Martin Smrž receives the CNB Governor’s Award

Czech National Bank Governor Aleš Michl has presented the CNB Governor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Advancement of Financial and Economic Literacy for the fourth time. The award was presented to Martin Smrž, who has long been dedicated to linking the school environment with practical experience in this field. The ceremony took place on Saturday, 30 May 2026, at the CNB Visitor Centre.

The CNB Governor’s Award supports the advancement of financial and economic literacy in the Czech Republic. “Education opens the door to success, and this applies doubly to financial and economic education. Knowing how to manage money wisely and responsibly is a skill we should acquire as early as possible. It will serve us for almost our entire lives – from our first pay cheque to retirement,” said CNB Governor Aleš Michl.

The CNB Governor’s Award is presented each year to individuals who make an exceptional contribution to the advancement of financial and economic literacy in the Czech Republic. Nominations can be submitted to the central bank by any member of the public using a form on the CNB’s website. This year, the public submitted 33 nominations. The award recipient was selected by the Governor at the recommendation of an advisory team. The award went to Martin Smrž, CEO of Junior Achievement.

Martin Smrž works at Junior Achievement, an organisation focused on the development of entrepreneurship education in schools. As CEO, he is involved in designing educational programmes aimed, among other things, at linking classroom teaching with the real economic environment and fostering entrepreneurship among the younger generation. Pupils have the opportunity to set up student companies, work with finances, test and present business ideas and take responsibility for their decisions. The programmes are based on practical learning and real-life situations. Each year, they reach tens of thousands of students and a significant share of secondary schools in the Czech Republic.

“In the Czech Republic, there are places where every second adult is facing enforcement proceedings, and expert research shows that financial habits are formed by the age of seven. That is not an argument for a one-off course. It is an argument for a system that starts in nursery school and systematically guides children all the way to their school-leaving exams – one from which students at hundreds of schools across the country are already benefiting today. For this, I would like to thank every teacher and volunteer with practical experience who helps bring it to life year after year,” said Martin Smrž, CEO of Junior Achievement.

Martin Smrž received the award from Governor Aleš Michl on Saturday, 30 May, at the CNB Visitor Centre. The Visitor Centre is an important part of the central bank’s educational activities, offering free exhibitions and programmes aimed at introducing the world of money, economics and monetary policy. Tens of thousands of people visit the centre every year, with primary and secondary school pupils making up a significant proportion of visitors.

With the announcement of the winner for 2026, the CNB Governor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Advancement of Financial and Economic Literacy has entered its fifth year. As in previous years, the public will once again be able to take an active part in the first stage of the selection process via the nomination form (in Czech only) on the CNB’s website. Nominations will remain open until 28 March 2027.

Petra Vlčková
CNB Communications Division