CZECH
SEMICON DAYS
Semiconductors for future mobility
18.–22. 05. 2026
PRAGUE – BRNO – ÚSTÍ
Platform for comprehensive discussions on the semiconductor industry in Czechia and its global context.
300+
Attendees in 2025
78
Companies in Czech Semiconductor Supply Chain
TOP 5
Global exporter of key foundry input products
Aftermovie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt7tDNxT2l4
Czech Investment Forum 2025
3:45 duration
Conference program
May 2026
18
May
Czech Semiconductor Ecosystem Development Day (in German & Czech only)
Monday, Bohemia Pavilion
20
May
Advance Chip Design Research Center – Exploring Silicon Brno
Wednesday, Brno University of Technology
20
May
Czech–Saxon Partnership for Innovation: Funding Opportunities for Academia and Industry
Wednesday, Ministry of Industry and Trade
No event found!
Speakers
Our speakers comprise genuinely gifted minds
Prof. Yuan-Cheng Sun, Dean of the Industry Academia Innovation School (IAIS) at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and former CTO and vice president for R&D at TSMC. IAIS was established in 2021 as first semiconductor academy on Taiwan with support of industry and government generating talent pool for high-tech industry and boost technology transfer.
Since 2018 Dr. Rainer Käsmaier is leading the semiconductor business with its global manufacturing and R&D footprint for the power
semiconductor product portfolio which compromises GTOs, IGBTs, IGCTs, Thyristors, Diodes and Silicon Carbide for market segments such as energy transmission and distribution, transportation and rail, renewables,
industry, and eMobility.
Rainer is a semiconductor industry veteran having held various management and executive positions in the sector for more than 25 years, covering areas of global responsibility in business strategy and
development, business transformation, technology and engineering, operations and production, R&D, as well as sales and marketing.
After holding leadership roles at Siemens, Infineon, Qimonda, and the
European semiconductor manufacturer LFoundry, Rainer took the responsibility for Hitachi Energy’s semiconductor global
product group in 2018. Since 2019, he has also served as a member of the management board of Hitachi Energy Switzerland.
He was a member in various industries strategy committees in Europe and the US, and currently in the advisory board for the International Semiconductor Industry Group. Rainer holds a Master’s degree in
Physics from the Technical University Munich and a PhD in Physics from the University Kassel in Germany.
He is based in Lenzburg, near Zurich, Switzerland.
Armin Kemna is Vice President of Product Development at Elmos Semiconductor SE. In this role, he is responsible for the strategic direction and implementation of design and development activities for innovative semiconductor solutions, particularly in the automotive sector. Since 2015, he has been instrumental in expanding high-performance analog/mixed-signal platforms, design support structures, and development processes at Elmos. Previously, he led design and technology teams in various roles within the company as well as at research and industry partners. Kemna holds a degree in electrical engineering and has many years of experience in IC design, sensor technology, and project management
Thomas Horn studied International Economic Relations. In 1994, he started to work as a Project Manager for Saxony Trade & Invest. In this position, he was responsible for Poland, the Baltic States, and Russia. As of 1997, he was the Director of the Saxony Office of the German-Polish Economic Development Corporation. Starting in 2001, he worked in diverse areas and functions on behalf of the Saxon State Ministry of the Environment and Agriculture (SMUL). In 2010, he became the Director for International Relations at the Saxon State Chancellery.
Since 2018, he has been the CEO of Saxony Trade & Invest.
Since 2018, he has been the CEO of Saxony Trade & Invest.
Is an associate professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Brno University of Technology, where he serves as Head of the Institute of Microelectronics and Director of the Advanced Chip Design Research Center (ACDRC). His research focuses on the design, modeling, and fabrication of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits, with a strong emphasis on sensor and biomedical applications. He is actively involved in major European and international initiatives, including the CHIPS of Europe project aimed at strengthening higher-education–industry cooperation in the semiconductor sector, and long-term collaboration with partners in Taiwan through ACDRC. He has led or co-led more than 15 national and international research projects, published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, and is a frequent invited speaker in the field of chip design and semiconductor technologies.
Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Codasip and Director of the Czech Semiconductor Centre, one of the European semiconductor competence centres established under Pillar I of the EU Chips Act.
