AGP Executive Report

Slovakia Tech & Policy: Slovakia’s Foreign and European Affairs Ministry has launched the first stage of a new visa registration portal (RegVIS), letting Slovak universities and research institutions register incoming students and researchers from Oct 1, with appointment booking from Nov 1 and a second stage planned for employers. AI & Security: A new joint statement on Iran’s nuclear programme was released by a large group of countries, while Ukraine’s president again warned that Russian drone escalation still depends on foreign components—so sanctions need tightening. Cyber & Events: Evolution Dome has appointed Cyber Event as its official Romania distributor, with rollout planned across 16 more countries including Slovakia, aiming to scale temporary event structures across Central and Eastern Europe. Energy & Climate: Rezolv Energy energised the first phase of Romania’s 461 MW VIFOR Wind Farm (192 MW), with phase two due in 2027. EU Funding Fight: Seventeen EU countries, including Slovakia, pushed back against cuts to farm and cohesion spending in the bloc’s next budget talks. Deepfakes Watch: A report argues that political deepfakes have hit elections worldwide, but the US hasn’t seen the worst scenarios thanks to stricter state laws.

Slovakia Tech & Policy: The Foreign and European Affairs Ministry has launched the first stage of a new visa registration portal (RegVIS) to make Slovak national visa applications for students and researchers more transparent, with data checks for accuracy and duplicates and appointment booking starting Nov 1. EU Budget Fight: Seventeen EU countries, including Slovakia, are pushing back against cuts to farm and cohesion funding in the 2028–2034 budget talks, warning the bloc must protect key policies. Health Tech: Powerful Medical and corpuls are partnering to bring AI ECG analysis (Queen of Hearts) into prehospital workflows across the EU, Switzerland and the UK via corpuls devices. EV Batteries in CEE: Volkswagen’s PowerCo and China’s Gotion will set up three battery joint ventures in Spain, Slovakia and Morocco to expand LFP production. Science & Education: A NASA-backed citizen science program is letting Slovak students contribute plant-growth data aimed at crops for long missions. Cyber/Events Expansion: Evolution Dome has appointed Cyber Event as its official Romania distributor, with rollout planned across 16 more countries including Slovakia.

AI & Elections: A new report argues political deepfakes haven’t “swamped” US elections because state laws and real penalties have curbed the worst misuse—an angle that matters for Slovakia as AI-generated misinformation spreads. UK Mobility Rules: The UK published the full list of 38 countries exempt from the ATAS certificate requirement, including Slovakia—useful for researchers and students planning work in the UK. Slovakia Health Tech: Powerful Medical and corpuls will integrate the “Queen of Hearts” AI ECG model into corpuls devices across the EU, UK and Switzerland, aiming to speed up heart-attack pattern recognition in prehospital care. Batteries for EVs: Volkswagen’s PowerCo and Gotion will set up three battery joint ventures in Spain, Slovakia and Morocco, with LFP production at the core. Slovakia Manufacturing: Hyundai WIA started mass production at a new plant in Martin, producing CV joints and coolant modules for European automakers. EU Accessibility: A review finds EU accessibility enforcement is uneven: four webshops fines in Czechia, while a Dutch accessibility test couldn’t complete orders at 61% of major sites. Defense Tech Regionally: Czech forces are testing drones and anti-drone systems at Drone Shield 2026, with NATO observers including Slovakia.

EU Accessibility Watch: A review of the EU Accessibility Act finds only four published fines so far—and all are in Czechia—after Dutch inspectors couldn’t complete an order on 61% of major webshops using assistive tech. EU Funding & Rulemaking: Member states have submitted final NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility payment requests, while the Commission also issued infringement decisions and closed 87 cases. Slovakia in Health Tech: Powerful Medical and corpuls will bring AI ECG analysis (“Queen of Hearts”) into prehospital workflows across the EU, UK and Switzerland via corpuls devices. Slovakia in Industry: Vertiv expands its Nové Mesto nad Váhom campus with new power and liquid-cooling manufacturing capacity for AI data centers. Automotive Supply Chain: Hyundai WIA starts mass production in Martin, scaling drivetrain and thermal management parts for European automakers. Batteries Across Borders: Volkswagen and Gotion plan €3.22B battery and materials joint ventures spanning Spain, Slovakia and Morocco to build an EV supply chain for Europe. Defense Tech: Latvia signs a deal to buy Czech-made Morana 155mm wheeled howitzers and rocket artillery, with production moving gradually to Latvia.

