BUT Rector Joins Business Delegation During Czech President’s State Visit to Argentina and Chile

The Rector of Brno University of Technology, Ladislav Janíček, took part in a business mission accompanying the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, during his April state visit to Argentina and Chile. The mission, led by the President of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, Jan Rafaj, focused on business activities in selected high-tech sectors with strong potential for developing cooperation between the Czech Republic and both Latin American countries. The Rector of BUT, together with Daniel Nývlt from the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University, represented not only the university sector but also, as members of the Board of Trustees of the Czech Antarctic Foundation, Czech research activities in Antarctica.

Delegation meetings with chambers of commerce

The business delegation covered a wide range of industrial sectors that are also strategic for BUT. It included representatives of Czech companies operating in cybersecurity, telecommunications, space applications, the aerospace industry, simulation technologies, 3D printing, robotics and autonomous systems, semiconductor technologies, defense industry applications, as well as the chemical and mining industries.

The program in both countries consisted of meetings with representatives of chambers of commerce and industry, business entities, the defense sector, and ministries of defense. The mission began in Argentina in Buenos Aires and continued two days later in Chile, in Santiago de Chile and the city of Antofagasta.

Each meeting featured an up-to-date presentation of the Czech economy and industry delivered by Jan Rafaj, the President of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic. He introduced industrial partners and entrepreneurs in both countries to the potential for cooperation with the Czech Republic. In both Chile and Argentina, the presidents of the host countries’ chambers of commerce and industry then presented their respective economies and industries.

Presentations by representatives of chambers of commerce at these business forums outlined the needs of individual economies and industrial sectors and identified areas of potential cooperation for Czech partners. These were followed by presentations of products, technologies, and technical solutions by Czech participants, which, together with subsequent formal and informal consultations on opportunities for mutual cooperation, formed the core objective of the meetings.

The high level of the meetings was underscored by the presence of the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel. In addition to his own program, he opened both business forums held at chambers of commerce in Argentina and Chile. In his opening remarks, he emphasized the opportunities arising from cooperation between the participating countries for the development of their economies and highlighted the Czech Republic’s interest in strengthening trade, industrial, and broader cooperation with both South American countries.

Industrial potential and cooperation in the defense sector

One of the mission’s objectives was also cooperation in the defense sector, which was discussed directly at the ministries of defense in both Argentina and, two days later, in Chile. Participants had the opportunity to present their activities and plans to representatives of the defense sectors of the visited countries. In this context, strong interest was also noted in the field of university education.

In Argentina, the meeting resulted in establishing contact with the head of the research department of the Ministry of Defense, who facilitated further connections with research centers and universities involved in defense research, particularly with Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC, founded in 1613) and Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP).

Both Argentine and Chilean representatives, including those from ministries of defense, expressed interest in cooperation in university education, especially in technical fields, both in degree programs and lifelong learning. The interest focused mainly on informatics, cybersecurity, space applications, aerospace engineering, robotics and autonomous systems, as well as management.

Strong reputation of BUT at Argentina’s largest university

University cooperation in education and research was also discussed during a visit by the Czech delegation to Universidad de Buenos Aires. Discussions focused mainly on semiconductor technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, and telecommunications, where there was clear interest in collaboration.

BUT was perceived very positively by Universidad de Buenos Aires. This was significantly supported by the participation of students, academic staff, and researchers from Argentina’s largest university in the Staff Week organized last year by the BUT Faculty of Business and Management, as well as by traditional summer schools focused on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity organized by the BUT Faculty of Information Technology.

The program also included a visit to the research institute Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial (INTI), Argentina’s National Institute of Industrial Technology, which presented an example of close links between research and industrial practice across a wide range of fields. The delegation was introduced in particular to activities and laboratories focused on semiconductor technologies, microelectronics, telecommunications, and cybersecurity. Attention was also drawn to the use of electron microscopes originating from Brno, confirming the strong reputation of Czech technologies in Latin America.

