heyrovský Institute, he heads the Department of Space Chemistry and Technology, established in 2025 through the EU-funded ERA Chair initiative. The department explores chemical evolution and habitability in extreme space environments and develops analytical technologies for space missions. Its work encompasses astrochemistry, planetary-environment simulations, space mass spectrometry, miniature instruments and methods for detecting chemical signatures of life. Bernd Abel is also an affiliate of NASA’s Europa Clipper science team. His team supports analysis of data from the SUrface Dust Analyzer (SUDA) through laboratory analogue experiments, technology and a reference database. Director of CREATIC Centre of Excellence, Head of Department of Pharmacology, Masaryk University in Brno
Tomáš Mocek is Head of the HiLASE Centre at the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, which he has been developing since 2011 as a mission-oriented R&D centre bridging scientific excellence with industrial and strategic applications. Under his leadership, HiLASE is progressively evolving towards a Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) model, with a strong focus on translating cutting-edge high-power laser research into technological innovation and real-world impact. Its strategic areas include advanced manufacturing, space, defence and security, and semiconductor technologies.
Bernd Abel is Professor of Chemical Engineering at Leipzig University and ERA Chair of Space Chemistry and Technology at the Heyrovský Institute of the CAS. He studied chemistry at the University of Göttingen, where he received his doctorate in physical chemistry in 1990 and completed his habilitation in 1999. His academic career has included research and leadership roles at Leipzig University and the Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering, as well as international appointments, including a Somorjai Visiting Miller Professorship at the University of California, Berkeley.
Regina Demlová (MD, PhD) is a clinical pharmacologist specializing in oncology and personalized therapies including ATMPs. She is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, where she also serves as Head of the Department of Pharmacology. For over a decade, she has been a leading figure in the development of academic clinical research in the Czech Republic, having established and currently leading the national clinical research infrastructure CZECRIN and the Centre of Excellence CREATIC, dedicated to the research, development, GMP production, clinical trials, and regulatory aspects of advanced cell and gene therapies.