Innovation for Healthy Ageing: Healthcare Week Takes Place at the Czech Pavilion
From research to action, the fight against leukemia in the 21st century, public-private partnerships in medical research, and the achievements of the Czech healthcare system in the Liberec Region of Czechia — these are just some of the topics presented during Healthcare Week, taking place from June 23 to 25, 2025, at the Czech National Pavilion at EXPO in Osaka, Japan. Part of the accompanying program is the photo exhibition Matters of the Heart, organized for the sixth consecutive year in Czechia by the Martin Chaloupka Foundation.
The professional conference held on June 24, 2025, at the Czech Pavilion will be moderated by Jakub Hlávka, a respected expert in health economics and policy. He serves as the director of the Institute for Health Economics, Policy and Innovation (HEPII) at Masaryk University in Brno and also acts as a healthcare advisor to the President of Czechia.
One of the key institutions featured during Healthcare Week is the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (ÚHKT), a leading Czech research and clinical center focused on the treatment of leukemia and other blood disorders. As part of its presentation, ÚHKT will showcase the latest advancements in research, immunology, and gene therapy.
“The main theme of Czechia’s participation in EXPO 2025 is Talent and Creativity for Life – and it is precisely the talent for treating our patients and the strong connection between science and medicine that forms the foundation of ÚHKT’s work. Our experts transform cutting-edge research into treatments that change lives every day. We see our participation in the world exhibition as an opportunity to present not only our scientific achievements but also the human dimension of our work,” says Andrea Daňková, Secretary of ÚHKT.
“We are very pleased that, alongside our business partners and cultural program, scientific institutions are also being represented in the Czech National Pavilion. World exhibitions are a platform for scientific, cultural, and economic diplomacy, and it is a great honor for us to host institutions that are dedicated to saving and improving lives – which are, after all, key themes of this year’s EXPO. I believe that Czechia has always had, and continues to have, top scientists and innovators who have given the world remarkable inventions and continue to deliver outstanding results in science, research, and innovation. We have much to be proud of – we just don’t always realize it,” says Ondřej Soška, Commissioner General of Czechia’s participation in EXPO 2025.
ÚHKT’s participation at EXPO 2025 also presents an opportunity to establish international partnerships and form new scientific consortia that connect Czech researchers with leading global institutions in the field of hematology. In addition to its presence at EXPO 2025, ÚHKT plans to independently build a scientific-medical network with Japan’s most prestigious hospitals and universities, including the Osaka International Cancer Institute, Kansai University, and Osaka University.
“Czechia undoubtedly has much to offer the world, and EXPO is a unique platform to showcase it. Especially in the field of hematology, we have a long-standing tradition and top-tier results that stand up to international comparison. The Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion plays a key role in this regard – not only in clinical care but also in research and innovation that drive the field forward. EXPO is an opportunity to present these achievements to the world and to forge new scientific partnerships,” adds Petr Cetkovský, Director of the Institute.
Presenting Czech science on a global stage carries not only professional but also strategic significance – it enhances the prestige of Czech research institutions, fosters collaboration, and inspires the younger generation to pursue scientific careers. The thematic Healthcare Week takes place from June 23 to 25, 2025, and is dedicated to healthcare, research, and innovation. In addition to expert lectures and panel discussions, the program includes TED-style talks and B2B meetings. The goal is to introduce Czechia’s healthcare system – with its strong innovation potential – to Japanese partners and encourage mutual cooperation.
Matters of the Heart Exhibition
As part of the Healthcare Week program at the Czech Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, the Matters of the Heart exhibition brings powerful stories and heartfelt gratitude to those who put their whole heart into their work. The black-and-white portrait series of so-called “heart-driven” individuals is presented under the patronage of the Martin Chaloupka Foundation and was created by renowned photographer Markéta Navrátilová.
The project, a cornerstone of the awareness campaign for World Heart Day, was born from the personal experience of the foundation’s founder, Martina Motshagen, who decided to dedicate herself to cardiovascular disease awareness and prevention after facing her own health challenges. Over the past years, the exhibition has introduced visitors to more than a hundred faces and life stories of both well-known and everyday people from the Liberec Region – a place known as the Crystal Valley – which has become their own “matter of the heart.” Participation at EXPO 2025 thus highlights not only the professional but also the deeply human dimension of Czech healthcare.
The sixth edition of the exhibition is held under the patronage of Vladimír Richter, Deputy Governor of the Liberec Region for Healthcare. “I am very pleased to support this exhibition and help raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases. It is important that we care for our hearts not only physically but also emotionally – and that is exactly what Matters of the Heart beautifully reminds us of,” said Deputy Governor Richter.
About the Czech National Pavilion at EXPO 2025
Czechia will be participating in a World EXPO as an independent country for the sixth time. Since September 2022, the role of Commissioner General has been held by Ondřej Soška. The pavilion’s design – a glass spiral – was selected through an open architectural competition, which was won in March 2023 by Apropos Architects. The main structure is made of modern CLT wooden panels, while the façade features artistic glass, drawing on a centuries-old Czech tradition. The national pavilion provides a dignified setting for Czechia’s presence at EXPO 2025, which will take place from April to October 2025 on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay. Inside, the pavilion features a permanent exhibition, the multifunctional Daisue Hall auditorium, business meeting facilities, a restaurant, the CTP Lounge, and a seaside relaxation zone open to visitors in front of the building. Cultural performances take place almost every weekend from Friday to Sunday. The pavilion was officially approved for use in early April 2025 and stands as the largest wooden structure of its kind in Japan without a metal supporting frame. It officially opened to the public on April 13, 2025.