Innovation, startups, and the space program in Chile

Another meeting took place two days later at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in Santiago de Chile, one of the most prestigious universities in South America. At this university and within its campus operates the innovation center Centro de Innovación UC Anacleto Angelini. In addition to modern facilities and laboratories, the approach to supporting entrepreneurship and innovation activities was presented. The model was largely comparable to the activities of the Brno innovation agency JIC in terms of talent scouting, mentoring, and support for startup and spin-off development, including links to university know-how.

A unique part of the program in Santiago de Chile was a visit to the newly established National Space Center – Centro Espacial Nacional (CEN). Space activities in Chile traditionally fall under the authority of the Air Force (Fuerza Aérea de Chile), and the country currently operates three space centers – in Santiago de Chile, Antofagasta, and Punta Arenas. At CEN, the Czech delegation was introduced to the Chilean space program and the satellite mission control ground station.

An interesting moment of the visit was a meeting with faculty members and students from the mechanical and electrical engineering faculties of the Catholic University in Santiago de Chile, who were at that time working on assembling small satellites. This paralleled projects carried out at BUT by the student team YSpace. In this context, study activities focused on space applications at BUT were presented, along with experience in building, launching, and operating satellites via their own ground station. The meeting resulted in an agreement to hold an online discussion on possibilities for further cooperation, including potential student mobility.

The expressed interest in further cooperation at universities in both Argentina and Chile led to the exchange of contacts and the initiation of discussions on opportunities for studying technology fields at BUT in the Czech Republic. Interest again focused mainly on study programs and cooperation in space applications, aerospace and automotive engineering, information technology, and cybersecurity, across all levels of study.

Czech diplomatic missions in Argentina and Chile pledged support for this cooperation, including assistance in facilitating further communication and promoting study opportunities in the Czech Republic in general and cooperation with BUT in particular. Given the high cost of higher education in both countries, studying in the Czech Republic represents an attractive alternative, especially for young people of Czech origin living in Argentina and Chile who speak Czech and for whom studying in the Czech Republic may be an economically accessible option.

Meetings with Czech communities in Argentina and Chile

The Czech delegation also met with representatives of Czech communities, first at the Czech House in Buenos Aires and two days later at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Santiago de Chile. These meetings provided an opportunity for dialogue with descendants of Czech and Czechoslovak emigrants who came to Argentina and Chile in the 1920s and 1930s and built new lives there, often through employment in Baťa company factories. These enterprises gradually became so integrated into the local environment that they are often perceived as domestic in both Argentina and Chile.

It is precisely the descendants of these communities who may represent potential applicants for study in the Czech Republic, including technical fields at BUT, while making use of opportunities to study in the Czech language. Representatives of Czech diplomatic missions in both countries pledged active support in providing information about study opportunities in the Czech Republic to these communities and in connecting interested individuals with representatives of Czech universities.

Across the Atacama Desert to the world’s largest telescope and Paranal Observatory The final part of the mission program was a visit to the European Southern Observatory (ESO) (European Southern Observatory), located deep in the Atacama Desert in a mountain massif on Cerro Paranal. After a flight from Santiago de Chile to Antofagasta, the journey to the observatory followed a long road through a barren, rocky landscape with bare hills, reminiscent of images from the surface of Mars. The Atacama Desert lies in the rain shadow of the Andes and is one of the driest places on Earth. Its dry climate and high altitude—around three thousand meters above sea level—create exceptionally favorable conditions for astronomical observations, especially due to the cloudless and extraordinarily clear skies. The Paranal Observatory is located at an altitude of 2.6 kilometers. Before arriving there, members of the Czech delegation visited the construction site of the world’s largest optical telescope—the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), currently being built on the neighboring Cerro Armazones. With a planned primary mirror diameter of nearly 40 meters, the telescope is expected to be completed next year. Even now, the monumental dome structure in the barren mountain landscape attracts attention with its scale and stands as a striking example of cutting-edge technological expertise. The opportunity to enter the structure under construction and learn about its technical design was an extraordinary experience. After visiting the ELT construction site, the delegation moved to Cerro Paranal, home to the Very Large Telescope (VLT), consisting of four telescopes with primary mirrors eight meters in diameter, housed in separate domes. These telescopes can operate both independently and in a combined mode. Participants had the opportunity to explore the interiors of the domes and learn about the mechanics of the rotating dome and mirror positioning systems. The overall experience was enhanced by a sunset observed from above a layer of clouds stretching far below the observatory. Another important event took place at the Paranal residence facility—the signing of a Letter of Intent on the Czech Republic’s accession to the ANDES project consortium (ArmazoNes high Dispersion Echelle Spectrograph), which aims to develop the largest high-dispersion spectrograph ever for the ELT. The signing took place under the auspices of President Petr Pavel, who delivered an opening speech together with ESO Director General Xavier Barcons. On behalf of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the document was signed by its President Radomír Pánek, and on behalf of the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University by its Dean Luděk Bláha. This step represents a significant strengthening of Czech institutions’ involvement in top-level international astronomical research.

