Professor Valicek, born in 1976, is a prominent Czech academic and researcher who has built an impressive career in engineering and physics. After completing his engineering degree in Applied Physics, he earned his Ph.D. in Automation of Technological Processes (2004) and achieved his habilitation as an Associate Professor (2008) at VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava. His career path includes significant leadership roles, most notably serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Mining and Geology at VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava (2017-2018) and currently holding a position as Professor at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra since 2018. He continues to advance research in surface analysis, materials science, and engineering technologies, while mentoring the next generation of researchers and engineers. His ongoing work in tribology and 3D technologies demonstrates his commitment to staying at the forefront of technological innovation in engineering. His contributions have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including two Siemens Research Awards (2007, 2008) and the NOT award from the Polish Federation of Engineering Associations (2015). Fluent in Czech and Slovak, with professional proficiency in English, he has successfully led numerous research projects and fostered international collaborations.