Medical AI in ambulances: Powerful Medical and corpuls are partnering to bring the “Queen of Hearts” AI ECG model into corpuls prehospital devices across the EU, Switzerland and the UK, aiming to flag STEMI/OMI patterns within seconds via corpuls.mission LIVE. Slovakia’s EV supply chain: Hyundai WIA has started mass production at its new Martin plant, expanding output of CV joints and coolant modules for European automakers. Batteries, but closer to home: Volkswagen and Gotion plan €3.22B in battery and materials projects, including a Slovak venture in Šurany for battery cells (plus Morocco for LFP cathodes). Cybersecurity for the AI era: ESET launched a new ESET PROTECT channel portfolio focused on securing AI use and simplifying security operations. EU research on poverty: A Bratislava-led study in PLOS ONE reports EU poverty fell from 2015 to 2023, using multiple measures beyond income. Defense tech ties: Slovakia and Azerbaijan discussed expanding cooperation in drones, electronic warfare and cybersecurity during ADEX 2026.

Slovak Industry & Jobs: Hyundai Wia has started full operation of its new Slovakia plant in Martin (Zilina region), shifting production to a larger European base for drivetrain parts and thermal management components. Parliament & Youth Online Safety: MPs began debating “Vision Slovakia 2040,” while also moving toward an integrated system to protect against radicalisation, including proposed rules for social media use by children under 16. EU–China Trade Pressure: The EU is pushing China with a mid-October deadline, warning of possible limits on Chinese EV imports and tariffs on other industrial goods if Beijing doesn’t reduce its trade advantage. Batteries in Slovakia: Volkswagen and Gotion plan €3.22B in battery and materials projects across Europe and North Africa, including a Slovakia venture in Šurany for 8.4 GWh of lithium-ion cell production. Cybersecurity for the AI era: ESET rolled out a new ESET PROTECT portfolio aimed at simplifying cybersecurity-as-a-service as businesses adopt AI tools and autonomous agents. Defense Tech Cooperation: Slovakia and Azerbaijan are discussing expanded defense industry ties, with UAVs, electronic warfare, and cybersecurity on the table after a contract for automated mortar systems. Science & Research: Slovakia’s Academy of Sciences condemned a Russian drone attack that damaged Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences building in Kyiv, calling it an assault on knowledge and education.

Slovak–Azerbaijani Defense Tech: Slovakia and Azerbaijan are deepening cooperation in drones and electronic warfare, with Slovakia also pushing a €210M mortar deal toward technology transfer and eventual production in Azerbaijan, showcased at ADEX 2026. EU Security Planning: The EU is moving to tighten coordination for “below Article 5” hybrid incidents, aiming for faster collective responses to sabotage, cyberattacks, and drone-style threats. Cybersecurity for the AI era: ESET launched a new ESET PROTECT portfolio positioned as cybersecurity-as-a-service, bundling AI security features and 24/7 monitoring for businesses of all sizes. EV Charging on a key corridor: Siemens eMobility and OMV started operating a high-power SICHARGE FLEX system in Kufstein on the Brenner route, targeting heavy-duty electric charging needs. Battery Supply Chain Push: Volkswagen, PowerCo and Gotion agreed three LFP battery ventures in Spain, Slovakia and Morocco, totaling about €3.22B, to build more of the value chain inside Europe and nearby. Local Education Opportunity: The Tunisian embassy in Budapest opened applications for Slovakia scholarships for 2026, with a webinar set for Oct 2. Science Under Attack: The Slovak Academy of Sciences condemned a Russian drone strike that burned Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences building in Kyiv.

Slovak-Azerbaijani Defence Tech: Slovakia’s defence minister Robert Kaliňák says a €210M deal is in its first phase, with the first Azerbaijani-made automatic mortar due to be shown at ADEX—starting with parts from Slovakia, then shifting to more production in Azerbaijan via technology transfer. SAS Condemns Drone Attack: The Slovak Academy of Sciences condemned a Russian drone strike that burned Kyiv’s National Academy of Sciences building, calling it an assault on knowledge and urging European academic institutions to speak out. EU Sanctions Push: Germany and Slovakia back stronger sanctions pressure on Russia to force an end to the war in Ukraine, reaffirming Ukraine’s sovereignty and a NATO-aligned defence spending target. Battery Supply Chain (Slovakia in the mix): Volkswagen, PowerCo and Gotion agreed three battery joint ventures—LFP cells in Valencia and Šurany (Slovakia) plus cathode materials in Kenitra (Morocco)—aiming to build an EU-and-nearby supply chain outside China. Digital Infrastructure Manufacturing in Slovakia: Vertiv plans to add about 22,000 m² of manufacturing space at its Nové Mesto nad Váhom campus for power, switchgear and advanced liquid cooling for AI and high-performance computing. Food & Cold-Chain Support: COOL-BORDER starts its first phase with six cross-border hubs to help chilled and frozen food SMEs cut packaging and logistics waste across Central Europe, including Slovakia.

