AKI SR Creates Space for Cooperation Between the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic and Its Member Company Foss Fibre Optics

At the initiative of AKI SR, representatives of the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic paid a working visit to Foss Fibre Optics. The Ministry’s delegation was led by State Secretary Martin Vojtašovič. The Critical Infrastructure Association of the Slovak Republic was represented by its Executive Director, Stella Bulejková.

Leading Slovak Technologies for the Protection of Strategic Facilities

The programme included a tour of the company’s production facilities, during which participants gained a detailed understanding of the development, manufacturing, and testing processes behind its optical solutions. Discussions focused on technologies that can be used to increase the resilience of critical infrastructure, protect strategic facilities, and build secure communications systems.

The technologies presented are relevant not only for critical infrastructure operators, but also for protecting defence infrastructure facilities, including facilities of special importance and other important sites whose security is essential to safeguarding the defence of the Slovak Republic. For this reason, the visit provided an opportunity to introduce Ministry of Defence representatives to modern Slovak solutions that can make a significant contribution to the protection of strategic facilities.

Foss Fibre Optics is among Europe’s important manufacturers of optical solutions for telecommunications, energy, industry, data centres, and other critical-infrastructure segments. Its products serve not only the Slovak market, but also customers in several European countries and other parts of the world. The company’s key competitive advantages include in-house development, highly flexible manufacturing, and the ability to prepare solutions tailored precisely to customers’ requirements.

Particular attention was drawn to the presentation of a unique fibre-optic perimeter-protection system, which represents a modern physical-security solution for strategic facilities. The system enables continuous monitoring of extensive sites, early detection of unauthorised intrusion, and precise real-time localisation of the incident. Such a solution has broad applications in protecting power plants, substations, water infrastructure facilities, data centres, airports, logistics centres, military facilities, and other elements of strategic infrastructure, where reliability, rapid response, and timely identification of security incidents are decisive factors.

Scope for Future Cooperation

During the visit, representatives of the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic received detailed information about the company’s production capacity, technological capabilities, and development potential. The in-person tour of the production facilities offered insight into the processes behind modern optical solutions and created an opportunity for expert discussion on their possible use in protecting the strategic facilities of the Slovak Republic.

The expert discussion confirmed that Foss Fibre Optics technologies have the potential to be applied not only in protecting critical-infrastructure assets, but also strategically important defence-infrastructure facilities. The meeting also created an opportunity to identify areas in which modern optical technologies could contribute in the future to enhancing the safety and resilience of strategic facilities in the Slovak Republic.

Connecting the State with Domestic Technology Leaders

On this occasion, AKI SR Executive Director Stella Bulejková stated:

“Slovakia is home to technology companies that develop world-class solutions and can make a significant contribution to protecting critical infrastructure. The role of the Critical Infrastructure Association of the Slovak Republic is to connect these companies with state institutions and create space for cooperation that strengthens the security, resilience, and technological self-sufficiency of the Slovak Republic.”

She added that in-person meetings directly at manufacturing companies provide a unique opportunity to understand the real technological capabilities of Slovak businesses and create a solid foundation for building long-term cooperation between the public and private sectors.

At a time of growing security risks and increasing demands for the protection of critical infrastructure, connecting state institutions with domestic technology leaders is an important prerequisite for building a resilient and secure Slovakia.