On June 2, the Technical University of Liberec hosted the Liberec Region Employers and Public Administration Forum. The meeting brought together representatives from companies, public administration, and academia, demonstrating that today’s university is not merely a place for teaching and basic research. It is increasingly becoming a partner for industry, regional development, and concrete innovation.
The meeting was held at TUL for another symbolic reason as well. The Technical University of Liberec has recently joined the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic, thereby strengthening its role in the dialogue between the academic sphere and businesses. The forum is scheduled to take place twice a year, with one of the annual events always returning to the university. TUL thus gains a regular venue for bringing together people who influence the future of work, technology, and the region’s competitiveness. Interest from companies was high, with more than a hundred participants attending the event.
A partnership without which the forum would not have been possible
Organizing the event would not have been possible without the cooperation of partners who contributed to its preparation and smooth execution. Special thanks go to the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic for the idea and co-organization, to Nadě Vojtíšková, the Confederation’s regional manager for the Liberec and Hradec Králové regions, to the Liberec Region for its active involvement, and to T-Mobile Czech Republic, which became a partner of the event.
Challenges from companies, solutions from the university
Even before the forum itself, participants had the opportunity to tour selected facilities at the TUL CXI. The institute presented itself as a strong partner for contract research and collaboration with industry. This is not merely a supplementary activity on the fringes of academic operations. The contract and supplementary activities of the TUL CXI grow every year and reached approximately 73 million crowns in 2025. This is a clear signal that companies value the university’s research capabilities and that the university is able to translate their challenges into concrete technical solutions.
The laboratories demonstrated specific opportunities for collaboration
The program included a tour of the TUL CXI laboratories. Participants were introduced to the field of 3D printing and additive manufacturing, which is among the fastest-growing ways to shorten development cycles, validate new designs, and gain a competitive advantage.
The next stop was the microscopy laboratory, where the Helios microscope was presented, among other things. It enables detailed quality control, material analysis, and the examination of alloys, welds, or defects, and can peer deep into the structure of samples.
The Environmental Technology Department was also presented, focusing, among other things, on technologies related to water, waste, and the sustainable use of resources. Participants could see that the department is routinely connected to practical applications in the form of real or semi-operational facilities at water treatment plants and wastewater treatment plants.
In the entrance hall, companies could view a demonstration of system integration from the Laboratory of Process Modeling and Artificial Intelligence. A playful demonstration of image analysis showed how, in a dynamic scene captured by a camera, a glass of prosecco can be located and, using artificial intelligence, how empty it is and when it needs to be refilled can be determined. Behind this lighthearted demonstration, however, lay an important message: machine vision and image analysis have a wide range of applications in industry, such as defect detection, motion tracking, or object recognition in manufacturing.
The Region, University, and Companies at One Table
The afternoon session of the forum moved to Building G of the Technical University of Liberec, where registration was followed by a welcome for the guests and the official opening of the program. The forum brought together representatives of the region, the university, industry, and technology companies at one table. The Liberec Region was represented by Governor Martin Půta, Deputy Governor for Strategic and Economic Development Edvard Kožušník, and Councilor for Education and Sports Jitka Skalická. Rector Aleš Kocourek spoke on behalf of the Technical University of Liberec; CXI TUL was represented by its director, Miroslav Černík; and Jan Kočí, head of the Science and Research Department at CXI TUL, also participated in the discussion. The employers’ perspective was provided by Jan Rafaj, president of the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic, and Bohdan Wojnar, vice president of the confederation. The event’s partner, T-Mobile Czech Republic, was represented by Jakub Kopecký.
Innovation, Know-How, and Education Go Hand in Hand
One of the main themes was the question of why collaboration between companies, universities, and research centers is so important for the region. TUL Rector Aleš Kocourek pointed out that, in his view, there are three fundamental reasons for this connection.
“The first is the very ability to innovate. We need to drive innovation through universities and research centers while simultaneously connecting the entire system with business and public administration. That is our future,” he said.
According to Kocourek, the second reason is the creation of new companies built on university know-how. “When we communicate effectively, schools are much more connected to the business world. Thanks to this, spin-offs can emerge from them—great companies that drive the country forward,” he added.
The third reason concerns the teaching itself and the students. “If the system is well-connected, teaching will better reflect what companies actually need. And students will enjoy it more, too, because they’ll see the purpose of their work,” concluded Aleš Kocourek.
From Words to Concrete Action
Jan Rafaj, president of the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic, also addressed the need for broader cooperation. He emphasized that support for innovation and new technologies in the region must not remain mere words but must translate into concrete assistance.
“We’re talking about how to support the development of innovation and new technologies in the region. I believe this is a direction we won’t just talk about in the coming years, but we’ll also find a way to help, for example, with funding for things the university can’t achieve on its own,” said Jan Rafaj.
According to Rafaj, such forums are important mainly because they give individual sectors the opportunity to engage in dialogue. “Every sector should be able to listen to entrepreneurs, universities, and the people who live with these issues every day—issues that are sometimes decided from behind a desk,” he added.
The first edition of the forum thus demonstrated that collaboration between universities and companies need not begin with an abstract debate on innovation, but rather with a concrete practical problem and a willingness to seek a joint solution. The participants themselves viewed this positively. “It was a truly excellent, professional gathering. We look forward to the next one next year,” summarized one of them.
