The University of Defence joined the NATO Modelling and Simulation Centre of Excellence (NATO M&S COE) and other partners in organising the 13th International Conference on Modelling and Simulation for Autonomous Systems (MESAS). The conference took place in Prague on 21–23 October 2026 as part of the Future Forces Exhibition & Forum.
The university’s Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies (CSMSS) made a substantial contribution to the preparation and organisation of the conference. Lieutenant Colonel Jiří Novotný played a key coordinating role as Conference Manager.
The Department of Military Robotics at the university’s Faculty of Military Technology, represented by Associate Professor Jan Mazal, also contributed to the academic and organisational arrangements, alongside NATO M&S COE, whose organisational activities were coordinated by Lieutenant Colonel David Žůrek.
CSMSS’s involvement extends beyond the conference itself. An important part of its work is the subsequent coordination of the publication process and editorial preparation of the conference proceedings, published by Springer in its prestigious Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) series. The papers undergo peer review, and preparing them for publication is a time-consuming process requiring considerable subject expertise.
The 13th MESAS conference once again demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in modelling and simulation. For the University of Defence and CSMSS, their long-standing involvement in organising the conference provides an opportunity to strengthen professional links with NATO institutions, universities abroad and research organisations, while actively contributing to the development of the scientific community working on modern defence technologies.
All three faculties of the University of Defence also showcased their work as part of the accompanying programme of the Future Forces Exhibition & Forum. Alongside information about study opportunities and admission requirements, university staff and students offered visitors engaging demonstrations of what students learn and the results of the university’s research.
Visitors could, for example, practise cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with student paramedics. In addition to demonstrating the correct chest compression technique, the students guided them through the entire procedure step by step, explaining how to save a life in an emergency. Reflecting the event’s theme, one student summed up her and her fellow students’ participation: “For us, the Future Forces Exhibition & Forum was more than a glimpse into the future — it showed that we are already shaping it together.”
Authors: Jiří Novotný and Viktor Sliva, with material provided by Klára Řeháková
Photos: David Žůrek, Jiří Novotný and Pavlína Pospíšilová Šífová
