The founding idea behind Consilia originated from the post-revolutionary situation in Czechoslovakia, a time marked by significant changes in the labor market.
The market situation at the time was shaped not only by the breakup of large enterprises but also by the growing need among foreign companies (especially Austrian and German) for skilled technicians.
A pivotal moment came when Dana Otradovcová met a former Tesla technician who had been responsible for international collaborations. He pointed out that after the break-up of industrial giants like Tesla, many specialists remained unable to find employment. These people, possessing valuable technical expertise, were looking for ways to continue working in their field but were unable to prove successful as independent entrepreneurs.
In 2004, this realization led Mrs. Otradovcová to the idea of founding a company that would offer employment opportunities to these professionals. Initially, it was a tiny team of three people focused on technology and IT.
[citace]We never wanted to be huge. The large workforce and vast facilities—that’s something we never aimed for. This is exactly where we have the advantage over the ‘large corporate giants.’ They lack the same level of flexibility.[citace] [citace-autor]Mgr. Dana Otradovcová[citace-autor]
The key to Consilia's success was in building long-term relationships with international partners and focusing on smaller, specialized projects that were unattractive to large corporations.
This approach allowed the team to grow gradually and, most importantly, offered the possibility to maintain project variedness, which was interesting for the employees. They could thus work on diverse assignments and develop their skills.
The company found its niche in the ever-changing market and has sustained its long-term position within the competitive landscape.
Collaborations with Rohde & Schwarz and Flextronics
The key partnership in Consilia’s future direction was with Flextronics on a project for a prominent German company. Flextronics, a multinational corporation, had established large production facilities in Brno, employing around 1,500 people in manufacturing. They also hired young engineers for a small development team. Their primary focus was developing and testing measuring devices for Rohde & Schwarz.
A contract between these two partners had been in place since 1999, brokered by Torsten Müller who was responsible for managing development projects with external partners at Rohde & Schwarz. It was Mr. Müller who reached out to Consilia’s budding team to participate in one of the projects in collaboration with the Flextronics team.
The project involved developing radios for air traffic control, with Consilia particularly involved in the development of the Man-Machine Interface (MMI). These radios were highly successful, with over 50,000 units sold worldwide to date. Several generations of these radios were developed, and the collaboration among the three teams on this project continued for several years.
Formation of Aton Benu Consult and development of new team and partnerships
Later, due to Rohde & Schwarz's change in strategy, among other things, the work for developers at Flextronics began to decrease. The development team, led by Pavel Vrtík, felt the need to start working on different projects and take a different approach than what was typical in the corporate sphere.
[citace]When I finished my MBA at Nottingham Trent University, I felt the need to make changes and do things my way, the right way based on what we had been taught. We wanted to provide services to customers, not to the corporation.[citace] [citace-autor]Ing. Pavel Vrtík[citace-autor]
In 2012, Torsten Müller founded his own consulting business in Nuremberg, focused on wireless communications consulting. As the business showed positive growth from the beginning, the Czech subsidiary Aton Benu Consult s.r.o. (hereafter, we call it "ABC" for simplicity) was established in Brno shortly afterward.
ABC was initially focused on development services in high-frequency technology and signal processing.
However, customers soon began to demand services in PCB design and embedded software, leading naturally to a partnership with Consilia.
During this period, members of the Flextronics development team gradually transitioned to the Consilia team, finding the latter company’s different operating style and size appealing.
[citace]Some of us felt the need to join a smaller company where we would have more freedom.[citace] [citace-autor]Ing. Martin Tesař[citace-autor]
One of the first clients of this newly formed Consilia team, acquired by Mr. Müller, was the German branch of the Chinese company Hytera, known as Hytera Mobilfunk. This was followed by another long-term, highly successful collaboration on TETRA base station development.
[citace]We had an excellent relationship. We developed in Brno, and we went to their German branch of Hytera to integrate and conduct type testing in thermal chambers at various testing stations. And since the parent company required production to take place in China, several of us also went to China to supervise of the base station assembly line.[citace][citace-autor]Ing. Martin Tesař [citace-autor]
In the following period, a close partnership developed between the Czech companies Consilia and Aton Benu Consult and the central company based in Nuremberg.
It was a turbulent time filled with twists and challenges. Some people left to start their own businesses, but ABC and Consilia have continued to operate and grow in strategic partnership to this day. Both teams share a workspace in Slatina industrial complex in Brno.
In the past ten years especially, they have successfully established an integrated relationship, operating as a universal provider of electronics development services and offering comprehensive solutions for both hardware and software, from infrasound to the highest frequencies in the gigahertz range.
[citace]Personally, I am not aware of any other company in the Czech Republic, or perhaps even in the whole of Eastern Europe, offering such a broad spectrum of electronics development services. This gives us a substantial competitive advantage.[citace] [citace-autor]Dr. Torsten Müller[citace-autor]
Consilia Today and its current focus
Consilia has found a way to make the best use of the expertise of unique technicians, engineers, developers, and project managers by supporting other companies in developing their own products. Consilia aims to provide maximum added value to its clients, knowing that its clients bear the risks associated with production, marketing, and selling the final products.
[citace]I am proud of our management team, which approaches its tasks with great thoughtfulness, diligence, and expertise. The outstanding performance of our employees is a key component of our success.”[citace][citace-autor]Dr. Torsten Müller[citace-autor]
Consilia is becoming a sought-after partner for large companies when they lack the necessary capacity or specialized expertise within their development teams. Many firms keep their teams small for efficiency, often only to the extent necessary for planned projects. When a quick response to market demands or new opportunities is needed, they may struggle to find skilled specialists in specific areas swiftly. In such situations, it is highly effective to engage an external development team.
