In 2012, Michaela and Zdenek Bakala helped found the Aspen Institute’s first Central European office, and they continue to be its significant partners even today. The Aspen Institute Central Europe is a non-partisan platform that enables politicians, business executives, and leading social figures from other areas to meet and discuss regional issues. The Institute promotes interdisciplinary co-operation and supports young Central European politicians from different sectors on their journey of further development. It also organizes The Shape of Central Europe, an annual study and conference that endeavors to provide a broad overview and analysis of the region’s political, economic, and security situation and its long-term outlook.