AGP Executive Report

Nuclear Deal Boost: South Korea, the US and Japan signed a memorandum to push next-generation SMRs in third countries, aiming to build supply chains and consortia—potential early markets include India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, with Korean firms like Doosan Enerbility, SK Group and HD Hyundai in the spotlight. Czech Power Upgrade: ČEZ has started the process to extend Temelín’s two reactors to 80 years, with major modernisation planned (turbogenerators, control systems, maintenance halls and cooling pipes). Czech Defence Procurement: Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka says Prague is in talks with Israeli firms about air defence systems, including Spyder and Arrow. Medtech Funding Win: Brno ICU-monitoring startup HTG Medical raised €450k and cleared EU MDR certification for the HTG Urogram, automating urine output tracking and sending data into hospital information systems. AI in Czech Infrastructure: The D4 Highway PPP has begun piloting AI-based solutions for selected operations and workflows via Thinkproject. Cybersecurity Warning: A joint advisory says Russian state-linked hackers are targeting poorly secured, outdated routers to reach critical infrastructure networks, including in Czechia. Space Science Credit: Two astronomers from the Ondřejov Observatory helped get minor planets named after Uzbek researchers—an international nod to Czech-led asteroid discovery. Extreme Drought: InterSucho reports extreme soil drought across much of Czechia, with the worst conditions in Moravia and parts of Bohemia.

Czech Defence & Industry: The Czech Republic is in talks with Israeli firms to buy air defense systems, with Foreign Minister Petr Macinka pointing to options including Spyder and Arrow as Prague seeks to modernize air protection. Nuclear Power: ČEZ has started the process to extend Temelín’s two reactors to 80 years, citing major upgrades to key systems and safety/economic conditions. Medtech & Health Tech: JIC Ventures backed HTG Medical, a Czech startup automating urine output monitoring in intensive care units after it cleared MDR certification and is preparing for international markets. AI in Healthcare Billing: ESO Solutions launched an AI-powered EMS “Intelligent Lockbox Assistant” that classifies and routes lockbox documents to speed up billing workflows. Biotech Pipeline: FDA granted Fast Track to SOTIO’s SOT109 ADC for advanced colorectal cancer targeting CDH17. Space Science: Two Uzbek astronomers were honored with minor planets named after them, with discoveries tied to the Ondřejov Observatory in Czechia. Climate & Agriculture: Extreme soil drought hit nearly half of Czechia, with Moravia hardest affected, according to CzechGlobe’s InterSucho. Manufacturing Shift: Zetor will move small/medium tractor production out of Europe to India and China, while keeping HQ and R&D in Brno. Cybersecurity: US and allies warned of Russian-linked attacks targeting poorly secured routers and Cisco vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. Investment & VC: Prague’s Aspire11 deployed the first €100m of its €515m pension-backed fund into a portfolio including Revolut and Databricks.

Private Markets Push: Prague-linked Aspire11 says it has deployed its first €100m from a €515m fund into tech names like Revolut, Databricks, VAST Data, Vinted, ElevenLabs and Baseten, betting that more value is created before IPOs. Czech Defense & Diplomacy: PM Andrej Babiš wants Czechia to join a European missile-defence effort with Ukraine, while FM Petr Macinka leads a large Czech business delegation to Israel, including defence and 3D-printing firms like Prusa Research. STEM Win: Czech high schoolers take gold at the International Young Physicists’ Tournament in Zurich, outperforming teams from 35 countries. Cybersecurity Alert: The US NSA, with partners, warns Russian FSB “Center 16” targets poorly configured routers and urges “router hygiene” fixes across critical sectors. EU Health Capacity: Eurostat reports Bulgaria leads hospital beds per 100,000 people, with Czechia at 639—useful context for healthcare planning. Circular Textiles (EU): ALADIN launches to scale circular, on-demand textile production via micro-factories and a digital service platform, with Czech partners involved.

Antitrust & Media: A coalition of 12 US state attorneys general led by California sued Paramount to block its $111B takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing it would cut competition in film distribution and cable licensing. Cybersecurity: The US NSA and partners issued an advisory telling organizations to “improve router hygiene” after Russian state-linked actors exploited a Cisco Smart Install flaw to target critical sectors. Defense Tech (EU): AeroVironment says Italy has formally designated its JUMP 20 unmanned aircraft system (MQ-31A), moving it into the Italian Army’s official inventory. Manufacturing (Czech): Reinforce3D and Czech additive firm 3Dees teamed up to make CFIP structural reinforcement easier to adopt, with 3Dees acting as a sales partner across Central and Eastern Europe. Biotech: PharmNovo raised €3.5M for a Phase 2 pain trial targeting immune cells via the delta opioid receptor pathway. Health (Czech market): Seznam Zprávy reports hundreds of thousands of unsafe infant formula packs reached Czech shelves before contamination was identified. Healthcare capacity (EU): Eurostat data shows Czechia has 639 hospital beds per 100,000 people, below the EU average. Online child safety: A special panel report focuses on risks to children online and calls for stronger protections.