Karel received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Brno University of Technology, where he led the development of key processor design technologies within a university technology incubator before founding Codasip in 2014. Under his leadership, Codasip became one of the early commercial pioneers of the RISC-V ecosystem, delivering processor EDA and IP products adopted across automotive, industrial, security, and high-performance computing domains.
As CEO, Karel led Codasip through multiple international funding rounds and global expansion. He later transitioned to the role of Chief Innovation Officer, focusing on long-term technology strategy and the development of advanced programs in processor architectures, functional safety, security, high-performance computing, and AI-enabled systems, while continuing to promote the adoption of the open RISC-V standard.
Since 2025, Karel has also served as Director of the Czech Semiconductor Centre, where he focuses on strengthening collaboration between academia, industry, and government, accelerating talent development, and translating advanced research into industrial capabilities. In this role, he actively contributes to aligning the Czech and European semiconductor ecosystem with broader EU strategic objectives, bridging research excellence with sustainable industrial impact.
Karel received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Brno University of Technology, where he led the development of key processor design technologies within a university technology incubator before founding Codasip in 2014. Under his leadership, Codasip became one of the early commercial pioneers of the RISC-V ecosystem, delivering processor EDA and IP products adopted across automotive, industrial, security, and high-performance computing domains.
As CEO, Karel led Codasip through multiple international funding rounds and global expansion. He later transitioned to the role of Chief Innovation Officer, focusing on long-term technology strategy and the development of advanced programs in processor architectures, functional safety, security, high-performance computing, and AI-enabled systems, while continuing to promote the adoption of the open RISC-V standard.
Since 2025, Karel has also served as Director of the Czech Semiconductor Centre, where he focuses on strengthening collaboration between academia, industry, and government, accelerating talent development, and translating advanced research into industrial capabilities. In this role, he actively contributes to aligning the Czech and European semiconductor ecosystem with broader EU strategic objectives, bridging research excellence with sustainable industrial impact.
Doc. Mgr. Jana Vlčková, Ph.D. has been working at the Department of International Economic Relations in the Media at the University of Economics in Prague since 2012. In 2019, she was appointed associate professor in the field of International Economic Relations. In 2014, she defended her dissertation on Global Changes in the Distribution of Technology and Innovation with a Focus on the EU. At the department, she lectures on Geography of the World Economy in English, Economic Geography of China, and Economic Geography of Europe, and leads seminars in the subjects World Economy and Regional Markets in a Global Perspective. In 2019 and 2020, she was a member of the research team for the TA ČR project entitled Targeting Investment Support in the Czech Republic with Regards to the Expected Impacts of Technological Change, and she is implementing a number of contract research projects on innovation and global value chains.
doc. RNDr. Viktor Květoň, Ph.D. works at the Department of Social Geography and Regional Development at the Faculty of Science, Charles University. Doc. Květoň is an evolutionary economic geographer whose professional focus is on measuring and evaluating the development and barriers of regional innovation systems, mechanisms and factors of regional development, regional disparities and competitiveness of regions, evaluation of the impact of EU regional policy in the Czech Republic, regional impacts of sectoral policies, company mergers and acquisitions, the development trajectories of industrial sectors in regions, and the role of related diversity in regional development. In his research activities, he has long been involved in national and international projects, such as the Supply Chain Resilience Center, and also cooperates with major foreign institutions, such as the Joint Research Center – European Commission, World Bank, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Doc. Květoň is a member of the national expert advisory body (EPO) for setting priorities and support from EU funds after 2028, acts as an external advisor to the Ministry of Regional Development of the Czech Republic in the field of regional policy, and also cooperates with the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic.
Studied Political Science in Mainz and Leipzig. Held various positions in the fields of culture and public administration at state and federal level. Since 2016, has worked on high-tech issues within the Saxon State Government, particularly microtechnology and AI. Currently Head of the Division for “Digital Strategies and AI” at the Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy, and Climate Protection (SMWA).
Martin Landgraf is a Research Manager at Fraunhofer IPMS, Center Nanoelectronic Technologies (CNT), and has been a driving force since its founding in 2005. With over two decades of experience, he has coordinated numerous R&D projects with global industry partners, specializing in bridging the gap between academic innovation and 300mm industrial manufacturing. In his current role as Program Manager, he oversees R&D projects, intellectual property, and contract management, reporting directly to the institute's director. His expertise lies in creating effective collaboration models that provide external partners with seamless access to advanced semiconductor infrastructure.
