On 25 September 2025, the Leadership Academy for Researchers was launched with the conference Leadership Matters: Shaping the Future of Research Institutions. The event attracted over 120 participants, including representatives of leading Czech and international research institutes, confirming that the topic of leadership in science resonates widely.
The conference featured keynote talks and panel discussions with experts such as Marijke Lein (ex-VIB), Pavel Plevka and Eliška Handlířová (CEITEC), Tomáš Mocek and Jan Brajer (HiLASE), Adam Pruška (ex-ETH Zurich), and Matouš Glanc (Czexpats in Science). Together, they explored the multiple roles of scientific leaders – as researchers, managers, mentors, and institution builders – and highlighted the need for trust, openness, and long-term vision in Czech science.
“People tend to follow a vision. A bold vision that allows them to realise their professional goals. In order to attract the best candidates, it is essential to provide benefits that extend beyond the scope of the project or salary. In my professional opinion, strategic thinking is a long-term approach. I am convinced that our institution will still be here in 100 years. In order to build a research institution that is oriented towards making a positive impact, it is essential to have the courage to take risks and to be willing to step into the unknown.”
– Tomáš Mocek (HiLASE Centre)
Key questions ran through the whole day: How can leadership skills help Czech science become more impactful? Which leadership principles are crucial to foster open culture, long-term growth, and international competitiveness? The debate also underlined the importance of involving HR in developing leaders, addressing academic inbreeding, and building institutions with bold visions that inspire people.
The Academy’s four core modules cover:
- Me as a Leader – personal leadership, resilience, and authenticity
- My Team and I – motivation, communication, and conflict resolution
- The Institution as Ecosystem – strategy, governance, and research culture
- Practical Skills – grant writing, negotiation, and ethical leadership
Upcoming webinars:
- 23.10.2025 – Self-Leadership: What the Leader’s Role Really Means in Practice | Jana Puhalová
- 29.10.2025 – Team Leadership: How to Build and Lead a Successful Team | Filip Kahoun
- 14.11.2025 – Team Leadership: Everyday Work with Your Team | Jana Puhalová
- 03.12.2025 – Strategic Leadership: From Vision to Results | Filip Kahoun
- 11.12.2025 – Strategic Leadership: How to Create, Share, and Live Institutional Culture | Jana Puhalová
Registration is now open on Leadership Academy website: https://www.leadershipinscience.academy/events/
Following the webinars, community meetings will be held on specific topics (e.g. transparent recruitment, feedback and people development, cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional work). We will then launch the comprehensive Academy programme in pilot mode in February 2026 in cooperation with the LASER-PRO project.
Who’s Behind the Academy?
The programme is jointly organised by the STAR Research and Innovation Cluster and the HiLASE Centre, in partnership with Czexpats in Science. While STAR and HiLASE oversee the programme’s structure and delivery, Czexpats contributes first-hand experience from researchers who have trained and worked abroad, bringing international best practices directly into the Czech ecosystem.
You can read the full reflection, including highlights from the talks and panel discussions, here
