Panel discussions

9.30 – 10.40 PANEL 1

How to get new champions of Slovak industry?

Top industrial players can turn ideas into market success with their own innovations and their ability to collaborate with technology providers, scientists, universities and other stakeholders.

Modern industry must perform the supportive role to the society with long-term as well as the acute or emergency issues. To sustain the position of the economy engine and stabile jobs provider, the industry must orchestrate its product, service and technology innovations and use the environment, as made by the government and the public sector services – mainly in business environment, scientific research and education.

Slovak economy needs its industrial sector to contain the companies, enabled and encouraged to become international market leaders in various fields. Such companies can utilize top technologies of the traditional industries in new business models responding to megatrends, such as the Smart City concept requirements on transport, energy or the emerging segments.

Panel chaired by: Martin Jesný, Analyst, Revue priemyslu (Industrial Review) 

10.45 – 11.35 PANEL 2

How to Manage Crisis Situations- Experiences from the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges that have also affected Slovak entrepreneurs. 

Our panelists come from companies that thanks to their ingenuity, even in these difficult times, managed to adjust their product portfolio to the current circumstances. 

They will present their technological solutions that helped innovate their clients in times of the pandemic as well as their diversification tendencies and directions their companies took in this extraordinary situation.

Panel chaired by: Oto Pisoň, Deputy of the Investment Project Department & Innovation Manager SARIO

11.40 – 12.30 PANEL 3

Sky is not the limit: How Slovak companies are finding new business opportunities in space economy

The 21st century is an era of dynamic growth and disruptive trends in the space sector. Constantly growing efficiency in accessing space as well as a wide range of new possibilities of satellite data and services utilization trigger the creation of new markets within the space economy. 

Together with invited Slovak companies, we will discuss possibilities that the space sector brings to the Slovak businesses both in the area of hardware fated to leave the Earth and in the area of space applications which, on the contrary, find a wide practical use on our planet.

Panel chaired by: Michal Brichta, Teamleader for Diversification Services & Senior Consultant of the Investment Project Department SARIO