A Successful Pilot Event
The first KreativEU Networking Conference proved to be a great success as scientifically, socially, and organizationally. It showcased the value of cooperation among universities, researchers, and students, building bridges between disciplines and nations. The enthusiasm and high-quality discussions confirmed that KreativEU is creating a platform where science, culture, and creativity meet, setting a promising foundation for future European collaboration.
First Pilot KreativEU Networking Conference Report
The first pilot KreativEU Networking Conference, New Trends in bioScience 3 – History, Traditions and Innovative Approaches, took place at the Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia (USB) in České Budějovice from October 6–8, 2025. The meeting gathered around 45 participants and 22 speakers from seven European countries, marking a strong step in the development of the KreativEU European University alliance that connects creativity, cultural heritage, and science.
The event opened with welcoming words by Prof. Ivana Kutá Smatanová, the Conference Chair, and addresses by several prominent guests: Dagmar Škodová Parmová, Mayor of České Budějovice; Prof. Pavel Kozák, Rector of the University of South Bohemia; Prof. František Vácha, Dean of the Faculty of Science; Assoc. Prof. Luděk Berec, Vice-Rector for Research, and Ing. Lucie Jeroušková, member of KreativEU consorcium at USB. Prof. Silviu Miloiu, member of the KreativEU Steering Committee from Valahia University of Targoviste (Romania), represented the alliance and underlined its vision of linking European creativity, science, and cultural heritage through education and research cooperation.
The conference program reflected KreativEU’s spirit of interdisciplinarity, bringing together high science, applied science, and cultural heritage. Lectures and discussions spanned a wide range of topics from The Story of X-Ray Discovery (by Pavlina Rezacova), Tracing the Origin of Notre Dame Timberwood (by Anna Imberty Schulz), to Eco-Cultural Heritage (by Silviu Miliou, Lucia Novakova or Dina Mateus). The conference featured other renowned abroad lecturers such as, José A. Gavira-Gallardo, Sergio Martínez-Rodríguez, Jeroen R. Mesters or Lars Redecke, whose talks bridged fundamental research and applied science in fields ranging from structural biology to material analysis (Vit Stranak). The high quality of presentations and the engaging discussions that followed highlighted both the depth and relevance of the topics addressed. This diverse content showcased how Europe’s historical and cultural roots inspire modern scientific innovation and sustainable development.
The poster section was providing a platform for researchers to present and discuss their work in an informal, collegial atmosphere. The Best Poster Prize was awarded to doctoral student Antonín Pavelka from the Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, for his contribution and clear presentation of possible applied scientific research. Sufficient time for networking activities, including lab tours, informal discussions, welcome reception and get-together dinner, further strengthened professional and personal connections across researchers from different institutions and countries and fostered the development of new collaborations and creative exchanges among participants.
The conference was made possible thanks to the support of its institutional partners and sponsors, including the University of South Bohemia, the KreativEU alliance, the Faculty of Science, and supplied companies such as Avantor, Altium and MTM who recognized the importance of linking science with cultural and creative heritage.
Behind the successful organization stood the NT2025 organizing team the Laboratory of Structural Chemistry Faculty of Science with invaluable help from the Rector’s and Faculty’s departments.
The program, abstracts of all lectures, and poster presentations were published in a special issue of Bulletin of Czech and Slovak Crystallographic - MATERIALS STRUCTURE in Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Technology, vol. 31, no. 2a (2025), 21 pages (ISSN 1211 – 5894 (print), ISSN 1805 – 4382 (online)).
The first KreativEU Networking Conference demonstrated how collaboration across disciplines and borders can advance both scientific discovery and cultural understanding. It set a strong foundation for future KreativEU events and established České Budějovice as a lively hub for European scientific and cultural exchange.