Education Policy: The Czech government is considering making kindergarten compulsory from age four by extending compulsory preschool from one year to two, aiming for earlier support via more psychologists and special educators as capacity remains a pressure point. Solar Astronomy: Czechia will see its biggest partial solar eclipse until 2075 on Aug 12, with peak around 8:11 p.m. CEST and up to 86% of the Sun covered in parts of southern/western Bohemia. Industry & Jobs: Reports say German garden tools maker Gardena plans to cut 250 jobs in Germany and partially relocate operations to the Czech Republic, adding to a broader trend of business functions moving abroad. Defense Tech & Trade: Czech defense firms drew record attention at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, showing more than weapons—especially electronic warfare, command-and-control, unmanned systems, AI, and military digitization. STEM & Talent: Czech swimmer Daniel Mitka announced a verbal commitment to Georgia Tech starting fall 2027.

Czech Space & Astronomy: The Czech Republic is set for its biggest solar eclipse until 2075 on Aug 12, with observers seeing a major partial eclipse (over 86% in parts of Bohemia) and travelers in the totality path including Greenland, Iceland and Spain. Defense Tech: At Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, Czech firms showed they’re no longer just suppliers, highlighting electronic warfare, command-and-control, unmanned systems, AI and military digitization—while Slovakia’s arms exports keep climbing. Energy Storage: Futureal Energy Partners bought two Latvia battery storage projects (45 MW/120 MWh) in Riga, aiming for operations in November. Czech-Jordan Cooperation: A Czech ambassador says ties are expanding fast across cybersecurity, renewable energy, trade and development, including a 2025 cyber forum that opened doors for Czech tech firms. AI & Robotics Trend: A new push toward embodied AI is moving “smart” systems into real-world tasks, from factory work to robot navigation. Embodied DIY Tech: A Prague Maker Faire creator released design files for a 3D-printed electric motorbike that folds into a suitcase.

Czech-Jordan Tech Diplomacy: Czech Ambassador Andrea Kucerova says ties with Jordan are surging across cybersecurity, renewable energy, trade and development, including a 2025 Cybersecurity Forum that opened doors for Czech firms. NATO in Practice: Analysis of the Ankara summit highlights real progress on defense-industrial cooperation and logistics, but leaves open the big question of how much the US will actually disengage from European security. Energy & Climate Reality Check: A report on datacentres warns big tech’s cloud growth is driving rising emissions, undermining “green cloud” claims. Renewables Policy Gap: EU renewables expansion is accelerating, but Malta still lags badly—an example of how permitting and execution can stall clean-energy ambitions even when targets look strong. Czech Innovation Abroad: Prusa Research printers are set to power a Nigeria STEAM and 3D printing centre via a Czech-backed partnership. Space/Tech Curiosity: A 3D-printed electric motorbike design for Prague Maker Faire makers is now released for builders. Earth Science: A 5.5 quake hit Czechia and Slovakia, with authorities reporting it was smaller than initial reports. Sports (Local Angle): Linda Nosková wins Wimbledon, adding to a Czech women’s tennis legacy.

Czech Tech & Industry: Škoda Kylaq’s cross-continental drive from Pune to Prague (19,351 km across 13 countries in 70 days) spotlights Czech auto engineering’s global reach. Science & Health: Czech Academy of Sciences parasitologists report intestinal worms can only dampen inflammation when hosts have enough dietary fiber—otherwise the worms go into a “hibernation-like” state. Education & Manufacturing Skills: A Czech-backed STEAM and 3D printing centre is set to open in Nigeria with Prusa Research printers, focusing on hands-on design-to-prototype training. Energy & Climate Tech: Datacentres are pushing big tech’s carbon footprint up sharply, with Microsoft, Amazon and Google emissions rising about a fifth year-on-year. Defense & Tech Policy: A report on F-35 stealth coating maintenance says operators can’t fully do the work themselves; more complex repairs require Lockheed Martin due to classified know-how and export controls. Regional Security: The Ankara NATO summit delivered practical defense-industrial cooperation but left open how much the US will keep reducing forces in Europe.

