Low-carbon cities, responsible leadership, women’s opportunities and education for people facing disadvantage: NEWTON University addresses these issues through international conferences, business events and collaboration with non-profit organisations. This overview of activities in 2025 and 2026 identifies the partners involved, the university’s contribution and the substance of their work together.

Quality education, gender equality, decent work, reduced inequalities and responsible consumption are also central to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. The connections to individual goals below are drawn from the themes and activities described.

February discussions explored sustainable business and education

On 6 February 2025, NEWTON University in Prague hosted the eighteenth European Forum of Entrepreneurship, under the theme Smart Education, Smart Business and Smart Life. Part of NEWTON International Week, the forum brought together academics and practitioners. Its discussions covered sustainability, renewable energy, geothermal innovation and mobility (NEWTON Today; VŠAPs).

NEWTON’s representatives during the international week included Anna Plechatá Krausová, Chancellor, and Dagmar Cagáňová, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation. Emil Velinov led a workshop entitled How EU Business Schools Navigate ESG Challenges, examining how environmental, social and governance considerations can be integrated into education. These themes relate particularly to SDGs 4, 7, 9 and 17 (NEWTON Today; VŠAPs).

March brought cross-sector dialogue on low-carbon cities

SmartZero City 2025 took place in Taipei from 24 to 27 March 2025. Organised through Yuan Ze University and the European Alliance for Innovation, the forum provided a platform for collaboration between academia, industry and government on low-carbon cities and sustainable innovation. Topics included green energy, smart infrastructure and emissions reduction (SmartZero City 2025).

The official programme lists Dagmar Cagáňová as chair of the ninth panel discussion and Anna Plechatá Krausová as a panellist, alongside Perez Ochieng, CEO of SACOMA Global Foods Innovation. The wider programme also included representatives of the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy and industrial companies (SmartZero City 2025).

A reflection published on NEWTON Today describes the university’s contribution to discussions of the relationship between the resilience of people, institutions and urban systems. It highlights education, learning and adaptability, alongside the needs of vulnerable groups. The forum provides a concrete example of interdisciplinary and cross-sector dialogue on issues associated with SDGs 11, 13 and 17 (NEWTON Today).

April’s ChemSkills meeting connected universities with industry and European institutions

On 1 and 2 April 2025, the ChemSkills consortium met at the European Plastics Converters offices in Brussels. Partners discussed skills for the chemical industry’s green transition, digitalisation and circular economy, alongside training modules. NEWTON leads the Impact and Dissemination work package, communicating results and engaging target audiences (ChemSkills; NEWTON University).

A partner’s report records the participation of Tereza Šimčíková from NEWTON University and Naïs Habermacher from EACEA. The meeting brought universities, industry partners and a European institution together to develop professional education, connecting with SDGs 4, 9, 12 and 17.

NEWTON trainers delivered teaching on the SDGs in Tirana

On 23 and 24 April 2025, two NEWTON University trainers delivered an EduSDG workshop at the European University of Tirana. They worked with colleagues from partner institutions on SDG 5, Gender Equality, and SDG 4, Quality Education. Participants compared women’s involvement in decision making, national education systems and ways to improve educational quality and inclusion (European University of Tirana).

Listed on NEWTON’s website as SustainEDU, the project ran from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025. It brought together NEWTON, AAB College, Powiślański University and the European University of Tirana. NEWTON’s published team includes Jiří Peřina, Petra Přibilová and Dagmar Palatová (European University of Tirana; NEWTON University).

Work with yourchance supported Ukrainian women’s entrepreneurial ambitions

In March 2025, Jan Bizík of the NEWTON University Angel Fund joined a mentoring session for Ukrainian women on the Začni podnikat entrepreneurship course. The course formed part of Vítej v Česku, run by yourchance o.p.s. Kamila Paličková also contributed to the session, which the organiser reported on 25 March 2025 (yourchance).

