Press releases
As Europe’s deep-tech landscape accelerates, Brno stands out as a city where science turns into startups. At this year’s Velvet Innovation Conference, which explores courage and resilience in innovation, emerging projects took the stage at the Startup Showcase. ACTOSens, Citymind, Lightly, EpiQ and Veriteus are those to watch. Curated by the innovation agency JIC, these startups combine academic excellence with global ambition, addressing challenges from healthcare and AI to cybersecurity and industrial automation.
Once known for its precision engineering and microelectronics, the Brno region has transformed into one of Europe’s most dynamic space hubs. More than 30 companies in the region are now active in satellite and space technologies, employing over 400 highly qualified specialists — a workforce that has grown by a quarter in just three years. Supported by the innovation agency JIC, which operates business incubator ESA BIC in the region and connects startups with funding opportunities, the Brno Space Cluster unites leading players across the local space ecosystem. This collaborative platform is now taking Czech space excellence to the international stage at Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen.
This year’s Velvet Innovation Conference will bring together global leaders to discuss security in connection with artificial intelligence and the responsible development of technology. Among the keynote speakers will be Vijoy Pandey, Vice President at Cisco and head of Outshift, the company’s innovation studio in Silicon Valley that creates technologies for the world of tomorrow.