We are the Moravian Silicon Valley. EXPO 2025 represents a huge opportunity for Brno to promote itself and attract tourists and new business partners, says Mayor Vaňková

If someone didn’t know Brno, how would you describe it? What would you highlight?
It is the city where Mendel, the father of genetics who discovered the laws of inheritance, was born. It is a university city and at the same time a center of a well-developed innovation ecosystem, including innovative companies and research and development facilities. Brno is a traditional Central and Eastern European trade fair hub and the Czech capital of judicial institutions. It offers a high quality of life that attracts both visitors and new residents.

Brno participated in EXPO 2005 in Aichi. What did that bring to the city?
EXPO 2005 had a positive impact on awareness of Brno in Japan, contributing to increased interest among Japanese tourists. The Czech exhibition in Aichi, of which Brno was a part, helped present Brno as a tourist destination and as a city with rich history, cultural heritage, and modern technologies.

What do you expect from EXPO 2025 in Osaka?
Due to the COVID pandemic, we lost a significant number of incoming foreign tourists, including from Japan as a distant destination. While tourist numbers from neighboring countries are approaching pre-pandemic levels, Japanese visitor numbers remain more than 50% lower (for example, in 2023 there were 1,882 Japanese tourists who spent 6,993 nights in Brno).

Our destination marketing campaigns are now focused on international audiences, and we certainly do not want to miss Japan, even though it is a distant market. Japanese tourists, with their strong interest in culture, art, history, and tradition, are particularly valuable for Brno. We expect that participation in EXPO 2025 will lead to long-term increased visibility and interest in Brno in Japan, resulting in a gradual rise in Japanese visitors in the years following the exhibition.

I firmly believe Brno will be part of EXPO 2025 – we must not miss such a major international promotional opportunity.

Is EXPO 2025 also an ideal platform for networking and creating business opportunities?
Japan has long been a stable trade partner for the Czech Republic and is one of the most significant foreign investors in the country. The Japanese market shows a constant interest in innovation and new products, with a strong emphasis on quality.

Brno has long supported innovative companies and the development of smart solutions for cities and everyday life, which can be highly attractive for the Japanese market. EXPO 2025 in Osaka is therefore an ideal place for exchanging experience and establishing business relationships, particularly in digitalization, electron microscopy, aerospace, and healthcare solutions. We are also very interested in cooperation in science and research.

What aspects of Brno would you like to present at EXPO?
Brno is a young city (with eleven universities and more than 65,000 students), with a dynamic startup ecosystem and strong research infrastructure. Thanks to its focus on technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, it is often called the “Moravian Silicon Valley.” It is also an international city (home to more than 50,000 expats) with a high quality of life.

In tourism, Brno will present itself as a city of unique architecture (representing all architectural styles; Villa Tugendhat, a UNESCO-listed masterpiece of modern architecture), a vibrant city center combining gastronomy, heritage, and cultural events, excellent gastronomy, and rich culture (theatres, galleries, museums, philharmonic, and festivals such as Janáček Brno).

Brno is also a city of world-renowned figures whose legacy continues today. Connections to personalities such as Leoš Janáček, Alfons Mucha, and Gregor Johann Mendel offer a strong cultural and intellectual appeal for Japanese visitors.

You mentioned Mendel. Will genetics be part of the pavilion?
Yes, of course. The pavilion will partly focus on G. J. Mendel, and one week of the program will be dedicated directly to genetics.

Which technological companies are based in Brno?
Brno’s tech ecosystem is dynamic and growing, with several globally recognized companies. Electron microscopy is a key sector – 33% of global production is developed and manufactured in Brno by Thermo Fisher Scientific, TESCAN, and Delong Instruments.

Brno is also strong in aerospace, cybersecurity, and gaming. Local studios have created games such as Mafia, Shadowgun, Dead Trigger, and Unkilled.

Companies like Kiwi (a global travel tech company) and Y Soft (enterprise software solutions, especially print management) are also based here.

Thanks to its Central European location, Brno is a strategic hub for companies serving both Western and Eastern Europe.