Strengthening Czech, German and European Resilience: the third CGYPP Seminar in Olomouc and Ostrava
Under the overarching theme of CGYPP 2026, “Building Preparedness: A Czech-German Dialogue on European Security,” the third and final seminar of this year’s program took participants to Olomouc, Šternberk, and Ostrava. Over four days, the group explored Czech approaches to information warfare, defence planning and industrial preparedness, while also reflecting on resilience from the perspective of a region strongly shaped by industry and transformation.
Strategic Communication and Defence Production
The seminar opened on Thursday, 8 October, in Olomouc. Following an introduction and reflection session, participants met with Ivo Zelinka, Commander of the 91st Information Warfare Group of the Czech Armed Forces. The discussion focused on the strategic communication of the Czech Armed Forces, the development of cyber and information forces, warfare in the information space, and Russia as a security threat.
On Friday, the program continued with a visit to EXCALIBUR ARMY in Šternberk, offering participants an opportunity to look more closely at the Czech defence industry, innovation, and the challenges of increasing production capacities in times of instability.
Back in Olomouc, Miroslav Feix, former Director of the Capability Planning Division of the Czech Ministry of Defence and former Commander of Cyber Forces and Information Operations, discussed the current state of Czech security and defence with participants, focusing on the challenges facing Czechia in an increasingly fragile European security environment.
Resilience, Transformation, and Staying Connected through the Network
The seminar then moved to Ostrava, where Saturday began with the guided tour “Resilient Ostrava: Tragedies, Industry, and Modernity.” The visit provided a broader perspective on how the city’s industrial history and transformation relate to questions of resilience, crisis and adaptation.
The rest of the weekend was dedicated to internal workshops, reflection, and the participants’ joint work. A particular focus was placed on the podcasts participants had been developing between the seminars. They exchanged feedback and discussed their work. The podcasts will be published on the CGYPP platform. On Sunday morning, participants also created their own mind maps regarding their personal preparedness. Afterwards, the group came together for a final feedback and wrap-up session and discussed the next steps for the CGYPP network
With the seminar in Olomouc and Ostrava, the CGYPP 2026 program year came to a close. Across the three seminars, participants had the opportunity to approach European security and preparedness from different perspectives, while exchanging Czech and German experiences and building connections across professional fields. The conversations and cooperation developed throughout the year will now continue within the CGYPP alumni network.