PRELIMINARY
PROGRAMME
ADAPTING
TO A CHANGING
WORLD
THIS YEAR'S TOPIC
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
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09:00–10:00 Registration & morning coffee
Hotel DAP, Conference Hall (separate entrance from Buzulucká Street)
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10:00–10:15 Opening Remarks
Josef Procházka
Director, Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies, University of Defence (CZ)
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10:15–10:30 Keynote Address
Maj. Gen. Petr Milčický
Major General, Director of the Force Development Division, Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic (CZ)
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10:30–12:00 Panel I: NATO Adaptation and Stability – Panel Discussion; chaired by Adam Potočňák, Assistant Professor (CSMSS, University of Defence, Masaryk University, (CZ).
Nicholas Williams
Senior Associate Fellow, European Leadership Network (UK)
Jan Jireš
Senior Adviser, International Institute for Strategic Studies (CZ)
Brig. Gen. Branislav Benka
Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Slovakia (SK)
☕ Coffee Break | 12:00–12:20
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12:20–13:40 Panel II: Hybrid Threats, Disinformation and Societal Resilience; chaired by Dominika Kosárová, Assistant Professor (CSMSS, University of Defence, (CZ).
Tomáš Kolomazník
Director, Center for Security Consulting (CZ)
Topic: Disinformation and Manipulation Across Time: Historical Lessons for Today
Mihály Boda
Associate professor, Ludovika University (HU)
Topic: Hybrid wars in polyarchic international world: historical connection between international order and the character of war
Josef Myslín
Assistant Professor, CEVRO University (CZ)
Topic: Citizen Engagement as a Pillar of Societal Resilience
Paweł Olbrycht
Assistant Professor, Director of the Institute of National and International Security, Military University of Land Forces (PL)
Topic: Building State Resilience to Migration Pressure: The Case of Poland
🍽️ Lunch | 13:40–14:30
Hotel restaurant
(4th floor)
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14:30–15:45 Panel III: Defence Technologies, AI and Simulation; chaired by Jaroslav Galba, Assistant Professor (CSMSS, University of Defence, (CZ).
VR Group
Topic: Wargaming as a Tool for Strategic Thinking and Military Preparation
Bernd Weissenberger
Lieutenant Colonel, Branch Chief, Modelling and Simulation Services Branch, NATO Modelling and Simulation Centre of Excellence (ITA)
Andrea De Simone
Lieutenant Colonel, NATO Modelling and Simulation Centre of Excellence (ITA)
Topic: Presentation and Practical Demonstration of the CHESS Strategic Cyber Wargame
Jiří Panuška
Chair, Czech AI Association (CZ)
Topic: AI ECOSYSTEM as the Ultimate Tool for Leadership and Management
🍷 Social Evening | 18:00–21:00
Hotel restaurant
(4th floor)
Thursday, 21 May 2026
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09:00 Registration & morning coffee
Hotel DAP, Conference Hall
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09:30–10:50 Panel IV: Military Transformation and Defence Policy; chaired by Petr Svatoň, Assistant Professor (CSMSS, University of Defence, (CZ).
Pedro Água
Chairman of PRT Naval Academy and CINAV Scientific Council, Portuguese Naval Academy (PT)
Topic: Rethinking Military Organization for Multi-Domain Operations: Beyond Industrial-Age Thinking
Mietta Groeneveld
Colonel, Director, NATO Command and Control Centre of Excellence (NL)
Topic: NATO Command and Control and Decision-Making
Tamás Csiki Varga
Research Fellow, Ludovika University (HU)
Topic: Developing Hungarian Defence Industry in the 2020s: Lessons Learnt and the Way Forward
Didier Oustric
Brigadier General, Head of the International Relations at the French Directorate of Higher Military Studies, Chairman of the European Higher Military Education Working Group – EU War Colleges Initiative
Topic: European Higher Military Education
☕ Coffee Break | 10:50–11:10
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11:10–12:30 Panel V: The Changing Character of Warfare; chaired by Jaroslav Galba, Assistant Professor (CSMSS, University of Defence, (CZ).
