AGP Executive Report

Nuclear Resilience in Drought: Slovak PM Robert Fico visited Jaslovské Bohunice to discuss how reactors cope with extreme low water and to push the stalled preparations for a new unit. Energy & Climate Pressure: Across Europe, record-low rivers are already disrupting freight and power generation, with Hungary forced to cut Paks output and Romania shutting its last working reactor—raising urgent questions about cooling tech for nuclear in a hotter future. Cybercrime Watch: New Android malware “WindRelay” can clone contactless card data and relay it to fraudsters in minutes, paired with a remote-access tool that attackers install after a phone scam. Local Tech & Health: A Slovak biomedical engineer is involved in mRNA-based cancer treatments that aim to train the immune system, with early clinical timelines hinted at for the next 2–3 years. Slovakia in Enterprise Networks: Arrow Electronics expanded IBM distribution coverage to include Slovakia, aiming to help channel partners deliver infrastructure, automation and data solutions. Rail Modernisation: Škoda EMUs entered service in Bulgaria after a fast delivery, showing how EU-funded rail projects can move quickly. Space & Digital Policy: Poland says it will regain Starlink intra-European roaming access after a dispute over roaming rules that initially left countries like Slovakia out. STEM in Industry: Bratislava-based SIPRON partnered with Zimbabwe’s HIT to boost industrial automation, machine design and robotics training.

Nuclear Resilience in Focus: Slovak PM Robert Fico visited Jaslovské Bohunice to discuss how reactors can keep running during extreme drought and what’s needed to speed up preparations for a new unit. Drought Hits Energy and Transport: New reporting links record-low rivers across Europe to disrupted freight, irrigation, and power generation, with Slovakia named among the hardest-hit areas. Danube Warning for Nuclear Power: Record-low Danube levels are again raising the risk of output limits and shutdowns, including pressure on Hungary’s Paks plant. Slovak Tech in Cancer Care: STVR reports Slovak biomedical engineer Miroslav Gašpárek is involved in mRNA-based cancer treatments aimed at helping the immune system target tumors. Cybercrime Alert: Group-IB details WindRelay, a new Android malware that can relay contactless card data in real time via NFC, enabling remote fraud after a short phone-call scam. EV and Manufacturing Footprint: A new overview says Chinese automakers are expanding in Europe through local plants and partnerships, including BYD’s Szeged project in Hungary and further moves tied to the region.

Climate & Energy: Europe’s drought is getting worse fast. New reporting links record-low river levels to disrupted freight, irrigation and power generation, with the EU economy facing losses estimated around €180B and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre flagging “stable and critical” conditions across much of the continent, including Slovakia. Nuclear Stress Test: The Danube’s low levels are now directly hitting atomic power: Romania shut down its last working reactor, while Hungary’s Paks plant has been forced to cut output and faces further shutdown risk if water keeps dropping. Satellite Monitoring: Satellite imagery and river-by-river comparisons (Loire, Po, Rhine, Danube) show shrinking channels, retreating water and browning farmland—turning drought into a measurable, fast-moving tech and infrastructure problem. Cybercrime: Group-IB warns that a new Android malware campaign, WindRelay, can turn phones into NFC “payment traps,” relaying card data in real time after victims install a personalized remote-access app. Slovakia in the Tech Mix: CETIN Networks selected RADCOM for AI-driven assurance across Slovakia’s mobile network, and Slovak biomedical engineering is tied to early mRNA cancer treatment work. Digital Policy: Poland says it will get Starlink back in the wider European roaming zone after SpaceX rule changes left it out.

