ASD Fest Debuts in Brno to Pull Young Talent Into Czech Aerospace and Defence

What ASD Fest Is and Why It Matters for Czech Defence

A new Czech initiative is trying to change how young people see aerospace and defence — not as closed worlds reserved for pilots, soldiers or rocket engineers, but as broad career ecosystems that need developers, analysts, project managers and researchers. The vehicle is ASD Fest, a one-day festival organised by media and employer-branding agency Bite Marks Media, which will hold its first edition on 27 October at the Brno Exhibition Centre.

The event is designed as more than a conventional job fair. Visitors will see drones, robots, virtual reality and simulations run by pilots and special units from the police, army and fire service. Panels will cover crisis scenarios, blackouts, deepfakes, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, with a dedicated block on space. Young attendees will be able to meet engineers, technicians and recruiters in person, and admission is free.

The project moved from idea to execution in late May, when Bite Marks Media secured Omnipol Group — a Czech arms and technology holding — as general partner. That backing turned a long-standing vision into a concrete plan to stage the first edition in 2026. The organisers say the ambition goes beyond recruitment: they want ASD Fest to become a platform for sharing know-how, building contacts and connecting the Czech aerospace and defence ecosystem over the long term.

The Talent Gap Behind the Festival — and Omnipol's Role

Why Czech Defence Needs a Festival

The launch of ASD Fest reflects a structural problem in the Czech aerospace and defence sector: a shortage of young talent. The organisers explicitly frame the event as a response to the difficulty of attracting a new generation to strategic industries. By presenting drones, AI, cybersecurity and space as concrete, exciting work rather than abstract categories, they are attempting to compete with the tech and software sectors that have dominated young graduates' career preferences.

For context, defence and aerospace firms across Europe have been warning about skills gaps as demand for military equipment and advanced technologies rises. A festival format — free, interactive and held at a major exhibition venue — is a relatively low-cost way to reach a broad audience of students and young professionals.

Omnipol's Strategic Bet

Omnipol Group's decision to become general partner is significant. As a Czech arms and technology holding, Omnipol has a direct interest in the size and quality of the domestic talent pool. Backing a public-facing event allows it to shape the narrative around defence careers, build brand recognition among future employees and position itself at the centre of the ecosystem. The partnership also gave the organisers the resources to move quickly, compressing the timeline from concept to first edition.

From Career Fair to B2B Platform

Maryna Rebar, business developer at Bite Marks Media, says the project expanded during preparation because the market needed more than a recruitment event. The addition of a B2B dimension — connecting companies, institutions, universities and experts — suggests the organisers see ASD Fest as a networking hub that could generate business collaborations, not just job applications. If successful, this could make the festival a recurring fixture in the Czech defence calendar.

What to Watch

The immediate test is attendance and engagement on 27 October. A strong turnout would validate the concept and encourage Omnipol and other partners to continue. A weak one would suggest that changing perceptions requires more than a single event. Over the medium term, the real measure will be whether participating companies report improved access to young talent and whether the B2B connections translate into actual cooperation.

What This Means for Employers, Educators and Jobseekers

The most important insight: Czech defence and aerospace firms are experimenting with consumer-style events to solve a structural talent shortage — and Omnipol's backing gives this experiment real weight.

For employers in the sector, ASD Fest is a chance to test recruitment messaging and meet candidates face-to-face. For universities and training providers, it is an opportunity to align curricula with industry needs. For young jobseekers, it is a free, low-risk way to explore careers they may not have considered.

• Attend or send representatives: The event runs 27 October, 9:00–18:00, Hall G1, Brno Exhibition Centre, with free entry — a low-cost recruitment and networking opportunity.
• Prepare concrete stories: Organisers emphasise showing real technologies and experts; companies that bring demos and engineers will likely attract more attention than those with brochures alone.
• Watch for follow-up: If the B2B dimension gains traction, expect similar events or expanded formats in 2027; early participants may shape the agenda.

Metrics worth watching: attendance figures, the number of participating companies and institutions, and any post-event announcements of partnerships or hires.