How can Earth observation help farmers? What do companies developing precision agriculture technologies need, and how can a university offer them a partnership? And where does academic research meet the practical needs of government and business? We sought answers to these questions during the CrossTalks event.
Participants in the first installment of the new CrossTalks series, held on October 23, 2025, at Kampus Hybernská, sought answers to these questions. The meeting took place as part of Czech Space Week and was co-organized by Hyb4City and CzechInvest with the support of expert teams from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University.
CrossTalks are designed as curated meetings that connect academia, business and public administration. The goal is not to create finished projects, but to open a dialogue, identify needs, and find where individual stakeholders can find common ground.
28 participants from 17 institutions arrived at Kampus Hybernská, including nine companies and startups working with satellite data – from Agdata and World from Space to TRL Drones. Alongside representatives from Charles University, experts from the State Agricultural Intervention Fund, the EU Agency for the Space Programme, and the Ministry of Transport were also present.
The opening part of the program featured four short presentations showcasing cutting-edge research and practical experience from the public sector.
The subsequent moderated discussion opened up space for sharing experiences and identifying specific obstacles to cooperation between research and the commercial sector.
The discussion highlighted several key themes that influence the development of partnerships between universities and companies:
The afternoon session was dedicated to nine registered participants from companies who took part in the expert training "Advanced satellite data processing in a cloud environment". The workshop, led by the team of Assoc. Prof. Přemysl Štych, focused on working with both optical and radar data, machine learning methods, and the limits and possibilities of using these technologies, not only in agriculture.
For many participants, this was the most valuable part of the day – the practical application was among the highest-rated elements of the entire meeting.
CrossTalks confirmed that Kampus Hybernská is the ideal venue for interdisciplinary and cross-sector dialogue. The event strengthened connections between the faculties of CU, businesses, and the public sector, fulfilling the university's third mission: bringing scientific knowledge into practice.
At the same time, it provided companies with a better understanding of the competencies academic teams can offer and opened the door for future partnerships.
The first installment of the series demonstrated significant interest in the dialogue between space technology and agricultural practice. CrossTalks is therefore evolving into a long-term platform that connects different worlds and helps foster new collaborations. Kampus Hybernská will continue to be a place where these worlds can safely meet, share expertise, and jointly seek innovative solutions.
