Tomáš Budník is a Czech visionary who has a sense for integrating traditional industrial manufacturing with digitalisation and automation. Prior to embarking on an independent path, he held high-ranking positions in the telecom industry. He established Thein, an investment group that targets businesses in industrial, information, and communications technology (ICT), and cybersecurity fields.
You are a purely Czech company with an appetite for innovation and acquisition. What are the main activities of Thein Investment Group in the industrial sector?
Thein Industry, the manufacturing division of Thein Group, has been committed to engineering and production within the railway stock segment from the start. As the company evolves, it is enhancing its expertise not just in various transportation areas but also in emerging sectors like manufacturing and energy technology. Moreover, with the recent acquisition of Top Alulit in 2024, Thein has ventured into the foundry sector, while continuing to prioritize its principal industrial fields. This strategic acquisition xpands Thein’s capabilities in manufacturing and processing, which, together with our solid foundation in engineering and an innovative approach to product development, means we will gain access to new customers and markets. This also increases Thein Industry’s overall business potential.
The rail vehicle production sector is experiencing a surge, and firms from your group are actively engaging in this growth. Could you detail their key objectives and strategic goals within this context?
Our group’s focus is on core production and collaboration with both Czech and international rail rolling stock producers. We also excel in providing spare parts and maintenance supplies for manufacturers across Central and Eastern Europe . Last year we entered the Polish market where we started leasing freight locomotives and we are actively looking at other opportunities in this segment. Our ambition is to establish ourselves as a key service, repair, and leasing provider for Czech locomotives in Poland, a country where rail transport is undergoing significant growth and presents ample opportunities for our expansion and the introduction of novel solutions. Furthermore, we are seeking to broaden our partnerships with other manufacturers and maintenance shops, we want to expand our production with new aluminium components and use the capacity of foundries, and we are experimenting with 3D printing. Our approach is to continuously seek synergies across our production and product range while enhancing efficiency through the digitisation of our processes.
Given your background in management within the telecommunications and ICT sectors, it is clear that our focus on cybersecurity is not accidental.
I personally recognize the significant convergence between our company’s industrial operations and digital initiatives. We are one of the few entities on the Czech market that is actually piloting private 5G networks, which are a key component of the modern digital infrastructure (they are able to replace both the IT and OT infrastructure, i.e. wifi and wiring). Our focus is directed toward Industry 4.0, the digital transformation of production and logistics. The forthcoming NIS2 cybersecurity legislation, expected to come into force this year, will invariably influence the entire spectrum of transportation manufacturing and their respective supply networks. At Thein Security, we are equipped not just to consult on compliance with these new legal standards but to also assist in the practical application of security protocols, activities and operations. We maintain our own round-theclock Cyber Security Oversight Centre (SOC), positioning us as leading security authorities within the country. As the manufacturing and industrial sphere faces a growing risk of cyber-attacks due to digital technologies and the advent of Industry 4.0, it becomes imperative for these companies to proactively fortify their operational processes, safeguard their data, and maintain their competitive advantage within Industry 4.0. We have been operating with this in mind for several years now and strive to provide our portfolio companies with the
highest possible protection.
We also have the same competence, for example, in the area of ESG (non-financial reporting), where we implement tools for managing and automating ESG reporting.
What potential do you see for partnerships with Czech academic institutions in the field of applied research?
We provide a range of collaborative opportunities, including pilot studies and proof of concept analyses. Our organisation is highly receptive to experimenting with new technologies and concepts.
Our goal is to maximise the utilisation of research and innovations originating from universities and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We recognise the growing potential for synergistic collaborations with academic institutions. Such partnerships facilitate a two-way exchange of expertise and make the optimal use of available capacities. Universities provide an environment conducive to the development of creative and innovative projects. These projects, once refined, have the potential to be applied within the commercial settings of our industrial facilities, thereby bridging the gap between academic research and industrial applications.
The crucial element in enhancing the value of intellectual property generated within our country lies in the successful integration of the academic and commercial sectors. Our practical experience and the close relationships we maintain with industrial clients provide a compelling opportunity for universities. This collaboration could ideally lead to universities being able to finance themselves through the commercialisation of their intellectual property.
So far, we are trying to map the opportunities that, for example, Transfera lists in its clear database, what individual universities are working on and what they would like to invite commercial companies to do.
We are convinced that by developing a deeper understanding and valuing intellectual property management, the Czech Republic can advance to become the world’s sixth-largest economy like at the time of the First Republic and emerge as leaders in technology.
We are also endeavouring to foster a creative atmosphere within the secondary school setting, as seen at the Secondary School of Computer Science in Čichnova, Brno, and we are currently holding discussions with several other institutions to do the same.
Thank you for the interview.
