Charles University Innovations Prague (CUIP), the technology transfer subsidiary of Charles University in Prague in Czechia, welcomed Zuzana Paulovics as its new chairwoman this morning.
She was previously the programme leader for Start It@ČSOB, the startup accelerator for financial services firm ČSOB, from September 2018 to April 2024. In that role, she set up the programme curriculum, secured mentors and established partnerships with players in the local ecosystem.
It is one of several roles Paulovics held with ČSOB and K&H Bank since 2001, having worked exclusively for these two employers over the past two decades. Both banks are owned by Belgium-based financial services provider KBC Group.
At CUIP, Paulovics replaces Otomar Sláma , who made the decision to leave the university on 10 February amid public scrutiny.
Sláma had been criticised for receiving large payments from the institution, given to the crisis staff set up after the mass shooting at the Faculty of Arts in December 2023, and the hiring of his security firm by the university to protect the faculty.
Acknowledging that it was a large sum, Sláma defended the CZK248,000 (9,950€ / $11,350) payment in an interview with the Czech press saying he worked throughout Christmas, January and part of February while the information he and the crisis team saw had given him nightmares.
Wishing to protect the reputation of CUIP, Sláma said at the time he would be stepping down and was working with the university executive to provide an orderly management handover.