Czech Science: Czech Academy of Sciences parasitologists report in Nature Communications that intestinal worms can damp inflammation only when the host diet has enough fiber—without it, the parasites enter a “hibernation-like” state and lose their anti-inflammatory effect. AI & Energy Infrastructure: Daewoo E&C is expanding from data-center construction into LNG, nuclear and SMR projects, pitching power reliability for AI workloads. Solar Supply Chain Pressure: EU bans on “high-risk” Chinese PV inverters/PCS are drawing pushback from 36 firms and investors, warning they could stall solar and wind rollouts in Central and Eastern Europe, including Czechia. Child Safety Online: Czech police and the Interior Ministry warn that summer holidays raise risks of cyber grooming and urge parents to avoid oversharing children’s photos. Czech Tech/Industry Diplomacy: Prime Minister Andrej Babiš met Belgium’s Bart De Wever in Prague to deepen cooperation in trade, energy and security, and backed Czech firms’ role in Ukraine reconstruction in Gdańsk. NATO Tech Procurement: NATO’s Ankara summit highlighted joint procurement plans like replacing aging AWACS with Saab GlobalEye systems.

Czech Defence & Aerospace: The Czech Air Force took delivery of its first Embraer C-390 Millennium transport aircraft (KCV-390), a CZK 11.3bn procurement meant to close long-range transport gaps and add aerial refuelling capability. EU Energy Tech: The EU’s ban on “high-risk” Chinese PV inverters is already worrying industry and investors, with estimates that it could hit about 14% of forecast solar inverter demand in Europe through 2030—especially in Central and Eastern Europe. AI Leadership Shock: Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s “CEO, AGI deployment,” will not return full-time after a health-related medical leave, shifting power and priorities inside the AI company. Cyber Safety for Kids: Czech police and the Interior Ministry warn of higher online risks for children during summer holidays, pushing prevention against grooming and urging safer parent habits. Geopolitics & NATO: NATO’s Ankara summit highlights new European defence cooperation, including plans to refresh airborne early warning with Saab GlobalEye systems. Earth & Science: A weak earthquake (initially misreported as 5.5) was recorded in the Czech Republic, with follow-up readings showing far less risk than first feared. STEM Spotlights: Czech junior swimmers are in focus at the European Junior Championships, with Czech athletes seeded for finals as the event reaches its later stages.

F-35 & NATO diplomacy: Reports say Trump discussed potentially easing Turkey’s access to the US-made F-35 with Erdogan at the Ankara summit, reopening a defence freeze since 2019; Middle East pressure: Israel’s Netanyahu is urging Washington not to sell F-35s to Turkey, warning it would shift the regional military balance; Czech science & safety: A quake initially reported as 5.5 later turned out to be much weaker (1.8) in the Czech Republic, while a separate 5.5 event was reported for Czechia and Slovakia; Energy policy: EU funding limits on Chinese-made solar inverters are drawing warnings from companies and investors that projects in Central and Eastern Europe could stall; Czech industry & global tech: Czech-made LEGO helped build the world’s largest FIFA World Cup trophy replica in New York, assembled from 1.36 million bricks; AI & business: SalesHood expanded its agentic revenue enablement platform with native support for 19 languages, aiming to scale coaching and sales execution globally.

EU Energy Policy: A new EU move blocking funding for Chinese-made inverters is already worrying investors and companies: they warn it could slow or even stall solar and wind rollouts in Central and Eastern Europe, where public money and Chinese supply still dominate. NATO & Czech Security: Czech President Petr Pavel says there’s a narrow window for Ukraine diplomacy before Russia’s September elections, while at the NATO summit in Ankara leaders reaffirmed unity and collective defence; Pavel also notes Czech defence spending growth won’t ramp up sharply until after 2030. Defense Tech Supply Chains: Reuters reports Honeywell is pushing “ITAR-free” defense products and has engineers in Poland and the Czech Republic to reduce export-control risks for European customers. Space & Astronomy: New VLT observations suggest Sagittarius A* isn’t destroying nearby dusty objects as previously thought, with several clouds following stable orbits. Czech Science: Researchers found the oldest known beech tree in Czechia near Velké Karlovice, nearly 500 years old, discovered during slope-stability work. Tech & Society: At a NATO summit side event, Türkiye’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan urged governments to treat child safety as a core design principle and demanded transparency about the “black box” behind algorithms.