Slovakia Education Tragedy: A 61-year-old teacher was killed in a knife attack at an elementary school in northwest Slovakia, with two others seriously injured, including a pupil in critical condition. Battery Supply Chain in Slovakia: Volkswagen, PowerCo and China’s Gotion are expanding Europe’s LFP battery push with three joint ventures in Spain, Slovakia and Morocco, including Gotion’s €1.1bn plan for a 49% stake in the Valencia plant and Slovakia’s Šurany site tied to the same €3.22bn effort. Data-Center Manufacturing in Slovakia: Vertiv announced a major expansion at its Nové Mesto nad Váhom campus, adding about 22,000 m² of manufacturing space for power, switchgear and advanced liquid cooling for AI-era infrastructure. Cold-Chain Waste Reduction: The COOL-BORDER Interreg project (Slovakia among partners) starts implementation to cut packaging and documentation barriers for chilled and frozen food SMEs, building six cross-border hubs through 2028. Tech for Travelers: Opera’s Android browser adds a free eSIM travel feature with 3GB of 5G data in supported countries including Slovakia. Renewables Milestone: A new report says solar and wind have overtaken nuclear on a monthly basis globally, with batteries helping smooth the shift.

Slovakia’s Data-Center Push: Vertiv is expanding its Nové Mesto nad Váhom campus in western Slovakia, adding 22,000 sqm over the next two years to boost power, switchgear and advanced liquid-cooling output for AI and high-performance computing, with “hundreds” of jobs expected in 2027–2029. Batteries Across Europe: Gotion and Volkswagen are ramping a €480m battery materials and supply-chain plan that links Morocco (Kenitra cathode materials) with Spain (Valencia) and Slovakia (Šurany cells), aiming to secure European EV demand. EU Sanctions Under Pressure: EU member states are increasingly using Russia sanctions as bargaining chips, with “easy targets” largely gone and harder-to-block routes shifting toward shadow fleets and third-country support. Defense Against Hybrid Attacks: EU capitals are debating a NATO-style emergency protocol to coordinate collective responses to sabotage, arson and cyberattacks that fall below Article 5 triggers. Kids Act Debate: A new EU proposal would restrict social media for under-13s and limit features for 13–15s; support is high in Slovakia (44%) but critics warn it could push teens toward riskier online spaces. Space-Environment Alarm: Astronomers and a nonprofit are urging the UN to seek an ICJ advisory opinion to slow orbital clutter as plans for massive satellite “data centers” grow.

KIDS Act: The EU is pushing a new law that could ban social media for children under 13 and restrict features for ages 13–15, aiming to curb phone addiction and harmful content—though some child-rights groups warn it may just push teens into riskier online spaces. Slovakia Tech & Industry: Vertiv is expanding its Nové Mesto nad Váhom campus in Slovakia, adding 22,000 sqm to boost data-center power and cooling production, with “hundreds” of jobs expected between 2027–2029. EU Defense Industry: EU ministers have formally named the first five joint defence projects of common interest, covering drones, maritime/seabed defence, space, air and missile defence, and eastern-flank surveillance, with big industrial ambitions. Space & Astronomy: Astronomers want the UN to ask the ICJ for guidance on legal duties to prevent satellite-orbit clutter and protect the night sky as mega-constellations and new mirror concepts grow. EV Supply Chain: China’s Gotion will invest €1.1B in Volkswagen’s Valencia battery plant and take a 49% stake, while partnering with Gotion’s Slovakia cell factory—another sign of the region’s battery race. Local Climate Tech: Slovak researchers say they’ve developed biodegradable bioplastics made from algae and other biological materials, designed to break down under the right conditions.

EU Sanctions Bargaining: EU capitals are treating Russia sanctions like negotiation chips, extending individual listings while trading away oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman—an approach France links to a separate diplomatic win, and Latvia strongly opposes. Slovak Biotech Breakthrough: Slovak researchers at BioX Technologies say they’ve developed an algae-based biodegradable bioplastic designed to break down at end of life, with some formulations even described as edible. EV Growth in Slovakia: Slovakia’s battery EV fleet hit 33,379 by end of June (+65% year-on-year), while public charging expanded to 3,707 points across 1,375 locations and 343 MW total capacity. Industrial Decarbonisation Funding: The European Commission set terms for a €1B auction to cut industrial process-heat emissions, with support for electrification, renewables, and even nuclear tech options. AI & Youth Mental Health: A large JAMA Pediatrics study links affective generative AI use with mental health problems in young people, raising calls for better digital literacy. Local Security Tech: German investigators suspect GRU-linked sabotage behind an arson attack near Munich defense firms Rohde & Schwarz and Helsing.

