By Matthijs Glastra, Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation.
It grows where talented people are empowered to solve complex problems, collaborate across disciplines and continuously build on each other’s work. That’s why one of the most important investments any technology company can make is developing centers of excellence that combine deep expertise with a culture of continuous improvement.
I recently visited our Brno, Czech Republic, site and came away energized by what the team has accomplished over the past decade.
What started as a small engineering team has grown into a global capability supporting software, systems engineering, hardware engineering, cybersecurity and shared services. Today, Brno plays an important role in advancing technologies across minimally invasive and robotic surgery, digital and AI-driven manufacturing, machine vision and other critical applications.
What impressed me most wasn’t simply the breadth of technical expertise. It was how the team thinks about solving problems.
One example is the platform-based approach to engineering. Rather than developing every product independently, employees build reusable hardware and software modules that can support multiple product families. That approach accelerates innovation, improves quality and helps us bring new technologies to market faster.
I also saw practical examples of how generative AI is already improving the way we work. Employees are applying AI to strengthen product cybersecurity, streamline accounting processes and improve software testing. These aren’t experimental projects. They are practical applications that create measurable value and help employees focus on higher-value work.
Technical excellence, however, is only part of the equation.
The strongest engineering organizations are built on strong cultures.
In Brno, I saw employees who collaborate across functions, share knowledge freely, and consistently look for better ways to serve customers. That culture is reinforced through employee resource groups and leaders who invest in developing people alongside technology.
As organizations grow, leadership becomes just as important as engineering capability. The next stage of Brno’s journey is about continuing to develop leaders who can guide global teams, navigate increasingly complex challenges, and help scale expertise across the business.
The most successful organizations don’t simply add more people. They build environments where talent can grow, ideas can spread and innovation becomes repeatable.
That’s what I saw in Brno.
Its momentum is a reminder that long-term success comes from combining technical excellence, continuous learning and a culture where people are empowered to lead. Those capabilities will continue to shape how we innovate and how we create value for customers around the world.