Kicking Off Business Projects: 29 Talents, 7 Corporate Partners

On Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 29 CEMS students in Prague embarked on the next exciting chapter of their academic journey with the launch of the Business Project (BP) for the summer semester 2025/26. This year, 7 corporate partners came together to present their business challenges to the 22 home students and 7 incoming students.

About the Business Project

The Business Project is a consultancy-style initiative that serves as a key component of the Master in International Management/CEMS programme. It strengthens collaboration between universities, students, and businesses by giving students the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world business challenges. This practical experience is a core part of the CEMS curriculum, enabling students to work on projects that have a tangible impact on both their professional development and the corporate partners involved.

Throughout the project, students are mentored by both academic and corporate supervisors. Project outcomes are assessed through written reports and oral presentations, which are produced as a team.

Within the Business Project students:

• Gain insight into the business world
• Sharpen their analytical and problem-solving skills
• Apply research methods and frameworks
• Put theoretical knowledge into practice
• Learn process management and project delivery
• Improve their social and teamwork skills
• Network with potential employers and refine their career goals

Student Expectations

The Business Project offers students the opportunity to take responsibility for their work and contribute to solving real business problems.

Students are expected to:

• Take ownership of their project
• Strive for excellence and high quality results
• Collaborate effectively and share the workload equally within their teams
• Communicate regularly with their tutors and business partners to ensure smooth progress

Topics for Summer Term 2025/26

	Company	Topic
	Hilti – x-border	Increase sales per account manager via trade-specific initiatives
	URW	New Business strategy for Westfield Rise: How to navigate the agency environment in Czechia and Slovakia and increase market share
	Plzeňský Prazdroj	From NAB to NAD: How Can a Brewer Win New Drinking Occasions Without Cannibalising Beer
	Škoda Auto	Potential and Risk of Using Generative AI in Marketing Communication
	L’Oréal	E-commerce Acceleration of Beauty Business
	PKD Holding	Business strategy in the the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary for shunting systems
	Rockaway	Building NextGen Tech fund in the heart of Europe

These topics cover a range of sectors, from consumer goods to automotive and hands-on investments, ensuring that students are exposed to a variety of challenges and industries. Each project provides a unique opportunity for students to make a meaningful contribution to some of the world’s most influential brands.

As the Business Project officially kicks off, students are eager to dive into these exciting and impactful topics, ready to hone their skills and make lasting connections that will shape their professional futures.

See the full gallery from the opening presentation here.