Preliminary „Expert“ Programme to the GCEF 2026 | 1:00–2:30 p.m.
Prior to the main conference programme, two parallel roundtables will be held as moderated expert discussions in a smaller, interactive setting. The outcomes will contribute to the conference.
Germany and Czechia are following different strategies approaches in terms of energy (in a nutshell: nuclear power vs. renewable energy). We believe this is not a burden for cooperation, but a chance and need to complement each other in terms of innovations, grids stability and security.
The two roundtables are planned as a moderated expert discussion in a smaller setting, taking place as part of the pre-programme of the German Czech Economic Forum 2026. The goal is to start or intensify cooperation between expert decision-makers from both countries in order to turn the potential of the different approaches and know-how into strategic added value for both countries.
1. Roundtable
Expansion of energy infrastructure, coordination of cross-border grid expansion,
and stability of the energy system
Prof. Mario Ragwitz
Director of Fraunhofer IEG, Scientific Director of Excellence Cluster “Integrated Energy Systems” (CINES)
Svatopluk Vnouček, Ph.D.
Vice-Chair of the Board, Czech Transmission System Operator (ČEPS)
Jan Metzl
Director of the Department of Technical Regulation of the Electricity and Gas Sectors, Energy Regulatory Office (ERÚ)
Brigita Jeroncic
Head of Communications & Policy, 50Hertz Transmission GmbH
Yvonne Grösch
Head of Subdivision, Department 6 – Energy Regulation, Federal Network Agency (BNetzA)
Dr. David Klebs
Deputy Head of the Division for Policy and Planning of Electricity Grids, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
David Šafář
Member of Board of Directors EG.D, EG.D, part of E.ON Group
René Neděla
Director General at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic
2. Roundtable
Innovations in nuclear energy generation such as SMRs and fusion technology
Prof. Radomír Pánek
President, Czech Academy of Sciences
Jaroslav Lahoda
Managing Director, Siemens Energy, s.r.o.
Tomáš Ehler, Ph.D.
Director General of the Nuclear Energy and New Technologies Section, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic (MPO)
Prof. Hartmut Zohm
Head of Tokamak Scenario Development Division, Max-Planck-Institute of Plasma Physics (IPP)
Bernard Bauer
Delegate of Industry & Commerce of the Free State of Bavaria in the Czech Republic and CEO of the German-Czech Chamber