Sanin Zulić is an experienced leader in business development and commercialization within the photonics and laser industry. As International Business Development Manager at HiLASE, he drives strategic efforts to transform advanced laser technologies into market-ready solutions, focusing on business growth and partnership development. Sanin’s expertise includes market analysis, customer alignment, and fostering collaborations that accelerate technology deployment. He plays a key role in bridging research innovations with real-world applications, working closely with partners from the semiconductor industry to meet evolving operational needs. His international business experience and strategic insight make him a valuable contributor to advancing the global laser technology ecosystem and driving innovation in semiconductor manufacturing.
Prof. Petr Slobodian, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlín (UTB) and is also affiliated with UTB’s Centre of Polymer Systems, where he leads a research group focused on systems with sensoric properties, particularly sensor material components for hybrid and programmable materials. His current work explores polymers and nanomaterials and pathways to turn polymer-based systems into conductive and functional semiconductor materials, including research directions connected to soft semiconductors for wearable electronics; he also contributed to the preparation of a new study program on semiconductor materials at UTB.
Vice President for the Office of Industry-Academia Co-creation, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
An expert in ESG, construction, and large infrastructure projects. He has long helped investors navigate complex permitting processes and develop sustainable strategies. Actively involved in shaping construction legislation through ministerial working groups, he is one of the leading voices in the Czech ESG regulatory debate. At seminars and conferences, Jan bridges law, business, and practice—clearly, pragmatically, and without unnecessary legalese.
More speakers
David Uhlíř holds the post of Innovation Ecosystem Architect and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) and at JIC (South Moravian Innovation Centre), located in Brno, Czech Republic. From his position he is involved in developing new strategic initiatives in South Moravia, typically involving multiple innovation actors: public sector, academia, businesses. David developed the first generation of RIS of South Moravia in 2002 and was also instrumental in establishing JIC in 2003.
Over the last 20+ years he worked at different positions in the field of regional policy and research and innovation policy (Czech ministries responsible for regional development and for research, Regional Development Agency) and also spent four years as a seconded national expert at the European Commission, DG Research. He participated in a number of international assignments and advisory roles related to design and evaluation of innovation and research policies for OECD, the European Commission and several countries (Romania, Croatia, Slovakia)
His professional interests revolve around regional development theory and practice, science and technology and innovation policies.
Between 2013-2021 David represented Czech Business Innovation Centres in the Board of Director of European Business Innovation Centres Network (EBN), between 2019-2021 he acted as its President.
Over the last 20+ years he worked at different positions in the field of regional policy and research and innovation policy (Czech ministries responsible for regional development and for research, Regional Development Agency) and also spent four years as a seconded national expert at the European Commission, DG Research. He participated in a number of international assignments and advisory roles related to design and evaluation of innovation and research policies for OECD, the European Commission and several countries (Romania, Croatia, Slovakia)
His professional interests revolve around regional development theory and practice, science and technology and innovation policies.
Between 2013-2021 David represented Czech Business Innovation Centres in the Board of Director of European Business Innovation Centres Network (EBN), between 2019-2021 he acted as its President.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Moravian-Silesian Region’s development agency (MSID), where he is responsible for the organization’s strategic direction and the development of key projects supporting the region’s economic growth and transformation.
He has long been engaged in connecting the public and private sectors and in creating a high-quality investment environment. Prior to joining MSID, he served as Head of the Strategic Development Department of the City of Ostrava, where he was involved in the preparation of major development projects, negotiations with investors, and the effective use of funding sources.
He has experience in the development of industrial zones, brownfield regeneration, and the implementation of high value-added projects that strengthen the region’s competitiveness and long-term resilience.
Adéla Hradilová is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Center Ostrava (MSIC). In her role, she coordinates the preparation and implementation of activities, services and programs to support small and medium-sized companies and startups within the framework of the Regional Innovation Strategy of the MSK.
Thanks to her extensive experience in the Czech Republic and abroad, including her work at the South-Moravian Innovation Center and the European Commission, she has a detailed overview of the business environment and understands the needs and potential of the region. Her specialization is grant consulting, particularly in the field of international grants.
