How to regulate AI and new technologies without stifling innovation? A day of ÚNMZ and ČAS looking for answers
Prague, 20 May 2025 - The Office for Technical Standardization, Metrology and State Testing (ÚNMZ) and the Czech Agency for Standardization (ČAS) renewed the tradition and organized the ÚNMZ and ČAS Day. This year, the event focused on the role of standardization, metrology and testing in the areas of AI, medical devices and sustainable technologies in the construction and energy sectors. Three panel discussions, moderated by Jana Peroutková from Czech Television, brought together the perspectives of government, academia and the private sector. The panellists were primarily experts in innovation, product safety, technologies introduced to the Czech market, relevant European regulations and the competitiveness of the Czech Republic.
The IHRA and CAS Day brought together experts and practitioners from regulation, industry and standardisation to discuss the impact of European and national rules on the development of key technologies (especially AI), medical devices and processes in the construction industry.
"Regulatory requirements are to be developed on the basis of stakeholder consensus. We are interested in creating an environment where the consumer and user are protected, but the commercial sector is not bound by excessive bureaucracy," said in the introduction of the event Chairman of ÚNMZ Jiří Kratochvíl. He complemented her Director General of ČAS Zdeněk Veselý: "The European legislation gives us the chance to implement the rules at national level to strengthen our competitiveness in sectors where we have tradition, know-how and quality people. As an example, I would cite the development and implementation of AI in the automotive industry."
AI needs corporate involvement and less bureaucracy
The first panel focused on the Czech implementation of AI Act, which will soon be discussed by the government. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Kavalírek stressed that AI has the potential to boost the economy and improve living standards if regulation is successful. The key, he said, will be how the government approaches implementation and what funding it allocates to it.
Jiří Kratochvíl (ÚNMZ) stressed the role of the Authority and the Agency: "ÚNMZ can be a notifying authority for conformity assessment in a wide range of technological areas. The area of AI has the potential to be another, and a very important one. CAS is following the development of international and European standards and will do so for the AI area as well." Zdeněk Veselý (ČAS) he added: "On behalf of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Czech Association of Industrialists, I appeal to Czech companies to get involved in the development of standards for AI. Thanks to their proactive approach and cooperation with us, a favourable ecosystem with clear rules can emerge. I encourage companies to take inspiration from industrialists such as Kolben and Skoda and help shape standards in this new sector. We are ready to accommodate them as much as possible as well as opening doors at key locations."
Business representatives see bureaucracy as a major obstacle to the development of AI. Milena Jabůrková from the Confederation of Industry and Transport pointed out that the AI Act is too bureaucratic and Europe has already "crossed the regulatory Rubicon" in this respect. The bureaucratic burden may cause Europe, including the Czech Republic, to fall behind China and the US in the development and implementation of AI. Lukáš Benzl from the Czech AI Association suggested that the Czech Republic should present itself as an AI-friendly country, with a regulatory framework that will maximally support its development. Petr Stiegler from the Czech Chamber of Commerce stressed the need for swift action and the creation of simple and flexible rules so that the EU, including the Czech Republic, does not lose its competitive edge in the global race for AI.
Strict regulation of medical devices
The second discussion focused on the regulation of medical devices under EU Regulation 2017/745 (MDR), which is one of the most stringent. Karolína Peštová from the State Institute for Drug Control explained why strict rules are necessary for patient safety. Stricter regulation in the EU was a response to serious cases of misconduct, such as the scandal involving a French breast implant manufacturer, but also to the need to standardise requirements arising from development. Such requirements should have been applied even under the old legislation, but could not be properly enforced. Jiří Heš from the Institute for Testing and Certification recalled that this manufacturer used quality silicone only in inspections, while it routinely used construction silicone, which harmed thousands of customers. These cases revealed a lack of quality control and led to the need to strengthen the position of notified bodies and market controls.
Panelists, including Jiří Tesar from the Czech Metrology Institute, criticised the excessive administrative burden. The carpenter said that certification is time-consuming and costly, which can be liquidating for small producers. Jakub Král from Porta Medica a Petr Mašek from the Association of Manufacturers and Suppliers of Medical Devices proposed simplifying bureaucratic processes so that smaller companies in particular are not squeezed out of the market. The discussion highlighted the tension between the need to ensure safety and the administrative obstacles that hamper the certification process. Svatava Lagronová from ÚNMZ described how the Authority helps to unify standards and supports Notified Bodies in the designation process so that they can carry out a full conformity assessment and award certificates to manufacturers. Mutual communication between authorities and industry, together with active cooperation with the European Commission, is the way to push through the required changes.
Safety of sustainable technologies and materials
The third panel dealt with sustainable technologies and materials in construction. Štěpán Hofman from the Ministry of Industry and Trade a Robert Jara from CTU UCEEB stressed the need to balance innovation and safety. Jára praised the upcoming ČSN standard, inspired by Germany and Scandinavia, which will allow the construction of multi-storey combined buildings, including wooden buildings, up to 22.5 metres high from this summer.
In the context of wooden buildings, fire safety was discussed, not only for buildings, but also for renewable energy technologies and electromobility. Michal Valouch from the Fire Rescue Corps of the Czech Republic stressed that the relaxation of regulations, for example for photovoltaics up to 100 kW, brings greater freedom but also increases responsibility. Projects must be of high quality, with expert installation and reliable components to ensure fire, technical and environmental safety.
Safety and uniform standards were also mentioned by Zdeněk Veselý (ČAS) on the topic of secondary use of battery storage: "We are not hindered in our secondary use - for example for power balance in the transmission network - by the lack of legislation. The lack of clear standards and uniform rules with an emphasis on fire safety and cyber security is a limitation. We must not allow anyone to jeopardise the functionality of our electricity transmission grid because of inadequate security of battery storage. It is on the subject of uniform standards that we will be meeting with representatives of electricity distributors in June."
Štěpán Hofman from the MIT stressed the importance of standards for the secondary use of battery storage facilities and said that the ministry records dozens of projects whose implementation depends on these standards. He added that the MIT is working on a revision of the raw materials policy that will encourage recycling and ensure the availability of materials such as gravel for the construction industry, especially for the strategically important construction of state infrastructure.
Conclusion and outlook
The ÚNMZ and ČAS Day highlighted the key role of standardisation in promoting innovation and safety in dynamic industries. ÚNMZ and ČAS committed to continue supporting Czech companies through standards development, education and expert advice. The event highlighted the need for collaboration between government institutions, industry and academia to ensure that the Czech Republic harnesses the potential of AI across disciplines and the potential of sustainable technologies in the European and global marketplace.
