{"id":3898,"date":"2024-07-31T10:19:23","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T08:19:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getsmart.cz\/en\/?p=3898"},"modified":"2026-03-30T10:33:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T08:33:46","slug":"3898-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getsmart.cz\/en\/3898-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Michael Zankl and Lucie Valentov\u00e1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Their primary mission is to foster Czech-Bavarian cooperation by promoting innovation processes in small and medium-sized enterprises. This involves preparing and implementing technological projects, providing consulting on funding programs, and organizing networking and informational events.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Can you briefly introduce yourself and your professional path?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael:<\/strong> I have a background in Industrial Engineering and Economics, and my career has consistently centered on project management. At Witron Logistik + Informatik<\/em>, I managed large-scale projects in the US and Spain, focusing on logistics systems. Later, I joined Moll Automatisierung<\/em>, where I led automation projects for BMW and VW across England, Poland, and Germany. Now, as the Technology and Network Manager at the Beratungsb\u00fcro Oberpfalz, I work with Lucie to foster collaboration between businesses and academic institutions, driving innovation and facilitating partnerships.<\/p>\n

Lucie: <\/strong>I come from Pilsen, where I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on small and medium enterprises. Afterwards, I moved to the partner city of Regensburg to pursue my Master’s in Business Administration. During and after my studies, I managed various German-Czech projects, ranging from youth education to securing skilled labor. For the past 18 years, I have been involved in funding across different sectors, including municipalities, associations, and businesses. In my current role at the Beratungsb\u00fcro Oberpfalz, I apply all aspects of German-Czech collaboration, SME knowledge, funding, and project management.<\/p>\n

How exactly does the consulting office help Czech-Bavarian relations and development?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lucie:<\/strong> The office has been in operation for 8 years. We are known as an advisory office, funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Finance and for Home Affairs, and our work covers three main areas. The first area includes advisory and funding services, where we help small and medium-sized companies find suitable technology funding programs and support them throughout the application process. The second area involves supporting cooperation between the Czech Republic and Germany, specifically between the Pilsen region and Upper Palatinate. We mediate contacts between companies and research institutions or universities, help them find funding programs for their projects, and we also moderate and coordinate this network. The third area is organizing cross-border events in the region, such as the Czech-Bavarian Innovation Day. Additionally, in the past years, we have started to focus on strategic innovation management.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCompeting globally with countries like China and the United States requires a strong Europe, and our position at its heart makes collaboration crucial.\u201d<\/em><\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What obstacles do you have to overcome when implementing projects?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael:<\/strong> Our consulting office plays a key role in fostering Czech-Bavarian relations by connecting people and organizations on both sides of the border. The focus is on building partnerships that promote innovation, which is essential for staying competitive in today\u2019s global market. We help businesses and institutions access the right resources, whether it’s through funding opportunities, technological facilities, or expert networks. Additionally, we guide them through the often-complex application processes, making it easier for innovative ideas to take shape and succeed.<\/p>\n

How do you perceive the differences between the work cultures in Germany and the Czech Republic?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lucie:<\/strong> Oh, it is different. In the Czech Republic, colleagues become informal very quickly, often within the first or second day. In Germany, it takes time to build trust. It might take a while before you go for a beer together and connect on a more friendly level. However, I think we are very similar, especially in Upper Palatinate and Pilsen. We share a similar lifestyle and work style, a strong connection to the region, and similar preferences in food and drink. Ivan Nov\u00fd and Sylvia Schroll-Machl wrote about these stereotypes, stating that Czechs tend to improvise while Germans prefer to plan. Interestingly, in our case, I am Czech and I plan, while Michael is German and he improvises. I believe that these small differences are beneficial for creating the best projects.<\/p>\n

What opportunities do you see in the area of Czech-Bavarian cooperation for the future?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael:<\/strong> Both regions share many common traits, both culturally and industrially, which provides an excellent foundation for effective collaboration. We have similar needs and face comparable challenges such as automation, robotics, additive manufacturing, and digitalization. While these topics are relevant worldwide, our regions have specific strengths that we can leverage. Language barriers are also diminishing, as English is now widely used. As Milan Edl recently pointed out, it\u2019s essential to focus on people’s needs and implement technologies in a meaningful way – not for the sake of technology itself, but to serve the people.<\/p>\n

How do you think new technologies might affect people’s lives and work in the future?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael:<\/strong> I align with Milan Edl’s view that technology should primarily eliminate repetitive tasks that people find unenjoyable. With advancements in AI and generative language models, tasks that are not well-suited to humans can be automated, allowing people to focus more on interacting with each other rather than with machines. However, this also raises the crucial question of what roles humans will play when machines can perform many of their jobs. It\u2019s essential to think carefully about how technology can best serve humanity and ensure it\u2019s applied thoughtfully. This conversation needs to take place across schools, universities, and industries to prepare for these changes.<\/p>\n

