Two New Professors at the FIR: From Innovation in Central Europe to China’s Rise
The Faculty of International Relations at the Prague University of Economics and Business has welcomed two new professors as of June 1, 2026. Professors Jana Vlčková and Jeremy Alan Garlick received their letters of appointment from the President of the Republic — and with this title come ambitious plans for research and teaching.
The title of professor is not a reward for a single good article or a successfully defended habilitation. It is the result of years of consistent work, international collaboration, and — as both newly appointed professors agree — a great deal of perseverance. Prof. Mgr. Jana Vlčková, Ph.D., and Prof. Jeremy Alan Garlick, M.A., Ph.D., are two scholars whose research, at first glance, touches on different worlds: Prof. Vlčková studies innovation, patents, and multinational corporations in Central and Eastern Europe, while Prof. Garlick examines how China is reshaping the international order. Yet they have one thing in common: both are examining phenomena that will fundamentally shape the global economy and politics in the coming decades.
Prof. Mgr. Jana Vlčková, Ph.D.: Innovation as the Key to Competitiveness
Economist Prof. Mgr. Jana Vlčková, Ph.D., has long focused on how companies from Central and Eastern Europe innovate, patent their inventions, and establish themselves in global markets. “In my research, I am currently focusing primarily on innovation and patenting, multinational companies from Central and Eastern Europe, and the role of the state in economic transformation,” she explains. “These topics are timely because they relate to the competitiveness of economies, technological changes, and the transformation of the international environment.”
She accepts her appointment as a professor with a sense of responsibility. Her advice to early-career researchers: “choose topics that truly interest you, be patient, and don’t be afraid of critical feedback.”
In the near future, she plans to continue focusing on patent analysis and the mapping of multinational corporations. At the same time, she intends to develop the UTEK study program and more closely link teaching to current economic challenges.
Prof. Jeremy Alan Garlick, M.A., Ph.D.: China Is Changing the Rules of the Game
British sinologist Prof. Jeremy Alan Garlick, M.A., Ph.D., is one of the leading experts on Chinese foreign policy in the Czech Republic. His research focuses on the Belt and Road Initiative and how Beijing is reshaping the international political and economic order.
His path to a professorship was not straightforward. “You need a lot of perseverance — don’t underestimate how long it will take you and how many obstacles you will have to overcome,” he advises doctoral students and young researchers.
Prof. Garlick is now launching several research projects focused on Chinese international relations. He is particularly drawn to the field of science, technology, and innovation (STI), where China is achieving results with a potentially transformative impact on the entire world. He hopes to join the Horizon Europe project focused on this very topic.
FIR as a World-Class Research Hub
Both appointments demonstrate that the Faculty of International Relations at the Prague University of Economics and Business is systematically building research capacity in areas that shape the contemporary world — from technological competition and geopolitical shifts in power to the transformation of global value chains.
Congratulations to Prof. Mgr. Jana Vlčková, Ph.D. and Prof. Jeremy Alan Garlick, M.A., Ph.D. and we look forward to seeing what their research will bring next.
Photo source: MŠMT