She obtained her PhD under a joint supervision (co-tutelle) program at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava and École Polytechnique, Université Paris-Saclay in France. She specializes in optical, spectroscopic, and ellipsometric characterization of thin films and advanced textured surfaces. During multiple research stays in France, she gained experience in the deposition and characterization of thin films and nanostructures for photovoltaic applications and solar fuel cells. She is currently working at the Department of Materials Engineering and Recycling, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, where she focuses on the deposition, optical characterization, and advanced modeling of thin films and nanostructures for photonic and semiconductor applications.
Director of the Trade and Export Finance Division of Czech Export Bank. He has been working in the banking sector for over 30 years and currently serves as Director of the Trade and Export Finance Division at the Czech Export Bank. During his career, he has worked in trade and financing at ČSOB and later at HSBC; he served as Director of Corporate and Structured Banking at SBERBANK CZ; and held the position of Senior Vice President at CITIBANK EUROPE, where he gained experience in financing, asset management, market risk, acquisitions, and business development.
President of the IMAPS Czech & Slovak Chapter and Team Leader of the Microelectronics Technologies and Packaging Group at the Department of Microelectronics, Brno University of Technology (FEEC). His work focuses on microelectronics assembly and packaging technologies, soldering processes, and reliability of electronic interconnects. He is actively involved in research, industry collaboration, and international microelectronics initiatives, and contributes to strengthening the microelectronics ecosystem in Central Europe through IMAPS activities and conferences.
Jan Dubec works at the Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation (EGAP) as Director of the Acquisition and Supplier Credit Insurance Department. He studied insurance and finance at the Banking Academy and the University of Finance and Administration.
He has been working in the field of credit insurance since 1994, when he started at EGAP, and also gained professional experience at the commercial credit insurance company Credendo (formerly KUPEG). At EGAP, he has held various specialist and management positions, and since 2017 he has been Director of the Acquisition and Supplier Credit Insurance Department.
He regularly speaks at EGAP professional events and also represents EGAP at seminars and conferences of partner institutions, particularly in cooperation with the Czech Chamber of Commerce, ministries, and other entities, where he focuses on the practical use of export insurance tools in business.
He has been working in the field of credit insurance since 1994, when he started at EGAP, and also gained professional experience at the commercial credit insurance company Credendo (formerly KUPEG). At EGAP, he has held various specialist and management positions, and since 2017 he has been Director of the Acquisition and Supplier Credit Insurance Department.
He regularly speaks at EGAP professional events and also represents EGAP at seminars and conferences of partner institutions, particularly in cooperation with the Czech Chamber of Commerce, ministries, and other entities, where he focuses on the practical use of export insurance tools in business.
Tomas Zednicek received his PhD in electro-technology with a focus on tantalum capacitors from Brno University of Technology in 2000 and spent 20 years at KYOCERA AVX in engineering, quality, failure analysis, research, and worldwide technical marketing roles for tantalum capacitors. In 2015, he founded the European Passive Components Institute (EPCI) and its website www.passive-components.eu, now a leading global blog on passive electronic components and organizer of the bi-annual PCNS Passive Components Networking Symposium in cooperation with European universities.
He has contributed to high-energy, high-density capacitor development for applications from industrial and automotive to high-reliability space systems, including EC H2020 projects and ESA activities such as capacitor bank design for the Mars Curiosity rover’s ChemCam laser power supply. Tomas is the author of over 70 technical papers, one US/international patent (USA 7,352,563 B2), and has received multiple CARTS Best Paper and Outstanding Paper awards as well as the 2005 Dr. Zandman Award for contributions to the passive component industry.
He is actively involved in university collaborations on passive component education and, in 2024, co-founded Atomiver www.atomiver.com, a university spin-out developing graphene-based high-energy materials for supercapacitors and related applications.
He has contributed to high-energy, high-density capacitor development for applications from industrial and automotive to high-reliability space systems, including EC H2020 projects and ESA activities such as capacitor bank design for the Mars Curiosity rover’s ChemCam laser power supply. Tomas is the author of over 70 technical papers, one US/international patent (USA 7,352,563 B2), and has received multiple CARTS Best Paper and Outstanding Paper awards as well as the 2005 Dr. Zandman Award for contributions to the passive component industry.