Bioplastics Breakthrough: Slovak company BioX Technologies says it has developed an algae-based biodegradable bioplastic aimed at cutting fossil-fuel plastic waste, with end-of-life biodegradation (and some edible formulations) as a key feature. EV Momentum in Slovakia: Slovakia’s battery EV fleet hit 33,379 by end of June (+65% y/y), while public charging grew to 3,707 points (+150 kW+), with capacity more than doubling to 343 MW. EU Industrial Decarbonisation: The European Commission set terms for a €1bn industrial heat auction (IF26), using ETS revenues to fund process-heat cuts for up to five years, including electrification, renewables and even nuclear tech options. AI & Youth Mental Health: A large JAMA Pediatrics study links “affective” generative AI use for emotional support with mental health problems in youth, urging better digital literacy around functional help vs emotional refuge. Security & Sabotage Risk: German investigators suspect Russian military intelligence behind an arson attack near Munich defense firms Rohde & Schwarz and Helsing, with two Bulgarian suspects detained. V4+India Tech/Defence Ties: Slovakia-backed V4+India talks in New York focused on deeper cooperation in politics, trade, technology and defence, with V4 support for India’s UN Security Council bid.

V4+India Tech & Defence Push: Slovakia’s FM Juraj Blanár joined the first V4+India foreign ministers’ meeting at UNGA81, with the bloc backing India’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat and flagging closer cooperation across politics, trade, technology and defence. EV Boom in Slovakia: Slovakia’s battery-electric vehicle fleet hit 33,379 by end-June (+65% y/y) while public charging grew to 3,707 points across 1,375 locations (343 MW total), with fast chargers (150 kW+) nearly doubling year-on-year. EU Industrial Decarbonisation: The European Commission set terms for a €1 billion industrial heat auction (IF26), targeting process-heat emissions and offering fixed premiums for up to five years, including electrification, renewables and even nuclear tech options. AI & Youth Mental Health: A large JAMA Pediatrics study links affective generative AI use with mental health problems in children and teens, raising questions about when AI becomes an emotional crutch. Diabetes Education Impact (Slovakia): A Slovak cohort study reports structured type-2 diabetes education in Dôvera’s program cuts death risk substantially over follow-up years. Cyber/Sabotage Risk in Europe: Germany suspects Russia’s GRU behind an arson attack near defence tech firms Rohde & Schwarz and Helsing in Munich, part of a wider pattern of suspected sabotage.

Sabotage & Defense Tech: German investigators link an arson attack near Munich offices of Rohde & Schwarz and Helsing to Russia’s GRU, with two Bulgarian suspects detained; the incident targeted secure communications and AI/drone work tied to Ukraine. EU Industrial Decarbonisation: The European Commission set final terms for a €1B auction to cut industrial process-heat emissions, with fixed premiums for up to five years and a December 2026 opening. AI & Youth Mental Health: A large JAMA Pediatrics study finds an association between affective generative AI use and mental health problems in children and teens, raising questions about when AI becomes an emotional refuge. Slovakia Health Research: A Slovak cohort study reports that structured type-2 diabetes education via Dôvera is tied to 57% lower early death risk, supporting education as a scalable intervention. Semiconductors Policy: EU ministers debated Chips Act 2.0, focusing on reducing chip dependencies while keeping open markets and building resilience across the value chain. Digital Services Clash: The US DOJ backs Elon Musk’s X appeal against an EU Digital Services Act fine, calling it regulatory overreach. Energy & Grid Tech: Italy’s Senate approved restarting nuclear using advanced modular reactors, aiming to boost energy security and decarbonise industry.

EU Industrial Decarbonisation: The European Commission set the terms for a €1bn Europe-wide industrial heat auction (IF26), using ETS revenues to fund fixed premiums for CO2 cuts over up to five years, with bidding due in early December 2026. EU Enforcement: Brussels opened infringement steps against all 27 EU states over industrial emissions and other rule gaps, pushing governments to fully transpose directives or face next legal stages. AI & Youth Health: A large JAMA Pediatrics study links affective generative AI use with mental health problems in children and teens, raising questions about when AI becomes an emotional refuge. Slovakia Health Research: A Slovak cohort study reports that structured type 2 diabetes education in a Dôvera disease-management program cut death risk sharply versus non-participants. Tech & Markets Clash: The US DOJ backed Elon Musk’s X appeal against an EU €120m Digital Services Act fine, calling it regulatory overreach. Energy Prices: EU diesel hit a new record average of €2.23/l, driven by supply disruptions and refinery damage. Local Tech Angle: Slovakia is also pushing to position itself as a data-centre hub, as regional competition for digital infrastructure heats up.