We were honoured to welcome a delegation of representatives of the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA), its partners and the Ministry of Transportation of the Czech Republic at the HiLASE Centre. The visit opened new opportunities for international cooperation in the field of advanced laser technologies for space applications such as climate monitoring, space debris removal, or circular space economy.
The delegation was welcomed by Tomáš Mocek (Head of HiLASE Centre), Jan Brajer (Head of Industrial Laser Applications), Martin Smrž (Head of Advanced Laser Development), Jan Vanda (Space and Defence Activity Coordinator) and Martina Řeháková (Business Development Manager).
Tomáš Mocek introduced the HiLASE Centre, its strategic direction, long-term goals and previous cooperation with Taiwanese institutions. Next, Jan Vanda took the floor and focused on space laser applications in which the Centre is involved, such as laser communication, laser ablation and the use of lasers for space sustainability. A tour of the experimental halls for Laser Shock Peening and Laser Micromachining led by Jan Brajer was not to be missed.
„During the visit, we showcased our cutting-edge laser technologies and their applications in space, including debris mitigation via laser momentum transfer, laser communications, and advanced materials processing,“ comments Jan Vanda. „Our discussions highlighted strong synergies in high-power laser systems for secure and efficient satellite communication, as well as laser applications for the semiconductor industry and material processing. This exchange fostered opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and joint research initiatives, further strengthening global innovation in space and laser technologies.
The Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) plays a key role in the development of Taiwan’s space programme, mainly focused on the development of satellite technology and remote sensing. Its cooperation with international partners helps in the fields of telecommunications, natural disaster monitoring and climate change. TASA thus makes a significant contribution not only to Taiwan’s technological progress, but also to global research and environmental protection.
TASA and its partners visited a number of Czech organisations as part of the Industrial Days with Taiwan organised by the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic on 17-21 February 2025. In total, 10 Taiwanese companies and institutions from the field of space technology and innovation were represented. The programme also included the first-ever business forum with Taiwan focusing on space activities.
“The Czech Republic cooperates with Taiwan in a number of sectors and now we would like to expand this cooperation to include space activities. We have a great reputation in space technologies and applications, and we see a lot of potential here. Optics and lasers are among our profile technologies. We have companies and research facilities here capable of working from design through production to the use of sophisticated optical systems and lasers. And this, I believe, is a solid technological foundation on which cooperation with Taiwan in the field of space activities can be based,” says Ondřej Šváb, Head of Space Technologies and Applications Unit of the Ministry of Transport.
