AmCham Slovakia

In a time of accelerating digitalization, growing energy demand, and increasing pressure on energy security and sustainability, the future of energy has become a defining factor of economic competitiveness. Energy for Business Conference 2026, organized by AmCham Slovakia, brings together policymakers, energy leaders, SMR and technology companies, financial institutions, and innovators to explore how energy systems can support sustainable growth, digital transformation, and long-term resilience of the Slovak economy.

The conference will focus on the strategic intersection of energy, technology, and competitiveness, addressing key questions around secure and sustainable energy supply, the role of nuclear energy, the energy needs of high-performance computing and digital infrastructure, and the financing of future-proof energy solutions. By connecting public and private sector perspectives with international best practices, the event aims to foster informed dialogue and practical insights for decision-makers shaping Slovakia’s energy future.

Whether you represent government, industry, finance, research, or the technology sector, Energy for Business Conference 2026 offers a unique platform to engage with key stakeholders, exchange perspectives, and contribute to shaping an energy ecosystem that enables innovation, investment, and sustainable business.

AGENDA

8:30 | Registration and Networking

9:00 | Welcome and Key Note 

9:30 | Energy Foundations of a Competitive Economy

This panel will explore the role of nuclear energy and other stable sources as pillars of sustainability, security, and industrial growth, with a focus on long-term energy planning in Slovakia and Europe.

10:45 | Powering the Digital Economy

High-performance computing, data centers, AI, and advanced digital services are rapidly increasing energy demand. This session will examine how energy systems can support the growth of the digital economy while remaining sustainable and efficient.

11:30 | Energy Security and Financing the Transition

Experts from the public sector, finance, and industry will discuss energy security, investment needs, and financing mechanisms required to deliver resilient and future-oriented energy infrastructure.

• Will be announced soon

12:15 | Best Practice Session: Slovakia and International Perspectives

Concrete examples of successful projects and partnerships that demonstrate how energy, technology, and policy can work together in practice.

• Will be announced soon

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SPEAKERS BIOs

Petr Brzezina - Petr Brzezina is President for the Czech Republic and Slovakia at Westinghouse Electric Company, where he leads strategic efforts to expand the adoption of Westinghouse’s AP1000® nuclear technology across the region. In this role, he is responsible for high-level engagement with government, industry, and key stakeholders in support of the Czech Republic’s and Slovakia’s long-term energy and energy security goals. A seasoned senior executive, Petr Brzezina brings extensive CEO and top-management experience from major international companies. Over the course of his career, he has held leadership roles at Škoda Transportation, Alstom, OHL ŽS, General Electric, and ABB, operating in highly complex, multinational environments. His professional background spans the energy, nuclear, construction, engineering, and transportation sectors, with a strong focus on leading large-scale infrastructure and energy projects. In recognition of his leadership and impact, Petr Brzezina was named one of Forbes Czech Republic’s CEOs of the Year in 2021.

Peter Novák - Peter, a digital transformation expert with 25+ years in banking and telecom, has led major Data Centre projects, banking migrations, M&A integrations, and digital transformations. He now advises on quantum computing and LLM projects.

Radovan Potočár - Radovan is a graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Administration at Masaryk University in Brno and the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University in Prague. Since 2015 he has worked as an editor, and since 2020 as Editor-in-Chief, of the online platforms Energie-portal.sk, Odpady-portal.sk, and Voda-portal.sk. He is involved in the preparation of analyses in the fields of energy and waste management for the private and non-governmental sectors.

Martin Venhart - Mgr. Martin Venhart, DrSc. is a Slovak nuclear physicist and since June 2025 the President of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS). A graduate of Comenius University in Bratislava, he completed a PhD in experimental nuclear physics and worked as a postdoc at KU Leuven. At the SAS Institute of Physics, where he later led the Department of Nuclear Physics, he initiated Slovakia’s first experiment at CERN’s ISOLDE facility and built the TATRA spectrometer. His research focuses on the shape and structure of atomic nuclei, and in 2024 he received the ESET Science Award. Venhart has been active in SAS leadership since 2017 and is a strong advocate of strengthening the role of science and research in Slovak society.

Marta Žiaková - Dr. Marta Žiaková has been the Chairperson of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic (UJD SR) since 2002, when appointed by the Slovak Government. Dr. Žiaková has got long term professional experience in the nuclear field area and she is an internationally recognized nuclear expert with extensive international experience. With more than 40 years of experience in the field of nuclear energy, nuclear safety and security and non-proliferation gained through her career, Dr. Žiaková actively participated in many national and international activities, mainly within the IAEA, OECD/NEA, WENRA and the European Union. Among others Dr. Žiaková has been a team leader or member in several IAEA expert missions. She acted as the Governor of Slovakia of the IAEA Board of Governors and as the Chair of the IAEA Board of Governors. Since 2012 Dr. Žiaková acted as the Vice-Chair and in 2015 she was elected Chair of the OECD/NEA Steering Committee for Nuclear Energy. From March 2019 to January 2024 she performed the position of Chair of ENSREG. She is also member of OECD/NEA CNRA Bureau, IAEA Commission on Safety Standards, the Slovak Nuclear Society and Society for Science and Technique.