International Visegrad Fund

🙌 Today we were visited at the International Visegrad Fund by Mr. Jakub Karfík, Director General of the European Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, accompanied by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Slovakia Rudolf Jindrák. 📌 The Director of the Fund Ms. Linda Kapustova Helbichova presented the Fund's priorities for the coming year.

📌 Executive Director of the Visegrad Fund Linda Kapustová Helbichová at the #Visegrad4Business conference in Budapest! 👏 During the keynote speech, the Director introduced the Fund's programs and demonstrated innovative practices that respond to emerging regional challenges. The insights presented how these practices are driving real change, inspiring collaboration, and enhancing sustainable growth. 🗣 Co-panelists of the panel 'WOMEN IN INDUSTRY': Alena Balogová (CEO of Chemosvit Fibrochem from SK), Marta Guthová (CEO of Czech Aviation Training Centre and Chairwoman, Women in Aviation Czech Republic from CZ), Zsuzsa Beke, (Head of the Global PR, CSR and Public Affairs Department, Gedeon Richter from HU) and Marta Mikliszańska (Director Group Public Affairs, Allegro from PL). Visegrad 4 Business #WomenInIndustry

📌 The Visegrad Fund is present at the #Visegrad4Business Conference! 👉 The V4 BUSINESS conference began today in Budapest. The opening remarks were made by the Foreign Ministers of Hungary and Slovakia. 🗣 Speakers of the first panel "V4 & THE SPACE RACE": Martin Jančo (Founder and CEO of M2M Solution from SK), Tomáš Jelínek (CEO of FlyinDefence from CZ), Örs Hunor Detve (CEO CanSatLab from HU) and Andrzej Voigt (President of the Board, AV Inwestor S.A. from PL). 😎 Do you think that the International Visegrad Fund promotes innovation? You're absolutely right. A great example is this engaging panel discussion!

📢 We are pleased to inform you that the strategic priorities for 2025 are here! Besides the Fund's seven regular focus areas applicable for Visegrad and Visegrad+ Grants, you can apply for Strategic Grants targeting these three strategic priorities: 🔴 Promoting volunteering in the V4 region. 🔴 Promoting shared values. 🔴 Supporting water management and flood protection cooperation in the region. 👉 Learn more about these priorities and the conditions for Strategic Grants on our website: https://bit.ly/4fIvmW8 📷 taken during the implementation of Mood for Wood project (2021)

🤝 On Friday, we welcomed Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Slovakia, H. E. Thomas Kurz to the International Visegrad Fund. We are neighbors, we share a common address and we also share Germany's borders with the countries of the Visegrad Group. 🙌 Visegrad Fund supported the Visegrad Grant and V4 Gen mini Grant projects submitted by German applicants. Historically, the Fund has supported 24 projects whose applicant was an organization from Germany.

🎓 The conference "Integration of Sustainable Development Principles into Educational Projects" was organized last week by the Institute of International Academic and Scientific Cooperation (IIASC) and held in Semmering, Austria. 👉 Our Chief of Cabinet Jiří Sýkora was present at the conference and spoke about possibilities offered by Visegrad Fund. As a granting organisation, approaching different civil societies that are interested in funding their innovative projects is one of our goals. 🎯 The Ukrainian-Polish Educational Foundation IIASC has been operating since 2012 to promote the development of education, science and civil society, and the idea of lifelong learning. #civilsociety #regionalcooperation

🤝 Executive Director of the Visegrad Fund Linda Kapustová Helbichová met with H. E. Evgenija Ilieva, Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia to Slovakia. 🇸🇰🇲🇰 🙌 At today's meeting between the Fund's Director and the Ambassador, which took place in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, the possibilities of strengthening regional cooperation between North Macedonia and the Visegrad region through civil society organizations and educational institutions were discussed. @Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia

🧑🤝🧑💬 Active Ageing in the V4 Countries project is an initiative dedicated to improving the lives of senior citizens in the Visegrad region by addressing social isolation and promoting engagement in community activities. The project was realised by Healthy Cities Association in the Carpathian basin and partners. 📚 As a result of their cooperation - a comprehensive guidebook was made. It is available in five languages (English, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, and Slovak), offering practical examples of activities, from physical exercise and life-long learning to programs reducing isolation. 👉 Aging population is a relevant matter in many countries, also in the Visegrad region. Growing number of elderly people requires wider changes and a more age-friendly environment which facilitates their active social life. Check out the full V4 story here: https://bit.ly/3S1dufQ 📷 taken during the implementation of the project

🎥🎞 Visegrad Fund supports Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival, the most important documentary film event in the CEE region. One of the key parts of the festival is the Visegrad Accelerator, which provides film professionals from the V4 countries with a set of educational, promotional and networking activities. 📽 Emerging Producers is another industry flagship project of the Ji.hlava IDFF and the only one of its kind designed for documentary film producers in Europe. The Emerging producers 2024 ceremony was followed by 18 presentations of short documentaries not only from the V4 countries, but also from Finland, France, Slovenia, Spain, Germany, Armenia, Serbia, Romania, etc.  Among other films, the award went also to the documentary With Love, From the Front Line, directed by Ukrainian director Alicia Kovalenko and produced by Polish producer Katarzyna Kuczynska (Emerging Producer 2023). 🎬 At the event, Linda Kapustová Helbichová, Director of the Fund met with Marek Hovorka, Director of the festival and René Kubášek, Head of International Relations of the festival.

🚀 One of the projects we were happy to support, Education4Entrepreneurship, uses the Toolkit to empower young researchers to approach their work with an entrepreneurial, market-driven mindset. This resource encourages early consideration of end-user needs, guiding researchers to develop practical, impactful solutions. Course structure includes: 🔹 Problem research with technology radar 🔹 Design Sprint workshop 🔹 Pitching workshop Developed by experts from #Unico and partner organisations, the Toolkit aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial mindset in universities across central and eastern Europe, preparing researchers to make a lasting impact. 👉 Check it out yourself: https://bit.ly/3UoH9R6 📷 taken during the implementation of the project