The 31st edition of the international Infotherma 2026 exhibition is currently taking place in Ostrava. This traditional event brings together stakeholders concerned with heating, energy efficiency, and the use of renewable energy sources in households, companies, and public buildings. At this year’s edition, VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, the honorary partner of the event, is represented alongside the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) also by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Faculty of Mining and Geology. Throughout the exhibition, a joint stand is available where visitors can inquire about current projects, research directions, and the practical application of research outcomes.
The fair was ceremonially opened by representatives of CEET and VSB-TUO. CEET Director Stanislav Mišák and University Rector Igor Ivan - together with representatives of public administration and institutions involved in shaping environmental policy and supporting projects in this field: Josef Bělica, Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region; Petr Valdman, Director of the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic; Vladislav Smrž, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of the Environment; and Aleš Boháč, Deputy Mayor of the City of Ostrava.
As part of the opening ceremony, the VSB-TUO TOP Innovation Award was presented for the first time. A total of nine exhibits entered the competition, offering various solutions aimed at enhancing energy self-sufficiency. The ranking and winners were determined by an expert jury chaired by Stanislav Mišák, Director of CEET.
“The Infotherma trade fair is not only about companies sharing experience with end users. From my perspective, it is primarily about direct communication among companies themselves, which have a unique opportunity here to compare their products with competitors, share good practice, and receive immediate feedback from visitors. This is further complemented by the involvement of public-sector institutions that financially support the deployment of modern technologies in heating, energy efficiency, and renewable energy toward end users. I therefore perceive Infotherma as a unique and functional ecosystem for sharing good practice. I greatly appreciate that our university is a proud partner of this event and that members of my team participate not only as active contributors but also as co-organizers. Through their expert presentations, they make complex technical topics accessible to the general public. I also very positively assess the introduction of the new VŠB-TUO TOP Innovation Award, which represents another important instrument for promoting high-quality solutions supporting sustainable energy,”
said Stanislav Mišák, Director of CEET.
The winner of the newly introduced VŠB-TUO TOP Innovation Award was the company i-Komunita, with its intelligent software system for optimizing and managing photovoltaic operation in residential buildings. Second place was awarded to ENVITAL for its biomass-based micro-cogeneration unit BioGS 1.0. Third place was shared by two companies: Eurebess EB Mobility, with a mobile fast-charging station, and OPOP, with exhibits H4 EKO-D and H4 EKO-D PLUS, representing modern variants of wood gasification boilers.
The conclusion of the opening ceremony highlighted another theme closely linked to energy beyond the exhibition halls—the transformation of the region and the end of an industrial era. VŠB-TUO Rector Igor Ivan, together with Jiří Horák, officially launched the documentary The Last Deep Coal Mine in the Czech Republic: Coal Mining Step by Step. The film was produced at the last operating hard coal mine in the Czech Republic, ČSM Sever in Stonava in the Karviná region, which is scheduled to be permanently closed in 2026. The documentary can be viewed via the following link:
https://energetika.tzb-info.cz/29396-posledni-hlubinny-dul-v-cr-tezba-uhli-krok-za-krokem
CEET colleagues also took part in the accompanying energy conference, where they presented not only findings from their research but also their practical applications. Jiří Ryšavý focused on modern heating systems, followed by Zdeněk Neufinger, who addressed the topic of energy management and optimization, including his experience from cooperation with industrial partners. David Seidl subsequently presented the practical use of artificial intelligence in photovoltaics.
“I have been attending the Infotherma exhibition for many years, where I have the opportunity to communicate both with end users and with industrial partners presenting their products. Connecting these two worlds allows me to better perceive current trends and to more effectively steer and optimize our research activities. I am therefore all the more pleased that VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava and CEET are proud main partners of the exhibition this year,”
stated Jiří Ryšavý.
“In my presentation, I introduced one of the projects carried out at CEET, in which we used artificial intelligence to predict the theoretical potential contribution of photovoltaic panels and power plants to the energy sector in the Moravian-Silesian Region and, by extension, across the Czech Republic,”
summarized David Seidl.
The exhibition also features Jiří Horák, widely known as Smokeman, who traditionally presents his educational show. In addition to the well-known “Ten Principles of Proper Heating,” visitors can learn many other interesting facts.
Infotherma continues until Thursday. Tickets are available this year for the first time in an online version without the need for printing, and visitors can download their tickets to their mobile phones free of charge.