Lucie:<\/strong> In our community, handling these technologies is routine, but the average person doesn’t encounter AI or 3D printing daily. We need to educate people to prepare them for these tools. In both industry and everyday life, people need to be ready for these changes. For example, contactless payments have been common in the Czech Republic for about 10 years, while in Germany, cash is still often required.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s interesting. What do you think are the reasons for the difference between Czechs and Germans in adopting new technologies?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lucie:<\/strong> I think it\u2019s because the Czechs lived under communism for 40 years, and they see every opportunity as something new to try. They want to experiment rather than figuring out processes beforehand.<\/p>\n

Michael: <\/strong>Yes, also In Germany, much like in the Czech Republic, bureaucracy plays a significant role in slowing down the adoption of new technologies, and cross-border projects add an extra layer of complexity. You can’t simply adopt a new technology pragmatically, you have to navigate through various regulations, cybersecurity concerns, and other barriers. Additionally, larger companies often see smaller innovative companies as a threat, leading them to either acquire these startups or compete aggressively against them. These factors collectively slow down the pace of innovation on both sides of the border.<\/p>\n

How do you evaluate the success of your project, and what key indicators do you use to measure them?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael: <\/strong>Since we are a funded project, our success is measured by specific, predefined indicators outlined in our proposals to the government. These indicators include the number of advisory consultations we conduct with companies, the number of funding applications we assist with, and the number of successful projects or grants secured by companies in the region. These metrics help us track our impact and ensure we are meeting our objectives.<\/p>\n

Lucie:<\/strong> Other indicators include the number of events we organize or workshops in strategic innovation management. Our project is successful when the companies we advise gain added value, thank us for the connections, and find partners to develop their ideas.<\/p>\n

Michael:<\/strong> Our ultimate goal, however, is to establish long-term partnerships and sustainable projects that continue even without our direct involvement. We aim to create an innovative ecosystem supported by ongoing collaborations between businesses, government agencies, and academia.<\/p>\n

Do you have any favorite experiences from your work or life in Pilsen?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael:<\/strong> There are many. I really enjoy Pilsen, especially thanks to my colleague Lucie. She\u2019s shown me how Czechs work and live, and I feel almost Czech now. Lucie has also embraced the German way of life, so I guess I\u2019m a good teacher too. Pilsen is a fantastic city, and I plan to visit again with my children, perhaps to the Dinopark or the Zoo. We definitely need to talk more about Pilsen and highlight all the innovative things happening there.<\/p>\n

What motivates you to work in the field of Czech-Bavarian cooperation?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lucie:<\/strong> We are a community, a big family. Czechs and Bavarians are different but similar in many ways. We learn from each other every day, and this mutual learning is our competitive advantage compared to other countries.<\/p>\n

Michael:<\/strong> At first, I wasn’t specifically interested in Czech-German cooperation, but rather in innovation and technology. However, once I learned more about the Czech Republic and its effort in research and development, I began to appreciate it. In fact, my football team in Runding has started collaborating with several Czech teams. We organize matches and get to know each other better. These experiences, both professional and personal, greatly increased my motivation to contribute to the cooperation between our regions.<\/p>\n

What would you recommend to companies and organizations in the Pilsen region that want to engage in cross-border cooperation?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lucie:<\/strong> Be open, reach out to us or others who can help, don\u2019t be shy, and give it a try.<\/p>\n

Michael:<\/strong> I would also recommend participating in our events, it doesn’t require much effort, just come for a day, like on Innovation Day. You will have the opportunity to make valuable connections and establish collaborations. The events are free and we’ll connect you with the right people to help you get started.<\/p>\n

And the final, crucial question: do you prefer Czech or German beer?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael:<\/strong> That\u2019s a tough question.<\/p>\n

Lucie:<\/strong> I prefer Pilsner.<\/p>\n

Michael:<\/strong> Honestly, I like both.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thank you and good luck.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Michael Zankl and Lucie Valentov\u00e1 are colleagues at the “Beratungsb\u00fcro Oberpfalz,” a consulting office in the Upper Palatinate established by the Bezirk Oberpfalz and funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Finance. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3234,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,24,31,1,38],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getsmart.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3898"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getsmart.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getsmart.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getsmart.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getsmart.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3898"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.getsmart.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3898\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getsmart.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getsmart.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getsmart.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getsmart.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}