Ahoj, Monday! 5 things you need to know this week in Czechia

Innovation Week will take place in Prague from Oct. 7-14 featuring nearly 200 experts discussing crucial topics like artificial intelligence, climate change, and mental health. An innovation fair will showcase 70 groundbreaking technologies, while the opening ceremony is scheduled for October 7 at Prague Castle.

The main Innovation Week event on Oct. 8 at the ČSOB building will include 11 panels and around 80 seminars. Talks will be presented in Czech and English, with live AI translation available.

On Oct. 8, Prague will host the Leaders of the Future conference, featuring Chris Voss, the former chief negotiator for the FBI. Known as the "Master Negotiator," Voss developed strategies still in use today and now teaches business negotiation techniques that apply hostage negotiation principles. Voss and other speakers will share insights on navigating challenges in business and life, and attendees can learn vital skills to thrive amid conflict and change.

The 12th edition of the light-based Signal Festival takes place from Oct. 10-13, which exhibits 22 different light installations. The festival's main attraction will be a route by Prague Castle, featuring renowned Czech and foreign artists, while the second route will showcase installations in the center of Prague. This year's theme is the world's ecosystem, with relevant light installations across the city.

On Oct. 12, Czechia will commemorate the Day of Samizdat to mark the communist-era fight against censorship and oppression in Czechoslovakia. On Oct. 12, 1988, 92 samizdat publishers sent a letter to President Gustáv Husák to urge for the release of imprisoned Slovak publisher Ivan Polanský. The holiday is ceremonial and there will be no days off work or store closures.

The 135th edition of the Velká Pardubická horse race, which is known for its long-standing Czech tradition and its reputation as one of the most challenging in Europe, will be held on Sunday, Oct. 13. This race, which takes place at the Pardubice racecourse, covers a distance of 6,900 meters and features a total of 31 obstacles for the horses to overcome.