NCUI Kickoff Meeting – Echoes from the Launch

18.08.2026

At the end of April, we officially launched the National Center for Artificial Intelligence (NCUI) at a kick-off meeting held at CIIRC, CTU. Representatives from academia, industry, and public institutions gathered there, united by a common goal: to accelerate the transfer of cutting-edge artificial intelligence research into practice and to work together to find solutions to current societal and industrial challenges.

What do the National Center for Artificial Intelligence’s partners expect from it?

We captured this spirit of collaboration and the partners’ specific expectations in a mini-series of short videos titled “Echoes from the Launch.” How do individual partner representatives view the role of the NCUI, and what opportunities does the project offer them?

AI as an Opportunity for the Future of the Czech Republic

Lukáš Kačena, the Government Commissioner for Artificial Intelligence at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, discusses the importance of such initiatives for the development of the Czech AI ecosystem and why it is crucial to connect research organizations, companies, and public administration.

From Problem to Solution Without Unnecessary Delays

Today, industrial companies face challenges that require quick and effective responses. Tomáš Kozlok from TOS VARNSDORF explains why it’s important to involve researchers as soon as a problem arises, rather than waiting for ready-made solutions.

True Collaboration Starts at the Beginning

Collaboration between research and industry is most beneficial when companies’ needs are incorporated into development from the very beginning. Viktor Kulíšek from Meopta describes how jointly defining problems helps focus research on topics with real-world impact and shortens the path from idea to practical application.

AI in Healthcare

NCUI’s activities are not limited to industry but also extend to other areas where artificial intelligence can bring tangible benefits. Miroslav Janošík from Beckman Coulter Diagnostics presents the possibilities for using AI in healthcare,

Although the individual partners operate in different fields, their perspectives align in many ways. The common denominator is the need for close collaboration between research and the applied sector, rapid validation of new solutions, and a focus on the actual needs of users.

The NCUI is built precisely on these principles. It brings together 36 partners from across the Czech Republic and creates a space for the development of pilot projects that will help translate the results of artificial intelligence research into areas where they can yield concrete social and economic benefits.