Drought & Energy Security: Record-low Danube levels are forcing Hungary’s Paks plant to cut output and pushing Romania to shut down its last working reactor, reigniting debate on how to cool nuclear power as rivers run dry. Cybercrime in Slovakia Region: New Android malware “WindRelay” (paired with a remote-access tool) can turn phones into NFC payment skimmers, letting fraudsters relay card data in real time after a short vishing call. Slovak Biotech: Slovak biomedical engineer Miroslav Gašpárek is involved in mRNA-based cancer treatments aimed at training the immune system, with early clinical timelines discussed. Local Tech & Industry: Bratislava-based SIPRON is partnering with Zimbabwe’s Harare Institute of Technology to expand industrial automation, machine design, robotics, and training. Space & Connectivity: Poland says it will be returned to Starlink’s intra-European roaming zone after earlier exclusion—an issue tied to digital sovereignty and cross-border service rules. STEM Culture in Prague: Signal Festival Prague (15–18 Oct) spotlights space-themed immersive media art and a Slovak-built interactive “Sound Robot.” Slovakia Abroad Funding: Slovakia will back 11 SlovakAid projects (over €1.4M) using modern technologies in partner countries, including smart EV charging and wastewater reuse.

Nuclear Under Pressure: Record-low Danube levels are forcing Hungary to slash output at Paks and pushing Romania to shut down its last working reactor, reigniting the question of how to cool nuclear plants as Europe’s droughts intensify. Cybercrime Watch: A new Android fraud chain called WindRelay lets attackers relay NFC card data in real time after victims install a personalized remote-access app, turning phones into “fake payment terminals” within about 13 minutes. Local Tech & Industry: Bratislava-based SIPRON is partnering with Zimbabwe’s Harare Institute of Technology to expand industrial automation, machine design, robotics, and hands-on training. Space & Connectivity: Poland says SpaceX will restore Starlink intra-European roaming access after new rules excluded it from the main travel region. STEM in Slovakia: Slovak biomedical engineer Miroslav Gašpárek is involved in mRNA-based cancer treatments that could reach patients in 2–3 years, alongside related immune-cell approaches. Science Culture: Signal Festival Prague 2026 spotlights a Slovak “Sound Robot” by Ján Šicko and an immersive “To the Moon” installation. Funding & Tech Transfer: Slovakia will back 11 projects by Slovak firms abroad with a focus on modern technologies, including smart EV charging pilots and water reuse systems.

Android Security: Group-IB warns about WindRelay, a new Android fraud chain where victims install a personalized SpyNote remote-access app during a vishing call, then attackers use the phone to relay NFC card data in real time—so the physical card is still in hand while loans and contactless payments get authorized. Climate & Energy: Record Danube low-water levels are forcing nuclear stress tests across Central Europe: Romania shut down its last working reactor at Cernavodă, while Hungary’s Paks output has been cut sharply and emergency river works are underway. Local Tech & Industry: Slovakia’s SIPRON is partnering with Zimbabwe’s Harare Institute of Technology to expand industrial automation, machine design, robotics and training. Space & Connectivity: Poland says it will be returned to Starlink’s intra-European roaming zone after Musk changed Roam rules that initially excluded Warsaw. Science & Medicine: A Slovak biomedical engineer is involved in mRNA-based cancer treatments, with early personalized therapies potentially reaching patients in 2–3 years. STEM & Education: Slovakia’s English skills ranking jumps—EF’s 2025 index places Slovakia 10th overall, highest in Central and Eastern Europe. Diplomacy & Digital Governance: European parliamentary staffers, including Slovakia, visit Taiwan to discuss democratic governance, resilience and digital government.

Nuclear Under Pressure: Record-low Danube water levels are forcing Hungary’s Paks plant to cut output again and Romania to shut down its last working reactor, reigniting the question of how nuclear can run when river cooling water becomes unreliable. Cybercrime in Focus: Group-IB warns that WindRelay malware can turn Android phones into fake payment terminals by relaying contactless card data in real time, after victims install a personalized remote-access tool during a vishing call. Slovak Health Tech: Slovak biomedical engineer Miroslav Gašpárek is involved in mRNA-based cancer treatments that train the immune system to target tumors, with early clinical timelines of a few years. Industrial Automation Link-Up: Bratislava’s SIPRON is partnering with Zimbabwe’s Harare Institute of Technology to expand industrial automation, machine design, robotics, and hands-on training. Local Science Funding: Slovakia will back 11 development projects abroad with €1.4M, including modern water tech, smart EV charging pilots, and renewable energy. STEM & Space Culture: Signal Festival Prague returns with a “To the Moon” immersive show and a Slovak-built interactive “Sound Robot,” plus other media-art installations. Digital Roaming Dispute: Poland says it will push back after Starlink excluded it from the new Europe roaming zone, affecting cross-border use rules for customers.