NEWTON was represented by an investment practitioner contributing experience to participants’ business preparation. Supporting women’s economic independence and social inclusion relates to SDGs 5, 8 and 10. On 26 August 2025, yourchance announced a strategic partnership with NEWTON University focused on entrepreneurship, financial literacy and responsible leadership (yourchance; yourchance).

The collaboration also continued through the Den D final in 2025 at the Ministry of Industry and Trade. A yourchance report dated 25 November 2025 describes NEWTON University Angels helping to select nine projects and Jan Bizík joining the judging panel. On 15 December 2025, NEWTON Today detailed NEWTON TV’s technical production role. The partnership therefore included professional feedback for the entrepreneurs and technical support for their final presentations.

The Summer Entrepreneurship Camp brought mentoring into a non-profit programme

The tenth Summer Entrepreneurship Camp, associated with Nadace ZET, took place at Nemojanský mlýn near Vyškov from 20 to 27 July 2025. Designed for young people from children’s homes and disadvantaged backgrounds, it developed career skills and encouraged participants to take responsibility for their future (Letní podnikatelský kemp).

NEWTON’s Ludmila Hruban contributed as a mentor, helping participants develop their plans and confidence. Her subsequent interview describes her experience of the 2025 event. The collaboration therefore involved practical, individual support for young people and relates particularly to SDGs 4, 8 and 10 (NEWTON Today).

The Manager of the Year Conference brought sectors together

On 26 November 2025, NEWTON University and the Czech Management Association held the Manager of the Year Conference in Prague. The programme covered public administration and business leadership. Jiří Koleňák moderated the Women Managers session, which included Lucie Landová of LINET, recognised in the sustainable development management category. The conference report records her emphasis on relationships and women’s representation in leadership. The collaboration opened public discussion of working environments, responsible management and equal opportunities, connecting with SDGs 5 and 8.

Business Summits extended the dialogue in Prague and Brno

NEWTON organised the Prague Business Summit on 27 November 2025 and the Brno Business Summit on 4 December 2025. Jiří and Veronika Koleňák opened both events. Prague’s programme connected technology, leadership and health through speakers including Sara Polak, Marian Jelínek and Petr Havlíček. In Brno, Vít Čermák of CzechInvest contributed experience of business development.

A report covering both summits describes discussions of ethics, succession in family businesses and the relationship between professional performance and mental and physical health. NEWTON created a forum for students, entrepreneurs and practitioners to meet. These educational and professional themes relate particularly to SDGs 3, 4 and 8.

Women Changing the World Awards highlighted women and emerging talent

NEWTON University was a main partner of the Women Changing the World Awards Czech & Slovak 2025, whose awards ceremony took place in Prague on 12 February 2026. The year in the title identifies the awards edition. The university’s account of the partnership records Anna Plechatá Krausová, Chancellor, presenting awards; the organiser also lists her on the judging panel. The awards brought together women working in business, science, education and social initiatives.

NEWTON also supported the young talent category for women under 25. The organiser highlighted finalists researching wastewater treatment and ways to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans. The partnership connected support for women and emerging talent with recognition of work delivering social and environmental benefits, particularly relevant to SDGs 4 and 5.

The European Forum of Entrepreneurship returned to impact and resilience

On 5 February 2026, NEWTON hosted the nineteenth European Forum of Entrepreneurship in Prague under the theme Business Beyond Tomorrow. Ludmila Hruban chaired the conference. The post-event report records over 150 participants and discussions of consumer behaviour, ethics and technological change. Alona Revko from Oxford explored resilient social entrepreneurship ecosystems and collaboration to rebuild communities in crises. These discussions connect with SDGs 8, 12 and 17.

Sustainable Tour enabled direct exchange with local businesses

In the summer semester of 2026, Ludmila Hruban led Economics and Sustainable Management (ESM) students on the Brno Sustainable Tour and the Prague Sustainable Design & Fashion Tour. Reports appeared on 24 April and 18 May 2026. Meetings with local businesses and cultural institutions opened discussions of responsible production, product longevity and sustainable enterprise. NEWTON connected teaching with community expertise on issues associated with SDGs 4 and 12.