As of 1 May 2026, changes in leadership have taken place at three institutes of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology.

• The Institute of Solid Mechanics, Mechatronics and Biomechanics is now headed by Assoc. Prof. Tomáš Návrat, Ph.D., succeeding the previous director, Prof. Jindřich Petruška, CSc.

• Assoc. Prof. Martin Pavlas, Ph.D., has become the new director of the Institute of Process Engineering, taking over from Prof. Petr Stehlík, CSc., dr. h. c.

• The Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Laboratory is now led by Assoc. Prof. Milan Hnízdil, Ph.D., who succeeds Assoc. Prof. Michal Pohanka, Ph.D.

We wish all newly appointed directors every success in their new roles and hope they will build on the best achievements of their respective departments.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the former directors and head of laboratory for their cooperation, leadership, and dedicated service to the faculty. Through their professionalism, expertise, and commitment, they have made a significant contribution to the development of their teams and the faculty environment as a whole.

Special recognition and thanks belong to Prof. Petr Stehlík, who led the Institute of Process Engineering since 2000, and Prof. Jindřich Petruška, who headed the Institute of Solid Mechanics, Mechatronics and Biomechanics since 2003. Over more than two decades, both played a major role in shaping the professional direction and development of their departments in research, education, and cooperation with industry. Thanks to their long-term systematic leadership, high level of expertise, and ability to build stable teams, both institutes have become highly respected workplaces. Their work has created a strong foundation for future development on which their successors can continue to build.