～Forging the Future Together: Japan and the Czech Republic～
Czech-Japan Business Resilience Forum 2025

日本語 | English

The Czech-Japan Business Resilience Forum 2025 took place with great success on July 25, 2025, at the 9th-floor auditorium of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) headquarters in Tokyo. The event was jointly organized by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Japan, the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, and the Japan Institute for Overseas Investment. Its aim was to further strengthen business cooperation between Japan and the Czech Republic in key sectors such as security, defense, and advanced software technologies.

The forum welcomed distinguished figures from political and business communities in both countries and featured keynote speeches, company presentations, and networking opportunities. Participants spanned a wide range of fields—defense, aerospace, crisis management, AR/VR, PropTech, and supply chain management—and engaged in dynamic B2B discussions.

Toward Sustainable Partnerships Through Co-Creation

The forum opened with remarks from Czech President Petr Pavel, who reflected on the longstanding friendship between Japan and the Czech Republic. He spoke of the deep ties between the two nations across diverse areas including culture, sports, and economics. He cited examples such as the musical legacy of Dvořák and Ryuichi Sakamoto, as well as judoka Lukáš Krpálek and Japanese athlete Haruka Kitaguchi—who have both referred to the Czech Republic as their “second home.”

President Pavel stressed that in today’s global environment, “prosperity and security can no longer be separated,” and that cooperation across politics, business, science, and other domains is not merely optional but essential. He emphasized the importance of strengthening economic ties to safeguard shared democratic values and enhance the resilience of both nations.

Following the President’s remarks, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Kazuhiro Kobayashi took the stage, highlighting the Czech Republic as a strategic defense partner. He also noted Czech participation in one of Japan’s major cybersecurity events, stating that “this forum is a key opportunity that embodies the close relationship between our two countries.” He expressed hope for expanded industrial cooperation.

Ken Kobayashi, Chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also addressed the audience. He noted that this was the first economic forum to include the term “resilience” in its title, describing it as a timely and symbolic keyword in the current global climate. He shared his intention to visit Prague in October to engage in dialogue with Czech industries and to pay a courtesy call on the Czech President. With Japanese firms like Toyota and Panasonic already active in the Czech market, he expressed a desire to further strengthen supply chain foundations.

Defense and Security Cooperation

The first half of the morning session focused on potential collaboration in defense and security. After introductory remarks from Czech companies, the International Security Industry Council Japan (ISIC Japan) presented insights into the current state of Japan’s defense industrial base. This was followed by a presentation from Lieutenant Colonel Martin Koupal, Military and Air Attaché at the Czech Embassy in Japan. He outlined the strengths of the Czech defense industry and highlighted areas of potential cooperation with Japan. A lively Q&A session followed, reflecting strong interest from the audience.

The latter half of the session shifted focus to software and IT cooperation. After an overview of the Japanese IT market by the Czech Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (CCCIJ), our company delivered a presentation titled “Securing the Future Together: How Czech Tech Became Our Key to Success in Japan.”

In our presentation, we shared examples of our technical partnerships with leading Czech IT firms, including Flowmon Networks (network visibility), AXENTA (security monitoring and analytics), TNS (vulnerability assessment and penetration testing), and Phonexia (voice recognition technology). Based on our implementation and operational experience in Japan, we discussed how introducing Czech technology has brought tangible value to Japanese companies and society.

We emphasized that ORIZON Systems is committed to co-creation with Czech partners—going beyond mere agency relationships—to maximize mutual value. We also stressed that to achieve successful outcomes while bridging cultural and business differences, mutual understanding and trust are just as vital as technological compatibility.

A Valuable Platform for Networking and Business Development

To close the forum, time was set aside for networking and B2B meetings among participating companies and organizations. The venue buzzed with activity, as participants—particularly those in defense and crisis management—actively introduced technologies and discussed future collaboration possibilities with software firms.

Czech startups and Japanese mid-sized companies explored potential partnerships, while government officials exchanged regulatory insights. Conversations went beyond mere business card exchanges, with engineers deeply engaged in enthusiastic discussions on concrete project ideas—overcoming language and cultural barriers in the process.

Several companies were even seen coordinating schedules for future visits and online meetings, showing that the forum had truly functioned as a launchpad for new business creation.

This forum also stood as a symbol of the two countries’ complementary efforts to address shared challenges—including geopolitical risks, cybersecurity, and supply chain resilience. ORIZON Systems remains committed to delivering highly reliable solutions that bridge the Czech Republic’s cutting-edge technologies with the evolving needs of the Japanese market.