Signing of strategic international cooperation documents in Chile

On the final day of the stay in Santiago de Chile, the Czech delegation attended the ceremonial signing of two memoranda of cooperation between Chile and the Czech Republic. The ceremony took place at the La Moneda presidential palace in the presence of Presidents Petr Pavel and José Antonio Kast Rist.

The first memorandum concerned the peaceful use of outer space, the development of satellite systems, and space technologies. On behalf of the Czech side, the document was signed by Czech Ambassador to Chile Pavel Bechný, while Chile was represented by Minister of Defense Fernando Barros.

The second memorandum focused on cooperation in Antarctic research between the Chilean Antarctic Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH), represented by its director Gino Casassa Rogazinski, and the Czech Antarctic Programme, administered by the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University. The Czech side was represented at the signing by Dean Luděk Bláha. Both memoranda create a framework for further development of cooperation between institutions of both countries in the fields of space and Antarctic research.

The ceremonial signing was followed by a joint dinner at the presidential palace. In addition to the presidents of both countries, a number of distinguished guests attended. The gathering also brought together representatives of academic institutions, including ESO Director General Xavier Barcons and the Rector of the University of Chile, Rosa Devés Alessandri, along with other representatives of Chilean institutions.

Conclusion of a successful mission to South America

After an intensive week-long program filled with numerous meetings and accompanying events, the mission to South America can be evaluated as highly successful. It fulfilled its main objective of supporting the establishment of international cooperation and further strengthening relations between the Czech Republic, Argentina, and Chile. In addition to expanding international contacts, it also created opportunities for the development of cooperation between Czech high-tech companies and academia on one side and businesses, institutions, and universities in both South American countries on the other.

Acknowledgement “I am convinced that the Czech Republic made a very positive impression in both Latin American countries. I greatly appreciate having had the opportunity to be part of such a distinguished group of high-tech companies and personalities that have achieved significant results,” said BUT Rector Ladislav Janíček at the conclusion of the mission. He also thanked Jan Rafaj, President of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, who led the business part of the mission and contributed to its success not only through persuasive presentations of the Czech economy and industry but above all by connecting mission participants with one another and with partners on the Argentine and Chilean sides. He also praised the high level of organization and thanked Czech diplomatic missions in Argentina and Chile, specifically Ambassador Jarmila Povejšilová and Ambassador Pavel Bechný, their teams, Dmitrij Černikov from the Office of the President of the Republic, and Ivana Javorová from the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, who coordinated the business part of the mission. The BUT Rector also highlighted the personal involvement of President Petr Pavel and his active participation in the mission program. According to the Rector, his interest and approach provided strong support to the entire mission and contributed to creating an excellent working atmosphere. “Throughout the mission, President Petr Pavel continuously took an interest in the outcomes of meetings as well as in the plans of individual participants in South America regarding their professional and business activities. He repeatedly engaged in individual discussions with participants to effectively support their goals within his official meetings. This attention also extended to the activities of BUT,” Rector Janíček added.

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Author	doc. Ing. Ladislav Janíček, Ph.D., MBA, LL.M.
Published	2026-04-28 12:08
Link	https://www.vut.cz/en/but/f19528/d326593