Cancer Tech in Slovakia: Slovak biomedical engineer Miroslav Gašpárek is helping test mRNA-based cancer treatments that train the immune system to recognize tumors, with early signs pointing to possible patient access in 2–3 years. Cybercrime Alert: Group-IB reports a new Android fraud chain, WindRelay, that turns phones into fake contactless payment terminals via NFC relay, paired with a remote-access tool; victims can be tricked in a single short call. Energy & Climate Shock: Record-low Danube levels are forcing Romania to shut down its last nuclear reactor and pushing Hungary to cut output, reigniting debate on how to cool reactors as drought worsens. Digital Sovereignty: SpaceX agreed to return Poland to the Starlink intra-European roaming zone after Poland was excluded, a dispute that also highlights how roaming rules can change across countries. STEM & Culture in Prague: Signal Festival Prague 2026 (Oct 15–18) brings a Slovak-rooted interactive “Sound Robot” plus an immersive “To the Moon” space journey. Slovakia’s Global Links: Slovakia will fund 11 development projects abroad (over €1.4M) using modern tech, including smart EV charging pilots and water-treatment upgrades. Language Skills: EF’s 2025 English Proficiency Index ranks Slovakia 10th overall, the top spot in Central and Eastern Europe.

Cybercrime in Slovakia & region: Group-IB warns that WindRelay turns Android phones into fake contactless POS terminals, pairing a remote-access trojan (SpyNote) with NFC relay malware to steal card-present payments in as little as 13 minutes. Energy & climate shock: Europe’s record drought is forcing nuclear cutbacks and shutdowns—Romania disconnected its last working reactor at Cernavodă after Danube cooling-water levels hit record lows, while Hungary’s Paks output was slashed to about 10% earlier this month. Local tech & infrastructure: CETIN Networks selected RADCOM for AI-driven service assurance across Slovakia’s mobile network as it moves toward 5G Standalone and a cloud-native core. Digital sovereignty dispute: Poland is excluded from Starlink’s expanded European roaming region, triggering a public backlash from Polish officials and raising questions about cross-border connectivity rules. Slovakia in global science & tech: Slovakia and Japan are pushing closer economic ties, with science, technology and innovation on the agenda. STEM mobility: University of Minnesota Fulbright recipients are preparing for research and teaching placements abroad, highlighting continued international STEM exchange.

Regenerative Medicine Access: PlacidWay and Bratislava’s CellCenter say they’ve expanded international access to regulated European adult stem-cell and regenerative therapies, targeting conditions from neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases to orthopedic issues and “advanced longevity” plans. SlovakAid Tech Abroad: Slovakia will fund 11 projects worth over €1.4M via Slovak businesses in partner countries, including smart EV charging pilots in Kenya, wastewater reuse in Iraq, and safe drinking-water tech modernisation in Ukraine. Mobile Network Upgrade in Slovakia: CETIN Networks has selected RADCOM for AI-driven service assurance across its mobile network, supporting its move toward 5G Standalone and a cloud-native core. Cybercrime Watch: A new Android fraud chain pairs SpyNote with WindRelay to turn phones into fake contactless payment readers, enabling fast card-present relay fraud after a bank-impersonation call. Climate & Energy Pressure: Record-low Danube levels are forcing Hungary and Romania to rethink nuclear cooling, with Hungary cutting Paks output and Romania shutting its last working reactor. Innovation Push in Bratislava: Halif Hatch launches as a new incubator aiming to connect Slovak startups with real market opportunities, citing Slovakia’s innovation gap versus the EU average.

