Introduction
As Co-Founder and Chief of the Advisory Board of ZLIN.AI, I lead the strategic vision and innovation agenda for advancing artificial intelligence implementation across the Zlín region. ZLIN.AI was established to become the regional engine of AI transformation — bridging academic, business, and public sector stakeholders and aligning them around high-impact AI use cases tailored to regional needs.
My role is centered on AI innovation strategy, ecosystem development, and public AI advocacy. Through structured methodologies and deep industry engagement, we are driving forward initiatives that catalyze digital transformation, build local AI capabilities, and position the region as a national AI pioneer.
Target Group
Primary: Regional governments, universities, SMEs, and public institutions in the Zlín region
Secondary: Entrepreneurs, educators, NGOs, innovation hubs, and public-private partnerships focused on digital transformation
Project Objectives
Regional AI Transformation
Advance the digital and technological development of the Zlín region by deploying AI in education, industry, healthcare, and government services.
Ecosystem Coordination
Unify stakeholders across sectors around common AI initiatives — ensuring collaboration, resource sharing, and aligned innovation agendas.
Strategic AI Enablement
Equip local institutions with frameworks, tools, and consultation to responsibly adopt AI for measurable economic and social impact.
What We Did for the Region
AI Innovation Framework Development
- Capability Mapping: I developed a regional AI Innovation Framework to identify capabilities, gaps, and high-leverage use cases.
- Initiative Prioritization: The framework enables stakeholders to assess potential impact, feasibility, and alignment with regional strategic goals.
- Strategic Resource Allocation: We use the framework to guide funding efforts, proposal development, and partnership formation.
Education, Advocacy, and Community Engagement
- AI Literacy Campaigns: Through workshops, public events, and media outreach, we raise awareness of AI’s potential and risks.
- Seminars & Lectures: I deliver strategic lectures and design AI education programs for schools, universities, and professionals.
- NGO and Government Collaboration: We advise municipal offices and NGOs on how to apply generative AI for communication, efficiency, and impact.
Research, Policy Design, and Socioeconomic Analysis
- R&D Oversight: I oversee AI pilot projects and coordinate applied research aligned with regional needs (e.g., healthcare diagnostics, SME automation).
- Policy Impact Modeling: We conduct economic and social impact assessments of AI adoption, helping inform local policy and funding strategies.
- Trend Monitoring: I track global AI developments and distill their relevance to regional actors — ensuring foresight and preparedness.
Key Challenges
Cross-Sector Alignment
Creating shared language, goals, and strategies across academia, government, and business required careful facilitation and common frameworks.
Bridging Vision and Execution
While many stakeholders are excited by AI’s potential, turning ambition into sustained, coordinated action demanded structured planning and continuous engagement.
Talent and Capacity Gaps
The region faces a shortage of AI talent and implementation capabilities — which ZLIN.AI addresses through capability-building and strategic partnerships.
Outcomes and Regional Impact
- Over 30 regional institutions engaged through workshops, consultations, or project partnerships
- First regional AI Innovation Strategy drafted and aligned with Czech national AI goals
- Educational impact through direct AI literacy programs reaching students, educators, and public servants
- Catalyst for innovation across local SMEs, municipalities, and schools through hands-on support and AI pilot initiatives
Conclusion
ZLIN.AI is building the intelligence infrastructure for regional growth — not just in terms of technology, but in how communities think, organize, and innovate using AI. My role at the intersection of strategy, education, and implementation ensures that the Zlín region doesn’t merely follow national or global AI trends, but helps shape them. Our model offers a scalable blueprint for local AI innovation that can be replicated in other regions aiming to transform themselves from within.
