Czech Republic wants to present itself at Expo 2025 with robotics, PC games, or culture

Prague – The Czech Republic wants to present itself at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka in areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence, information technology, and also in the computer games sector, for example. At the same time, it will build on cultural presentation, as the Czech Republic has a strong reputation in Japan through classical music. This was stated today by Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský.

According to him, participation in the exhibition will also support tourism, and a visit to the Czech pavilion may inspire a trip to the Czech Republic. Generally, companies, academic institutions, and various startups will present at Expo 2025.

Manager Ondřej Soška, who will become the General Commissioner of the Czech Republic at the exhibition following the government's decision on Wednesday and who has also developed the concept for the Czech participation, stated that the pavilion should combine culture, art, science, and business. The common denominator of the concept is according to him talent and creativity for life.

Expo returns to Osaka after 55 years. Back then, the Czechoslovak pavilion designed by architect Viktor Rudiš was visited by approximately 11 million people, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The presentation was based on the works of poets Jan Skácel and Jiří Kolář. Visitors were guided through the exhibition by the twenty-two-meter glass River of Life created by Jaroslava Brychtová and Stanislav Libenský.

Soška aims to build on this in 2025. The River of Life will serve as a symbolic pathway through the pavilion, branching out into various corners aimed at different target groups, from small children to seniors. The work of Alphonse Mucha will also be presented, which according to Soška became an inspiration for Japanese manga comics.

In addition to traditional themes, the Czech Republic wants to showcase the latest technologies. "For nanotechnology companies, Japan is one of the key markets, but most Japanese people do not know that these things come from the Czech Republic," said Soška. Besides the public program, a business platform will also be prepared, aimed at strengthening trade exchange. This will include business forums and expert conferences.

The principles of the circular economy will ensure that most of the items prepared for the exhibition will continue to be used for the presentation of the Czech Republic. Soška also wants to promote Expo 2025 in the Czech Republic even after the pavilion is proposed, through a roadshow across the regions. He wants to present the concept to companies, schools, and the general public.

The Special Envoy for the Czech Republic's participation in World Expos, Karel Smékal, stated that today the Japanese side allocated land for the national pavilion to the Czech Republic. It is located on the seashore on the promenade. This is the space that the Czech Republic preferred.

The government confirmed the participation in the exhibition and the concept by which the Czech Republic will present itself at the end of June. The budget for the Czech participation is set to be 290.2 million crowns for the years 2023 to 2026. An additional 170 to 220 million will come from external sources.