Michaela Kršková, Founder and First Director General of VAIA, Receives the Pontis Foundation Prize for Sustainable Development

For six years, the Pontis Foundation has been awarding individuals or organizations that have significantly contributed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a given year. These 17 goals, defined by the United Nations, aim to end poverty, combat inequalities, and halt climate change. “This year, our evaluation committee sought out individuals who help to strengthen social cohesion by building institutional and interpersonal trust. Trust in institutions, in particular, is extremely low in Slovakia,” said Martin Kuruc, CEO of Tesco Slovakia. The Tesco Foundation has been a long-term supporter of this award. 

The Pontis Foundation granted the SDGs 2024 Award to Michaela Kršková, the founder and first Director General of VAIA. She was recognized for establishing Slovakia’s first innovation unit, which – thanks to its high-quality team, transparent processes, participatory decision-making, and tangible results – serves as a model of how a public institution can help rebuild trust in society.  

The award ceremony was part of the Impact Summit, an annual conference organized by the foundation in December. This year’s summit focused on the topic of trust. “We are currently facing a crisis of trust, which is crucial for collaboration and achieving ambitious goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals. Our award recognizes those who have not given up on finding ways to fulfill these objectives,” said Michal Kišša, Executive Director of the Pontis Foundation.