
Czech companies see great potential for business, manufacturing and science and technology cooperation in Australia and New Zealand
17.12.2024 / 05:59 | Aktualizováno: 17.12.2024 / 06:17
A Czech business delegation from the aerospace and defence industry and other innovative sectors accompanied Czech President Petr Pavel on his trip to Australia and New Zealand from 24 November to 5 December 2024. Meetings with business partners, visits to universities, innovation centres, scientific institutes and research institutes were held in the Australian cities of Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide and in New Zealand in Auckland and Wellington. Representatives of Czech companies were convinced of the great potential of both countries not only for Czech exports, but also for manufacturing cooperation or participation in joint scientific research projects. Representatives of Czech entities met with more than two hundred companies and institutions in both countries and discussed dozens of specific forms of cooperation. In addition to the above mentioned fields, the interest in cooperation with European companies in the extraction and processing of critical materials resonated in Australia, which is supported by the EU-Australia Memorandum of Cooperation of May 2024. New Zealand offers the benefits of the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and funding opportunities for scientific projects in connection with its association with the EU's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme The business mission was organised by the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic and the programme for entrepreneurs in both countries was prepared by the trade and economic section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Canberra.
Both Australia and New Zealand, with sophisticated economic development strategies, have early realised the need to develop their own industry, technology and services in advanced fields and government support, including research and development, is directed to priority fields, including clean energy including manufacturing and storage, space industry, advanced manufacturing technologies and new materials, robotics, medical technologies including telemedicine, ICT, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence. Mineral-rich Australia welcomes the influx of new progressive technologies for mineral exploration, extraction and processing. And both countries, with export potential for crop and livestock agricultural production, are looking for partners to develop modern agricultural technologies, including biotechnology. And, given the current geopolitical situation, there is also interest in cooperation in the fields of cyber security, defence, aerospace and especially space.
The business mission of 13 companies from the aerospace and defence industry, cyber security and innovative fields such as nanotechnology, biotechnology and laser technology was prepared by the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic and led by its president Jan Rafaj to both countries. Specifically, the following companies: Advanced Materials - JTJ s.r.o., AVEO Engineering Group s.r.o., EMP s.r.o., ERA a.s., Excalibur International a.s., GROUNDCOM.space, Somati system s.r.o., SpaceLab EU, StemCon a.s., TAKTIK, The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC and Xair s.r.o. In Sydney, the mission was completed by Czech companies already operating in the country: Agroecopower, BIONA and OPTOKON.
Business and production cooperation including matchmaking with foreign partners
A total of four events were held in Australia focusing on B2B discussions with Australian partners. The largest in scope was a business forum on 25 November 2025 in Sydney at the Business NSW in the presence of Czech President Mr. Peter Pavel, attended by over 100 Australian companies. Their partner in two discussion tables and subsequent matchmaking was the Czech business delegation, which consisted of 13 companies from the Czech Republic and 3 other representatives of Czech companies operating in Australia. After the introduction, the President Petr Pavel mentioned the promising areas of cooperation. The Minister of Industry and Trade of the State of New South Wales, Mr. Anoulack Chanthivong, presented the strengths of his State, namely its rich mineral deposits, including critical materials, interest in developing clean energy technologies and other innovative industries, including aerospace. Jan Rafaj, President of the Confederation of Industry, stressed the industrial basis of our country and the prospects for mutual cooperation in technology and science and research. During the programme in Sydney, the President visited the Australian branch of the Czech company LINET, where the branch director Petr Foit introduced him to the new decontamination centre for mattresses supplied to hospitals in Sydney and its surroundings.
In Canberra, a more intimate but all the more intense seminar and matchmaking took place on 27 November at the Canberra Innovation Centre with two dozen local partners selected according to the profiles of the Czech business delegation. Two events were held in Adelaide where Czech companies met mainly with experts in the defence industry. One of them was a reception on 28 November, hosted for the Czech delegation by Joe Szakacs, Minister for Trade and Investment of the State of South Australia. The following day, representatives of the Australian Industry and Defence Network and Defence SA prepared a matchmaking lunch for Czech companies with representatives of twenty companies.
In total, Czech companies met with more than 160 Australian companies and institutions. This was followed by meetings with three dozen representatives of companies, bilateral chambers of commerce and research institutes during a business seminar at the Auckland Business Chamber on 2 December, where President Petr Pavel gave a short presentation on the potential of bilateral economic relations. The host was Simon Bridges, President of the Auckland Business Chamber. Czech companies had the opportunity to meet Czechs active in the Czech-New Zealand Business Association and to assess business opportunities in the local market.
