Following the successful MedTech conference, Košice IT Valley is now turning its focus to another strategic sector with strong potential for Eastern Slovakia – automotive. In collaboration with Business Košice, we invite yAfter a successful MedTech conference, Košice IT Valley is now focusing on another strategic sector with strong potential for Eastern Slovakia – the automotive industry. In collaboration with Business Košice, we invite you to a conference that opens a discussion on how to connect the automotive industry, the IT sector, and innovation, so that the Košice region can play a key role in the future of mobility.

📅 May 20, 2026
🕕 09:00 – 12:30
📍 Košice, BCT 1 – Moldavská cesta 8/A

Eastern Slovakia has a unique opportunity to become a hub for mobility innovation. The arrival of major automotive players, the growth of the IT sector, and a strong academic ecosystem create ideal conditions for the development of a modern automotive hub. The aim of the conference is to open an expert discussion on how to effectively turn this potential into reality and strengthen the region’s position in the context of the future of mobility.

WHO IS THE CONFERENCE FOR?

• leaders and representatives of automotive companies and manufacturing enterprises
• representatives of IT companies and technology firms
• startups and innovators active in mobility and digitalisation
• representatives of public administration and investment support institutions
• academia, including universities and vocational education institutions
• professionals and the wider expert community interested in the future of mobility, innovation, and regional development

Join us and be part of the discussion on the future of the region. Get inspired, build new connections, and explore opportunities that the automotive sector brings for companies, talent, and the entire ecosystem of Eastern Slovakia.

Participation in the conference is free of charge.

PROGRAM

08:30 – 09:00 | Registration & Networking Coffee

09:00 – 09:20 | Opening of the Conference

09:20 – 09:30 | Data Doesn’t Lie: Automotive in Eastern Slovakia in Numbers
Jakub Zagora, Košice IT Valley

09:30 – 09:50 | Keynote: The Future Region Is Being 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 Cars Košice
• Technical University of Košice

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: Bridging Two Worlds: How to Build a Bridge Between Talent and the Factory Floor

11:30 – 11:55 | Halfway There: What the Arrival of Volvo Reveals About the Region’s Readiness
Marc Gombeer, Volvo Cars Košice

11:55 – 12:30 | Refreshments & Networking

The Innovative Košice 2030 project is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund under the Slovakia Programme for the 2021–2027 programming period.