Nicholas Diehl
Professor of Social and Organizational Informatics, The Pennsylvania State University, Littoral Dynamics LLC (USA)
Topic: Irregular Warfare, Cyber and Information Operations: Current and Emerging Threats
Veronika D’Evereux
Charles University / Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic (CZ)
Topic: The Use of Autonomous Systems by the Israeli Defense Forces at the Point of Capture: Legal Challenges and Opportunities.
Wojciech Kazanecki
Assistant Professor, University College of Professional Education, Wroclaw
Topic: State at War: From This Is Not my Business to Total War Approach
Mihály Boda
Associate professor, Ludovika University (HU)
Topic: Developing Weapon Technology and the Political Nature of War
🍽️ Lunch | 12:30–13:15
Hotel restaurant
(4th floor)
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13:15–14:30 Panel VI: NATO and the Evolving Security Environment; chaired by Adam Potočňák, Assistant Professor (CSMSS, University of Defence, Masaryk University, (CZ).
Nicholas Williams
Senior Associate Fellow, European Leadership Network (UK)
Topic: Europeanization of NATO
Michaela Rázusová
Assistant, PhD. candidate, Armed Forces Academy of General M. R. Štefánik (SK)
Topic: Israel–Iran–USA Crisis and PMESI Analysis
Zoltán Felméry
Research Fellow, Ludovika University (HU)
Topic: Public Opinions on Security, Defence and Threats
Zdeněk Petráš
Assistant professor, Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies, University of Defence (CZ)
Topic: European Pillar – NATO Collective Defence in Transition
Afternoon Programme - Excursion
🏛️ Guided Visit with the Military History Institute Prague (Army Museum Žižkov & The National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror)
Friday, 22 May 2026
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08:30–9:00 Registration & morning coffee
Hotel DAP, Conference Hall
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09:00–10:20 Panel VII: Europe at a Crossroads: Defence, Strategy and Future Challenges; chaired by Adam Potočňák, Assistant Professor (CSMSS, University of Defence, Masaryk University, (CZ).
Darya Golubenko
PhD candidate in State Defence Management, University of Defence (CZ)
Topic: The ReArm Europe Plan / Readiness 2030: A Risk Assessment and Its Implications for NATO
Miroslav Plundrich
University of West Bohemia (CZ)
Topic: Drone Warfare and Military Adaptation: Lessons Learned for the Czech Republic
Péter Takács
Reserve Guard Leader, PhD. student, National University of Public Service, Doctoral School of Military Science
Topic: Factors influencing war in the 21st century. Actors and military science perspectives
☕ Coffee Break | 10:20–10:35
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10:35–11:45 Panel VIII: Building Resilience: Society, State and Security; chaired by Dominika Kosárová Assistant Professor (CSMSS, University of Defence, (CZ).
Zoltán Bodo
Doctoral Research, Ludovika University (HU)
Topic: Culture Goes to War: Domestic Cultural Intelligence as a Resilience Capability in Hybrid Conflict
Josef Procházka
Director, Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies, University of Defence (CZ)
Topic: Comprehensive Defence: The Case of the Czech Republic
Zdeněk Rod
Assistant Professor, CEVRO University (CZ)
Topic: Examining the Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan: Navigating the Security-Development Nexus
Artúr Nagy
Doctoral Research
Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem
Topic: Ukrainian frontline today: experience from the fields of Donbass
11:45–12:00 Closing Remarks
Josef Procházka
Director, Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies, University of Defence (CZ)
🎮 Accompanying Programme (Salon Lounge)
NATO Modelling and Simulation Centre of Excellence – CHESS Strategic Cyber Wargame
(Thursday, 21 May 2026)
VR Group – Defence Wargaming and Simulation Technologies
The accompanying programme will run in parallel with the main conference sessions throughout the day.
