PROGRAMME
08:30 – 09:00
Registration & networking coffee
09:00 – 09:20
Conference opening
09:20 – 09:30
Data Doesn’t Lie: Automotive in Eastern Slovakia in Numbers (Jakub Zagora, IT Valley Košice)
09:30 – 09:50
Keynote: The Future Region Is Decided Today (Katarína Vaškovičová, Magna Powertrain)
Topic: The Role of the Automotive Industry in Regional Transformation
09:50 – 10:40
Panel Discussion: The Future of Automotive – Pillars of Transformation
Panelists: Magna, Volvo Car Košice, TUKE
10:40 – 11:00
Coffee break
11:00 – 11:15
Case Study #1 – Peter Horos, Mitsubishi
Topic: How to Ensure the Transfer of Innovation into the Region
11:15 – 11:30
Case Study #2 – Milan Petruš, Volkswagen
Topic: Connecting Worlds: How to Build a Bridge Between Talent and the Production Floor
11:30 – 11:55
Halfway There: What the Arrival of Volvo Reveals About the Region’s Readiness – Marc Gombeer, Volvo Car Košice
11:55 – 12:30
Networking
Guests:
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KEYNOTE speaker
In her lecture, Katarína Vaškovičová , General Manager at Magna Powertrain, will focus on how the automotive industry is fundamentally changing the economies of regions, from the transformation of production and the emergence of electromobility, through digitalization and automation of processes, to the growing demands for a qualified workforce. Get a practical perspective on how companies are preparing for these changes, what determines their competitiveness today, and what role the region plays in attracting and retaining large investments. Katarína leads the plant in Kechnec with more than 1,000 employees and is one of the prominent personalities of the Slovak automotive industry. Her career is an example of growth, courage and strong leadership in a technical position and management of key production in the region.
How to take innovations from vision to reality?
Peter Horos will present the first case study. The Regional Sales Manager at Mitsubishi Electric connects technologies with real business impact and in practice acts not only as a supplier, but as a partner who helps companies find effective and sustainable solutions. He has experience across automation, robotics, energy and control systems. In his case study, he will therefore focus on the topic: How to ensure the transfer of innovation to the region. That is, how to transform potential into concrete results in businesses, in the economy, in education and in everyday practice.
An expert who connects the world of people and industry
Milan Petruš has been working at Volkswagen Slovakia since 2006. During his more than 20-year career in human resources, he has been dedicated to people development, employer brand building and strategic management of HR processes. In 2013 and 2014, he worked at the Volkswagen Group headquarters in Germany, where he specialized in dual education and connecting the needs of the industry with the education system. As part of his HR practice, he was responsible for the areas of personal development, recruitment, personal marketing and talent development. Since 2024, he has been focusing on the digitalization of HR processes and the area of labor relations (Labor Relations). In his work, he emphasizes the partnership between the employee and the organization, sustainable development of competencies and meaningful transformation of HR in the era of digitalization.
Data as a decision-making compass
Jakub Zagora works as a data analyst at Košice IT Valley, where he creates reports and analyses focused on the ICT sector and related areas. In his work, he transforms data into understandable and practically usable knowledge that supports strategic decision-making and planning. During his studies and practice, he has developed a strong analytical and problem-oriented thinking. He is interested in data, technology and continuous improvement, focusing on understanding complex systems and creating solutions that support innovation and growth in the field of information and communication technologies. In his analysis of the Automotive industry in Eastern Slovakia, he shows a real picture of the sector in numbers, supported by data. What trends are shaping the region? Where are its strengths and weaknesses, and what does this mean for the future?
Automotive today is about talent, innovation, data, infrastructure and the ability of regions to attract large investments
Marc Gombeer, Plant Manager and Head of Volvo Car Košice. A manager with more than 30 years of international experience from the USA, China and Europe, he is currently leading the creation of one of the most significant industrial projects in Slovakia, the climate-neutral plant in Valaliki.
In a separate interview, he will provide an ongoing assessment of the construction of the Volvo plant near Košice, experiences from the project implementation, a view of the readiness of the regional ecosystem for large investments, identification of key risks and opportunities for improvement, and recommendations for strengthening the region's competitiveness.
Panel Discussion
The conference Region of the Future – The Future of the Region is Automotive will also feature a panel discussion bringing together perspectives from automotive companies, the IT sector, and academia. The discussion will focus on topics that significantly influence regional competitiveness today, including how to effectively connect the automotive and IT sectors, the role and availability of talent, how to support innovation and the adoption of new technologies, and what needs to change in order to transform the region’s potential into long-term growth and development.
The panelists will include Martin Seman from Volvo Car Slovakia, Juraj Girman from Unique People, Juraj Gazda from Technická univerzita v Košiciach, and Radovan Lukáč from Magna Electronics.
The panel discussion will provide an expert perspective on industrial transformation, the importance of connecting technology, education, and innovation, as well as the future of the region in the context of the evolving automotive sector.