In 2012, Michaela and Zdenek Bakala participated in founding the first Central European office of the Aspen Institute, and they continue to be its significant partners. Aspen Institute Central Europe is a non-partisan platform providing for meetings and discussions of politicians, businessmen, and leading personalities from other areas. The Institute promotes interdisciplinary co-operation and supports young Central European politicians from different sectors on their journey of further development. It also initiated an annual study accompanied by a conference – The Shape of Central Europe – aiming to provide a wide overview and analysis of the political, economic, and security situation in the region, and its long-term outlook.