He is actively involved in university collaborations on passive component education and, in 2024, co-founded Atomiver www.atomiver.com, a university spin-out developing graphene-based high-energy materials for supercapacitors and related applications.
Jiří Jakovenko is a professor and researcher in IC design, MEMS, and microelectronics. He currently serves as Vice-Dean for Master's Studies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU FEE). He leads many research and education projects at the Advanced Chip Design Research Centre and the TSRI CTU Joint Research Centre, supervises PhD and master's students, and teaches courses in integrated circuit design and microelectronics. He also heads the IC design laboratory at the Department of Microelectronics. His earlier roles included serving as an external consultant for Cadence Design Systems in San Jose, USA (2005–2008), where he contributed to RF IC design and Verilog AMS modelling for WLAN transceivers.
Tomáš Sivíček is the Foreign Cooperation Coordinator at ICUK – Innovation Centre of the Ústí Region (Czechia, EBN and CNSC member) and a former CEO of ICUK. He focuses on international partnerships and ecosystem development, connecting regional industry, universities and public actors to new investment and supplier opportunities, with a particular focus on the semiconductor value chain. At J. E. Purkyně University, he focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship and regional innovation ecosystems.
She was at the cradle of key entrepreneurship and startup support programs within the Moravian-Silesian Region. Her background combines regional development and innovation service design with practical experience in managing international and European projects. Her focus lies in connecting academia, business, and the public sector. As a startup guide and mentor, an accredited coach and facilitator, she brings a human-centric approach to data-driven strategies. Within the CÉRKA project, she is now applying her experience in ecosystem building to help establish top-tier European semiconductor industry capacities in the heart of the Beskydy Mountains.
Martin Babor, Ph.D., is a university professor and researcher at Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, where he teaches organic chemistry and leads research projects. He specializes in crystallography, the development of solid-dose forms of drugs, and catalytic processes, and has extensive experience in both the academic and industrial sectors (e.g., Zentiva, Spolchemie, ORLEN UniCRE). He is the author or co-author of dozens of scientific publications and patents, participates in national and international grant projects, and is actively involved in the evaluation of research proposals. In his work, he combines experimental and computational approaches and has long been dedicated to teaching and mentoring students.
As Director of Innovation at Mycroft Mind, Tomas Bort aligns the strategic development of technological advancements with the world of public and research institutions. His role is to ensure that cutting-edge Czech R&D finds its application within strategic national and European initiatives.
As a Program Manager, he oversees the SLAID project under the IPCEI ME/CT program. This project focuses on the practical deployment of autonomous Edge AI in the energy sector, enabling devices to independently analyze data and optimize their operations.
As a Program Manager, he oversees the SLAID project under the IPCEI ME/CT program. This project focuses on the practical deployment of autonomous Edge AI in the energy sector, enabling devices to independently analyze data and optimize their operations.
Lioudmila Chatalova is a Policy Officer at the State Chancellery of Saxony-Anhalt, where she oversees major strategic investment projects. Before entering public service, she spent over 18 years in academia, advancing from PhD candidate to Head of a Junior Research Group. Her expertise spans economic analysis, high-level project management, and interministerial coordination. Currently, she represents the state’s interests at the European level, including within the European Semiconductor Regions Alliance (ESRA).
Dr. Jürgen Ude began his career in materials technology and research after earning his doctorate in engineering in 1991. He transitioned from industrial leadership at and innovation management into high-level politics. After serving as State Secretary for Economic Affairs from 2017 to 2022, he was appointed State Secretary for Structural Transformation in the State Chancellery of Saxony-Anhalt. He currently manages large-scale projects and regional development within the state government.
Semiconductors for Future Mobility
The Czech Investment Forum 2026: Semiconductors for Future Mobility is organised as part of the broader initiative Czech Semicon Days, dedicated to the development of the semiconductor sector and its strategic role within the European economy. This week‑long platform brings together key stakeholders from the semiconductor industry, related industrial sectors, public authorities and research institutions.
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Czechia bringing together industry leaders, academia and policy makers to support secure, competitive and resilient European semiconductor ecosystem.
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