Slovakia–Japan Ties: Parliament Speaker Richard Raši met Japan’s ambassador to push closer political and economic cooperation, with a focus on science, technology, industrial modernisation, decarbonisation and innovation; Japan already has 76 companies in Slovakia employing about 13,000 people, and a visit by Japan’s foreign minister is expected to deepen momentum. Cybercrime Watch: A new Android fraud operation pairs SpyNote remote-control with WindRelay NFC relay malware, letting attackers turn phones into fake payment terminals and run card-present fraud in as little as 13 minutes. Network Modernisation in Slovakia: CETIN Networks selected RADCOM for AI-driven end-to-end service assurance across Slovakia’s mobile network, supporting 5G Standalone and a cloud-native core with real-time anomaly detection and faster issue resolution. Climate Pressure on Europe’s Rivers: Record heat and drought are disrupting river cruising, with the Danube hit hard by low water levels and operators switching ships, rerouting, or cancelling departures. Health Tech Impact: England’s NHS says over 100,000 people have been diagnosed and treated for hepatitis C since 2015, using free home testing and antiviral tablets with cure rates above 95%. Security Rankings: A 2026 cybersecurity index puts Czechia and Albania at the top, with Estonia and Canada also leading—useful context for regional digital resilience.

Maritime Trade: SMM 2026 in Hamburg is drawing more global players, with 26 national pavilions, 11 new exhibiting countries, and first-time official spots for India and Vietnam—showing how face-to-face industry ties still matter. Climate & Health: England’s NHS says more than 100,000 people have been diagnosed and treated for hepatitis C since 2015, using free 8–12 week antiviral tablets with cure rates above 95%, and it’s urging at-risk groups—including people from parts of Eastern Europe and Slovakia—to use free home testing. Energy & Food Security: Europe’s heat and drought are starting to hit agriculture hard, with FAO warning that weather, energy prices, and geopolitics are pushing up cereal, vegetable oil, and sugar prices—while low river levels threaten transport too. Slovakia Tech & Telecom: CETIN Networks has picked RADCOM for AI-driven service assurance across Slovakia’s mobile network, supporting 5G Standalone and a cloud-native core with proactive anomaly detection and faster issue resolution. Astronomy in Slovakia: On Aug 12, Slovakia gets a partial solar eclipse followed by the Perseids peak, with good conditions expected after dark. Logistics in Slovakia: Austrian Post’s euShipments.com bought 100% of Slovak fulfillment provider FHB Group, expanding its network to 12 fulfillment centers and 27 countries. Defense Industry: CSG and Dezamet signed a deal worth over EUR 100 million for 155 mm ammunition components, including pyrotechnic parts for fuzes. Digital Trust: A new look at deepfakes warns that even real footage can be dismissed as fake, weakening public trust in visual truth.

Telecom Modernization in Slovakia: CETIN Networks has selected RADCOM for a multi-year, end-to-end AI service assurance rollout across its mobile network, replacing a legacy provider and supporting its move to 5G Standalone and a cloud-native core. The system will unify network visibility, use AI/ML anomaly detection, and help teams spot degradation early and resolve complaints faster. Climate & Public Safety: July 2026 has tied with July 2024 as the hottest month on record, while Europe braces for another major heatwave and drought impacts—from wildfires to stressed water supplies. Astronomy for Slovaks: On Aug. 12, a partial solar eclipse will be followed by the peak of the Perseids, with favorable conditions expected across Slovakia. E-commerce Logistics: Austrian Post’s euShipments.com acquired 100% of Slovak fulfillment provider FHB Group, expanding its fulfillment footprint near Bratislava. Energy & Geopolitics: Reports say Belgium imported all its LNG from Russia in July, even as EU LNG imports overall fall ahead of a 2027 ban. Defense Industry: CSG and Dezamet signed a deal worth over EUR 100 million for 155 mm ammunition components, including pyrotechnic parts for fuzes.