Opportunities in research, development and innovation
In addition to meetings with business partners, the programme of the Czech business delegation also focused on science, research and innovation. Therefore, it specifically included visits to universities, innovation centres and research institutes. Representatives of Czech companies had the opportunity to meet with experts in cyber security and security technologies at the state research institute CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Reasearch Organisation) in Sydney. In Canberra, the Director of the Canberra Innovation Network presented the system of support for start-ups and the incubator for budding entrepreneurs. The following day at the Australian National University, a visit to the particle accelerator was especially appreciated by experts in the field of laser technology. Space technology experts were not the only ones excited by a tour of the Deep Space Communication Complex near Canberra, dominated by a 70-metre diameter satellite dish. The University of Adelaide and the Lot Fourteen Innovation Agency with the Australian Space Discovery Centre provided space to showcase Australia's cyber security strategy or to learn about the activities of Space Agency Australia. Speakers at the program included the President of the University, the Director of the Australian Institute of Machine Learning and the Executive Director of the Defence and Security Institute. In his address, the President referred to security aspects of the contemporary world and further encouraged cooperation in science and higher education.
The science and research dimension of the business mission programme continued in New Zealand, where the Czech business delegation was briefed on 2 December at the University of Auckland on the policy of commercialisation of research and development, followed by a tour of the Space Institute with its satellite communications and test laboratories and the clean room for satellite assembly. In Wellington, the entrepreneurs toured Callaghan Innovation, the state innovation and research organisation, and the Robinson Research Institute, which focuses on space technology. In all discussions, the New Zealand partners emphasised that New Zealand is an Associated Country under the Horizon Europe science, technology and innovation cooperation programme from July 2023.
Horizon Europe, as well as the benefits of the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force on 1 May 2025, were presented in detail by the EU Ambassador to New Zealand, Mr Lawrence Meredith, at the EU Delegation's headquarters. The Ambassador highlighted the ongoing diversification of New Zealand's economy, with an emphasis on innovation, green technology, defence and space technology, where major opportunities for foreign companies can be seen. The transport infrastructure also needs renewal. The programme included a presentation by the Aerospace NZ Association. And the business exploration programme concluded with a working lunch with the Director of The New Zealand Initiative think tank.
Czech companies discussed specific projects
The list of the rich programme does not do justice to the hundreds of meetings of Czech companies with partners in both countries. They resulted in specific areas of cooperation. In the presence of the President, ELI ERIC signed memoranda of understanding in Sydney and with the University of Adelaide for the use of laser technology and for the inflow of students. The organisation is considering joint projects with New Zealand under Horizon Europe. The Czech and the world's largest manufacturer of lights for aircraft and drones, in addition to the negotiations undertaken with current and new customers, will make a donation to the Sydney Crisis Centre for rescue helicopters. Another Czech company has identified suitable sites with new partners to locate its communications satellite stations in both countries and has begun negotiations to commercialise research in optical systems and communications from the Satellite Institute's research and offerd its services worldwide to communicate with satellites. The passive radar supplier has been in discussions with air traffic, airport executives and carriers to renew systems previously delivered to both countries. Two Czech aerospace companies jointly discussed the supply of components for the aerospace industry, aircraft maintenance and the possibility of a joint venture to produce training aircraft. There is also potential cooperation in the training of drone operators.
The cybersecurity firm partnered with two companies in Australia during a business mission held in February this year and has now found two more firms in the field of quantum encryption and data analytics using artificial intelligence. A supplier of optoelectronic components for both cyber security and defence systems has made a prospective contact with a partner in the state of New South Wales. The diagnostics, non-destructive inspection and refurbishment company for pipelines and networks found a partner from Brisbane during a business forum and started on-site negotiations on the terms of cooperation for a specific project that will benefit from the know-how of both partners. And another partner expressed interest in representing the company ön in third markets. The defence equipment manufacturer discussed the export of ammunition and, in turn, the import of narrow-profile material and raw materials. A Czech manufacturer of nano-coatings was in talks with the Aerospace NZ association about certification of its products and with partners in Australia about preparing a consortium for the supply of Czech batteries. Several participants of the Czech mission discussed representation on the New Zealand market with a member of the Czech-New Zealand Business Association.
The participants of the business mission appreciated being part of the delegation led by the President, which strengthened their position for negotiations with partners and opened doors to a number of institutions. All the Czech companies expressed great satisfaction with the programme, which was fully completed. In addition to negotiations on business and production cooperation with almost two hundred partners in both countries, Czech companies appreciated the opportunity to get acquainted with the activities of universities, innovation centres and research institutes. The visit to these institutes was inspiring and already two companies are talking about their interest to participate in the Horizon Europe programme and to implement joint projects with New Zealand research institutes.
From the overview of the specific negotiations carried out on future cooperation, companies from the aerospace sector were the most successful. Innovative fields such as laser technology or nanotechnology, in many cases with intersection into space activities, have also been important. Cybersecurity, defence and classical engineering were also successful, as measured by concrete contacts made and cases discussed.
Milan Vágner, Economic Diplomat, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Canberra