Position of Academies in Society and Research Security Among Key Topics at the Meeting of V4 Academy Representatives
Representatives of the academies of sciences of the Visegrad Group (V4) countries met for a two-day conference on 17 and 18 June 2026 at the Congress Centre of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Smolenice. The discussions focused on the role of academies in society, their societal impact, and issues of research security in the rapidly changing European and global environment.
The meeting brought together the President of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), Dr Martin Venhart, the President of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prof. Radomír Pánek, the President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Mihály Pósfai, and the Vice-President of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Prof. Dariusz Jemielniak, along with other representatives of the V4 academies.
Martin Venhart emphasised that the role of academies today extends far beyond scientific research.
“The fact that cooperation among the V4 academies has continued for more than a quarter of a century demonstrates its stability and lasting importance within the evolving European research landscape. At a time of growing societal and technological challenges, academies have a special responsibility not only to produce excellent research but also to strengthen public trust in scientific knowledge and provide reliable expert input for public debate and decision-making,” he said.
According to him, the regular meetings of the V4 academies provide an important platform for exchanging views on issues that increasingly influence the functioning of scientific institutions in Europe, including research integrity and research security.
During the two-day meeting, delegates discussed the role of academies in society and their contribution to strengthening public trust in science, as well as the active involvement of scientific institutions in contemporary public discourse. The discussions also addressed the future role of academies of sciences in European Union research programmes after 2028, including opportunities and potential risks for the V4 region. A significant part of the programme focused on research security, particularly the protection of sensitive knowledge, safeguarding research integrity, and balancing scientific openness with the responsible management of research results.
Supporting the Next Generation of Scientists
The second day of the meeting featured presentations by the winners of the V4 Academies of Sciences Young Scientists Award, which this year focused on artificial intelligence in the physical and technical sciences.
The award-winning research was presented by Michal Jambor (Czech Academy of Sciences), Alex Kummer (Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Szymon Nakoneczny (Polish Academy of Sciences), and Jaromír Klarák (Slovak Academy of Sciences), demonstrating the high standard of research carried out by the young generation of scientists across the V4 region. Following their presentations, the laureates received diplomas from representatives of their respective academies.
Joint Declaration of the V4 Academies
At the conclusion of the meeting, representatives of the V4 academies adopted a draft joint declaration emphasising the growing importance of science and scientific institutions in society, the need to strengthen public trust in scientific knowledge, and the importance of protecting research integrity and research security in a changing social and political environment.
The declaration also highlighted the responsibility of academies of science to contribute to informed public debate actively and to promote the use of scientific evidence in decision-making.
V4 Academies Meetings
The meetings of the Visegrad Group (V4) academies of sciences have a tradition spanning more than 25 years, dating back to the first gathering held in Budapest in 2000. Since then, the forum has rotated among the participating countries. The Slovak Academy of Sciences previously hosted the event in Smolenice in 2011 and in Stará Lesná in 2015. More recent meetings took place in Hungary in 2022, Poland in 2023, and the Czech Republic in 2024.
Prepared by: Ivana Janíková Stavrovská, Department of International Cooperation SAS
Photo: Martin Bystriansky