Local Innovation & Startups: Bratislava’s new tech incubator Halif Hatch is set to help Slovak and regional startups move from ideas to real customers, linking founders with market opportunities. Telecom & 5G Assurance: CETIN Networks in Slovakia has selected RADCOM for an AI-driven end-to-end service assurance platform across its mobile network, supporting its shift to 5G Standalone and a cloud-native core. Astronomy in Slovakia: On Aug 12, a partial solar eclipse will be followed by the peak of the Perseids, with conditions expected to be good for evening skywatching. Climate & Water Tech Pressure: Europe’s heatwave and drought are pushing rivers to record lows, with the Danube drying enough to resurface WWII Nazi warships—an extreme reminder of how climate stress hits shipping, energy, and water systems. Health (UK, with Slovak relevance): England is “on the cusp” of eliminating hepatitis C after 100,000+ people received free antiviral treatment; free home testing kits are being promoted, including for adults born in Slovakia. E-commerce Logistics (Slovakia): Austrian Post’s euShipments.com bought Slovak fulfillment provider FHB Group, expanding fulfillment capacity near Bratislava. Defense Manufacturing (CEE): Czech group CSG plans to ramp up large-caliber ammunition production to 850,000 rounds in 2026 and is setting up electronic fuse production in Slovakia. AI Investment (Slovakia): Eldridge acquired a stake in Slovakia-based Sudolabs to scale enterprise AI deployment, with operations staying in its Slovak HQ. Automotive (Slovakia-linked): Kia’s EV2 has won “Crossover of the Year” in CAR Magazine’s Genius Awards, with the model built in Europe including Kia’s Slovak plant in Žilina.

Local Astronomy: Slovakia is gearing up for a rare skywatching combo on Aug. 12: a partial solar eclipse starting just after 7:20 p.m., followed by the Perseid meteor shower peak, with the Moon setting around the same time to keep the night sky dark. Climate & Oceans: Copernicus reports the world’s seas hit their hottest July on record, with record sea surface temperatures across the Atlantic and western Mediterranean, while Europe’s heat is also driving wildfires and drought. Slovakia in the Spotlight: Bratislava-based alpinist Igor Koller has won the Paul Preuss Prize for a lifetime of bold climbs and leadership in Slovak mountaineering. Health (UK, with regional relevance): England says NHS hepatitis C treatment is on track for elimination, with 100,000+ people treated since 2015; officials urge free home testing for people at higher risk, including adults born in several Eastern European countries such as Slovakia. Defense & Industry (Slovakia link): Czech firm CSG plans to ramp up large-caliber ammunition production to 850,000 rounds in 2026 and is setting up a Slovakia joint venture to make electronic fuses for artillery shells. AI & Investment (Slovakia link): Eldridge has taken a stake in Sudolabs, a Slovak AI company building agentic AI systems for enterprises, with operations staying in Slovakia while growth accelerates in the US. Energy & Water Stress (Europe): Drought is squeezing major rivers, including the Danube and Rhine, disrupting shipping and hydropower and pushing countries toward tighter water and energy management.

Climate & Water Stress: Europe’s heatwave keeps escalating into drought impacts, with Slovakia hitting a new 42°C record and the Danube sliding to historic lows—disrupting shipping, hydropower and water supplies while even exposing WWII wrecks. Wildfire Risk: Extreme temperatures are also driving major blazes across the Balkans and beyond, forcing evacuations and emergency measures as fire conditions worsen. Ocean Heat: Scientists report the world’s seas were hotter than ever in July, with record sea-surface temperatures and marine heatwaves intensifying pressure on European ecosystems. Agri Tech Push: Farmers across Europe are warning that drought is becoming a more permanent farming reality, boosting demand for AI forecasting, precision irrigation and climate-resilience tech. AI in Slovakia: Eldridge has acquired a stake in Slovakia-based Sudolabs, aiming to scale enterprise “agentic” AI deployments while keeping day-to-day operations in its Slovak HQ. Energy Storage in CEE: Bulgaria’s rapid build-out of large battery capacity is turning it into an EU storage heavyweight—an energy-tech signal for the region. US Sanctions & Trade: A US Senate Russia sanctions bill could enable up to 100% tariffs on goods from countries including Slovakia if they keep buying Russian oil/gas, adding uncertainty for regional exporters.