LASER-PRO Kick-off Begins: A New Chapter for European Laser Innovation

The opening session featured inspiring speeches from distinguished leaders, highlighting the project's ambition and its far-reaching impact:

• Michael Prouza, Director of the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, welcomed participants on behalf of the HiLASE Centre and the Institute.
• Petra Pecková, Governor of the Central Bohemia Region, emphasized LASER-PRO’s potential to drive innovation beyond the scope of a traditional project.
• Jana Havlíková, Deputy Minister for Science, Research, and Innovation, underscored the importance of integrating research and innovation with regional development.
• Radek Špicar, Vice-President of the Confederation of Industry, stressed the role of projects like LASER-PRO in fostering collaboration between research and industry to drive economic growth.
• Helena Schulzová, Deputy Director of the Department of Economic and Science Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, highlighted the project's global significance and praised the involvement of Ukrainian institutions.
• Rolandas Kačinskas, Ambassador of Lithuania to the Czech Republic, reinforced the importance of Czech-Lithuanian collaboration for economic prosperity.
• Helena Jelínková, Professor of Applied Physics at the Czech Technical University in Prague, reflected on the long-standing collaboration between academia and industry in laser technology in Czech Republic.
• Petr Očko, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, emphasized the strong ties between the HiLASE Centre and industrial partners.
• Tomas Mocek, Head of HiLASE Centre and project coordinator, concluded the session by declaring LASER-PRO as not just a project, but a movement towards international collaboration, economic progress, and research excellence.

The event also featured insights from key industry stakeholders, including Kryštof Polák (CRYTUR), Michal Lorenc (onsemi), Tomas Tethal (IQS Group), Lenka Bajarova (AMIRES), and Gediminas Račiukaitis (Center for Physical Sciences and Technology). These partners play a crucial role in bridging the gap between research and industrial application, ensuring that LASER-PRO technologies contribute meaningfully to European economy.

As the discussions and networking continue, Tuesday’s agenda will focus on in-depth workshops dedicated to specific work packages, allowing teams to align their strategies and kick-start their contributions to this ambitious project.

With a strong start, LASER-PRO Excellence Hub is already shaping up to be a game-changer for European hi-tech development, uniting research, education, industry, and key stakeholders to drive cutting-edge advancements in laser technologies.

With a shared vision to foster cross-border innovation, the project is building a robust ecosystem that strengthens collaboration between academia and industry in Czechia, Lithuania, and Ukraine.

By enhancing industrial competitiveness, supporting startups and SMEs, and developing a highly skilled workforce, LASER-PRO aims to accelerate the commercialization of laser-based solutions across sectors like manufacturing, semiconductors, biomedical devices, and digital production.

Additionally, the project is committed to promoting sustainable and digital industrial transformation, empowering Ukraine’s innovation ecosystem, and ensuring long-term impact through strategic communication and stakeholder engagement.