SPEAKERS
Josef Procházka
Director, Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies, University of Defence (CZ)
Zdeněk Rod
Assistant Professor, CEVRO University (CZ)
Zdeněk Petráš
Assistant professor, Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies, University of Defence (CZ)
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Mietta Groeneveld
Colonel, Director, NATO Command and Control Centre of Excellence (NL)
Miroslav Plundrich
University of West Bohemia (CZ)
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Wojciech Kazanecki
Assistant Professor, University College of Professional Education, Wroclaw (PL)
Josef Myslín
Assistant Professor, CEVRO University (CZ)
Tomáš Kolomazník
Director, Center for Security Consulting (CZ)
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Nicholas Williams
Senior Associate Fellow, European Leadership Network (UK)
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Darya Golubenko
PhD candidate in State Defence Management, University of Defence (CZ)
Pedro Água
Chairman of PRT Naval Academy and CINAV Scientific Council, Portuguese Naval Academy (PT)
Zoltán Felméry
Research Fellow, Ludovika University (HU)
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Mihály Boda
Associate professor, Ludovika University (HU)
Michaela Rázusová
Assistant, PhD. candidate, Armed Forces Academy of General M. R. Štefánik (SK)
Didier Oustric
Brigadier General, Head of the International Relations at the French Directorate of Higher Military Studies,
Veronika D’Evereux
Charles University / Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic (CZ)
Paweł Olbrycht
Assistant Professor, Director of the Institute of National and International Security, Military University of Land Forces (PL)
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Andrea De Simone
Lieutenant Colonel, NATO Modelling and Simulation Centre of Excellence (ITA)
Bernd Weissenberger
Lieutenant Colonel, Branch Chief, Modelling and Simulation Services Branch, NATO Modelling and Simulation Centre of Excellence (ITA)
Petr Milčický
Maj. Gen. Petr Milčický
Major General, Director of the Force Development Division, Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic (CZ)
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Tamás Csiki Varga
Research Fellow, Ludovika University (HU)
Jiří Panuška
Chair, Czech AI Association (CZ)
Artur Nagy
PhD candidate, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem (CZ)
Zoltán Bodo
Doctoral Researcher, Ludovika University (HU)
Jan Jireš
Senior Adviser, International Institute for Strategic Studies (CZ)
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Péter Takács
Reserve Guard Leader, PhD. student, National University of Public Service, Doctoral School of Military Science (HU)
Brig. Gen. Branislav Benka
Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Slovakia (SK)
REGISTRATION
& FEES
The Defence and Strategy welcomes participants both as speakers and as guests. The event offers a three-day academic programme featuring keynote lectures, panel discussions and networking opportunities in an international environment.
The registration fee structure reflects the type of participation while ensuring high-quality facilities and services throughout the conference.
All registration categories include:
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Access to the full three-day conference programme
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Conference materials and printed documentation
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Coffee breaks throughout the event
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Evening icebreaker with refreshments
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Accompanying social programme
Payment Information
All payments are made via bank transfer. Detailed payment instructions (including account details and variable symbol format) will be provided in the confirmation email after registration.
Bank: Fio banka, a.s.
IBAN: CZ54 2010 0000 0020 0052 7020
BIC/SWIFT: FIOBCZPPXXX
Participation categories
Speaker – 85 €
Participant – Basic – 65 €
Participant – Full – 120 €
PhD / Student – Basic – 60 €
The difference between Basic and Full registration concerns the official conference lunches.
The Full registration includes two conference lunches (Tuesday and Wednesday), held at the conference hotel. These lunches provide additional networking opportunities with keynote speakers, invited guests and fellow participants.
The Basic registration does not include the conference lunches.
A reduced registration fee is available for PhD students upon submission of valid proof of student status.
CONTRIBUTIONS
& PRESENTATION
FORMAT
The conference features short, focused contributions delivered in English, designed to support discussion and exchange across academic, military and policy communities.
Each contribution consists of:
15-minute presentation
5-minute discussion
Speakers are welcome to use presentation slides if relevant.
