The conference was opened by Jakub Švrček, who presented CirkArena as a living ecosystem linking science with the real needs of industry. The importance of the project for both the region and Europe as a whole was highlighted by the participation of numerous distinguished guests. Třinec Mayor Věra Palkovská also delivered a strong appeal for industrial transformation, emphasizing the importance of innovation for the future of the region.
Other speakers included Petr Votoupal from the European Commission, Jan Kříž from the Ministry of the Environment, Hana Truncová from the State Environmental Fund, Jan Platoš, Vice-Rector of VŠB–Technical University of Ostrava, and David Sventek from BeePartner.
A key moment of the conference was the ceremonial signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between MMV and Europe’s leading applied research organization, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The document was signed by Jakub Švrček and Trinidad Fernandez.
This partnership provides CirkArena with direct access to cutting-edge German know-how. In her subsequent lecture, “Fraunhofer Views on the Circular Economy,” Prof. Borkmann emphasized that the Silesian region, thanks to its industrial heritage, has all the prerequisites to become a European-scale hub.
Jakub Švrček, together with project manager Jitka Gajdicová, presented the project’s dynamic progress over the past year. Participants had the opportunity to watch an exclusive time-lapse video documenting the construction of the center, which is growing in direct connection with the region’s industrial backbone.
The visionary segment was opened by Lenka Mynářová (MMV) with an analysis of global challenges, followed by Soňa Klepek Jonášová (INCIEN), who introduced an inspiring concept for transforming the region into a “Circular Valley” — a place that attracts investment and top talent through innovation. The expert panel concluded with Prof. Jozef Vlček, who presented CirkArena’s research infrastructure as a tool for transferring technologies into practice.
“Today’s meeting in Vendryně demonstrated that CirkArena is not just a building, but a strong network of partners stretching from Brussels to Třinec. The agreement with Fraunhofer, signed in the heart of our region, is a clear signal that we are playing in Europe’s top league,” said Jakub Švrček.
Link to photos