Radek Zbořil talked about the potential of dual-use technologies at the Excalibur Army Accelerator

Radek Zbořil of VŠB–Technical University of Ostrava and Palacký University introduced a fresh perspective on dual-use technologies at the Excalibur Army Accelerator in Olomouc. Delivering the event’s opening lecture, he addressed an audience of around 200 participants, who were offered a unique opportunity to accelerate the journey from initial concept to real-world application.

“I introduced successful materials and technologies that have been applied, for example, in the remediation of polluted water and in antimicrobial solutions. Company representatives showed particular interest in technologies for energy storage using supercapacitors and in the conversion of solar energy into heat through low-cost plasmonic catalysts,” said Zbořil, head of the Materials-Envi Lab at the Center for Energy and Environmental Technologies at VŠB-TUO and scientific director of one of the four living laboratories within the REFRESH project.

Since 2000, the term “dual-use” has been associated almost exclusively with EU export policy. However, following the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, it has increasingly been used in connection with the development of high-value-added technologies applicable in both civilian and defense contexts.

The discussion also addressed the limits of successful technology transfer and the valorization of research and development results in relation to European Union policies and regulatory frameworks. “Our colleagues from the US shared several specific approaches and highlighted differences in financing the commercialization of scientific research,” Zbořil noted, speaking as one of the main panelists in a session focused on research valorization and the market deployment of dual-use technologies.

The accelerator brought together engineers, startups, and industry partners with the aim of helping transform functional prototypes into proven solutions. Its inaugural year offered intensive mentoring, access to testing facilities, and opportunities to validate ideas directly with experts. In addition to lectures, the program featured hands-on workshops, technology demonstrations, and networking opportunities. Further details are available on the Excalibur Army Accelerator website. The organizing company, Excalibur Army, designs, develops, and manufactures a wide range of military vehicles and equipment.