We encourage contributions that are analytical, research-based and policy-relevant, particularly those that can stimulate discussion across disciplines and practice.
To be considered for the programme, please submit an abstract (150–300 words). Abstracts can be:submitted via the registration form, orsent directly to defenceandstrategy@unob.cz.
PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES
While the conference does not publish proceedings, contributors are invited to submit full papers to the conference’s affiliated peer-reviewed journals:
Both journals are indexed in Web of Science and Scopus.
All submissions undergo a standard peer-review process.
VENUE
& ACCOMODATION
Venue:
Hotel DAP Prague
Vítězné náměstí 684/4
160 00 Prague 6
Czech Republic
Hotel DAP is located in Prague 6 (Dejvice), a central and well-connected district close to major institutions, embassies, and universities. The venue offers modern conference facilities and on-site accommodation, making it a convenient location for international participants.
How to Get There
From Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG)
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Taxi/Uber: approx. 20–30 minutes depending on traffic
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Public transport:
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Take bus 119 from the airport to Nádraží Veleslavín
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Transfer to Metro Line A (green line)
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Get off at Dejvická (one stop)
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The hotel is approximately 3 minutes on foot
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Total travel time: approx. 35–40 minutes.
From Prague Main Railway Station (Praha hlavní nádraží)
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Take Metro Line C (red line) to Muzeum
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Transfer to Metro Line A (green line)
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Get off at Dejvická
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The hotel is within walking distance (approx. 3 minutes)
Total travel time: approx. 20 minutes.
Accomodation
There are many hotels, guesthouses, and apartments available in the vicinity of the conference venue in Prague 6 (Dejvice), offering a wide range of accommodation options for different budgets and preferences. Several hotels are located within walking distance of the conference venue, and many more can be found in the nearby city centre.
For participants who prefer to stay directly at the conference venue, a limited number of rooms has been reserved at Hotel DAP, where the conference will take place.
Conference Hotel – Special Rates
A limited number of rooms is available for conference participants at special conference rates:
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Double room (2 persons): EUR 100 per night
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Double room (single occupancy): EUR 90 per night
Prices include breakfast.
Please note that the city tax (CZK 50 per person per night) is not included and must be paid separately.
Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the number of reserved rooms is limited.
Those interested in making a reservation are kindly asked to contact the POC directly at defenceandstrategy@unob.cz or miroslava.packova@unob.cz.
If you would like to book accommodation at the conference rate:
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Complete your conference registration.
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After registration, contact the conference organizer by email.
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The organizer will arrange the room reservation at the conference hotel (subject to availability).
ABOUT ORGANIZATOR
CENTRE FOR SECURITY
AND MILITARY STRATEGIC
STUDIES
Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies (CSMSS or Centre) is a university educational, research, and expert workplace of the University of Defense. The mission of the Centre is to carry out educational, research and expert activities to ensure the state’s defence while respecting the requirements of the MoD department and academic freedoms.
The Centre provides the Senior Officers Course, General Staff Course, and Professional Training Courses. Educational activities are ongoing within the framework of university studies or lifelong learning for both national or international public administration personnel, civilian and military experts acting in the area of defence and strategic decision-making.
Centre conducts applied research and expert activities in security and military-strategic studies, producing strategic studies, concepts, analyses, and forecasts tailored to the Ministry of Defence’s needs. Centre is also editing two academic journals, Obrana a strategie and Vojenské rozhledy, both listed in Web of Science and Scopus databases.
EXPERTISE
The Centre maintains consultation support and expert and advisory activities in defence and security. Centre members present their expert contributions in the media and participate in editorial boards, NATO SAS panels or national and international expert groups.
ABOUT
CONFERENCE
The Defence and Strategy conference is a platform for experts, military professionals, and academics focused on defense and security. Organized by the Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies, University of Defence.
The conference provides a space for the exchange of knowledge, experience, and the latest research in the field of strategic studies, military art, defence and international relations.