Ukraine Defense Tech: At the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said the U.S. will license Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air-defense systems—an abrupt shift that could speed up Kyiv’s production of a long-sought capability. Nuclear & Energy Industry: South Korea, the U.S. and Japan agreed to cooperate on exporting small modular reactors (SMRs), aiming to build overseas projects as AI-driven power demand grows. Czech Tech & Research: Finland’s Lumi AI Factory plans to deploy IQM’s Halocene H4 quantum computer, with Czechia among the funders—positioning the Czech region inside Europe’s hybrid quantum push. Solar Supply Chain: A new EU move to ban PV inverters and power conversion systems from China could hit Central and Eastern Europe hardest, with Czechia flagged among the most exposed markets. Materials & Manufacturing: Omya expanded its EMS-GRIVORY polyamide distribution partnership into the UK and Ireland, building on existing ties that include the Czech Republic. AI-Era Infrastructure: Daewoo E&C is expanding into LNG, nuclear and SMR-linked energy infrastructure, betting data-center growth will drive demand for reliable power.

Czech Defence & Security: The Czech Air Force has received its first C-390 Millennium transport aircraft, with a second plane due under a CZK 11.3bn deal—more lift for troops, equipment and materials. NATO & Industry: At the Ankara NATO summit, Czech President Petr Pavel called Türkiye “essential” for collective security and urged stronger European defence ownership, while Canada’s PM Mark Carney announced new Arctic-focused defence investments and industrial capacity plans. Ukraine Tech for Defence: US President Trump said the US will license Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air-defence systems, aiming to speed up production for missile defence. Nuclear Policy: EU member states including the Czech Republic are pushing for post-2030 energy rules to “make full use of nuclear energy,” alongside renewables, to boost affordability and security. Quantum & HPC: LUMI AI Factory in Finland selected IQM to deploy an on-premises superconducting quantum computer for quantum error correction work, linking quantum with hybrid HPC and AI. Cybersecurity Research (Czech): Czech researchers found most authenticated SSH attacks are non-interactive, meaning many honeypots miss key attacker behaviour. Czech Business Tech: Intermap expanded its Aquarius RMA platform with property valuation analytics, with adoption by multiple Czech insurers. EU Border Tech: The new EU Entry-Exit System is causing long queues at some borders due to uneven rollout and biometric checks.

AI Governance for Kids: A new UN-backed coalition launched in Geneva puts children’s rights and safety at the center of AI governance, with the Czech Republic among 17 founding signatories. Czech Health Policy: Czechia is weighing whether health insurance should permanently cover medicines for severely obese children, following France’s move to reimburse modern obesity drugs. Startup in Battlefield Medicine: A startup is digitising Ukraine’s casualty evacuation by replacing paper-based med records with wearable sensors and digital patient data to speed care and reduce errors. Extreme Heat Warning: A severe heatwave is driving hundreds of deaths and record temperatures across the US and Europe, straining hospitals and power systems. Czech-Turkey Tech & Industry Ties: Turkey’s trade minister says cooperation with Czechia will deepen in investment, industry, technology and defence as NATO leaders meet in Ankara. NATO Air Surveillance: NATO plans to negotiate with Saab for GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft to replace aging AWACS, boosting European defence tech capacity. Fertility Access Study: New research argues that cutting out-of-pocket IVF costs can sharply raise live births, making affordability the main barrier. Volleyball: Thailand’s VNL campaign heads into a tough final stretch in Osaka with matches against the US, Japan, Brazil and Turkey.

NATO Air Surveillance Upgrade: NATO has started formal talks to buy up to 10 Saab GlobalEye airborne early-warning aircraft to replace aging E-3 AWACS, using Erieye Extended Range radar on a Bombardier Global 6500 platform—another sign of Europe’s defence build-up. Ukraine at the Summit: Zelenskiy arrived in Ankara pushing for momentum in Kyiv’s favour, while Trump signaled he’s “getting much closer” to ending the war and plans to meet Zelenskiy on the sidelines. AI Jobs Pressure: An OECD report says London has the highest share of jobs exposed to generative AI, with hiring for AI talent lagging the EU, Canada and the US. Digital Security & Identity: Spanish cybersecurity startup 8Layers extended its pre-Seed to €2.5m total, aiming to commercialize digital identity security across Europe. Forensics Tech in Practice: Thermo Fisher says its Rapid DNA workflow got FBI approval for use with samples eligible for CODIS searches, potentially speeding DNA matches from days to hours. Czech Science/Industry Spotlight: Lego’s 8.47m World Cup trophy replica was built in Kladno, Czech Republic, using a steel skeleton and 1.36m bricks. Prague STEM Culture: “Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition” opened in Prague, mixing literature and forensic-style interactive investigations through Jan 2027.