Thanks to its experience across dozens of projects spanning different industries and sectors, Consilia can assist with a wide range of tasks.
Focus on the DACH region
Historically, Consilia has primarily focused on clients in the DACH region. Even now, the management sees this area as the best fit for the company’s services. Both Consilia and ABC have traditionally concentrated on the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and still consistently find the best business opportunities and demand for their services there.
In Germany, there are many family-owned businesses (with 100 to 500 employees) specializing in innovative product development. Consilia is an ideal partner for such clients.
[citace]Due to our previous work with German clients like Rohde & Schwarz, Hytera Mobilfunk, and Göpel, we understand their needs. German clients also value the longevity, reliability, and quality of our work. It is also crucial that we can easily visit them on-site to resolve issues in person.[citace][citace-autor]Ing. Pavel Vrtík[citace-autor]
Furthermore, a significant portion of the team speaks German, which is a considerable competitive advantage. Consilia offers its employees both English and German courses, thus enabling smooth communication with clients in their language.
Previously, clients often preferred Consilia engineers to attend development team meetings in person, enabling the client to control the entire project more easily. This closeness and language command help foster trust and build long-term relationships.
[citace]After the COVID-19 pandemic, clients have become more accustomed to online communication and remote meetings. However, certain tasks simply cannot be effectively addressed without an on-site presence.[citace][citace-autor]Ing. Pavel Vrtík[citace-autor]
New horizons: entering U.S. market
Currently, doors are opening to the U.S. market. After a year and a half of joint preparations, analyses, and trust-building, a major U.S. company specializing in security and building access solutions has decided to launch a new project, with Consilia involved mainly in software development and testing.
[citace]This is a fairly large project, and I think our colleagues will not only learn a lot from it but will also bring a wealth of know-how that they can apply here.[citace][citace-autor]Ing. Martin Tesař[citace-autor]
Corporate culture: freedom, responsibility, and innovation
The corporate culture at Consilia has always been based on a flat, open organizational structure. The management grants team members significant freedom, while each individual also bears a high level of responsibility and plays a crucial role in the success of the projects they work on.
[citace]We have learned from history. When team members are genuinely motivated to make changes when they see something is not working, we strive to listen and give them the space to contribute to the development and direction of the entire company.[citace][citace-autor]Ing. Pavel Vrtík[citace-autor]
The management considers it the most significant achievement that, after all this long journey, the people at Consilia have not forgotten the values that once brought the team together.
[citace]I am most proud of the communication within the company. In some workplaces, people are afraid to speak up, or the environment may even be partly hostile. I believe this is not the case at our company.[citace][citace-autor]Mgr. Dana Otradovcová[citace-autor]
Expanding team: growing with each client
Consilia has consistently pursued sustainable and organic growth. However, with each new major client—such as Honeywell in the past—the team expands rapidly. During such periods, the team’s dynamics change significantly, and the leadership must ensure sufficient work for the future.
[citace]It is challenging to find work for everyone because each project is in a different phase and requires different skills. But we are successful at it. Thanks to the variety of projects, we can create a continuous workflow for everyone.[citace][citace-autor]Ing. Pavel Vrtík[citace-autor]
New projects often lead to the integration of new services. For example, the long-term collaboration with Novanta led to the establishment of a specialized testing department for medical devices at Consilia in 2019.
[citace]It was not trends that influenced us. It was always the clients who came to us to solve specific problems. When we see multiple clients moving in a particular direction, we aim to provide a service that supports their needs.[citace][citace-autor]Ing. Pavel Vrtík[citace-autor]
Currently, Consilia’s team has over 40 people, gradually exceeding the size of a small company. Remarkably, the core team has remained together for so many years.
In addition to the company’s leaders—Dana Otradovcová, Pavel Vrtík, and Martin Tesař—the team still includes key technical specialists like Roman Stříž, Milan Doležal, and Zdeňka Mašková, senior FPGA engineer Mikuláš Kišš, as well as Jiří Zavřel, head of procurement; Kristýna Máčalová, currently a project manager; and Tomáš Hlavatý, a software testing specialist.
[citace]Currently, I see myself as a senior advisor, moderator, and contact person for customer relations.[citace][citace-autor]Dr. Torsten Müller[citace-autor]
Future outlook: sustainable growth and strong relationships
Looking ahead, the leadership has several goals and aspirations. The most pressing challenges are related to incessant growth. The question of how to set up some reasonably defined processes at all levels in the company, which will not be at a level of complex corporate structures but will still be functional, arises more and more persistently.
[citace]In the future, we would like to strengthen our technical capabilities in assembling and testing devices to provide even more advanced service to our customers.[citace][citace-autor]Ing. Martin Tesař[citace-autor]
The management is also currently focusing on improving employee training in terms of processes, technical skills, and professional development. For example, specialized training sessions are held within the company, where one colleague presents their recent developments or shares personal techniques, sometimes even extending to private projects.
[citace]Our business operates in areas where everything changes rapidly, making long-term planning a real challenge.[citace][citace-autor]Ing. Pavel Vrtík[citace-autor]
Consilia’s vision and strategy are clear for the future as well: to continue enhancing the quality of its top-tier services, fostering strong relationships with clients, and maintaining its exceptional corporate culture, enabling the team members to realize their potential and grow within the company.
Interesting external resources
Next Interesting Topics
Customized implementations
Related Consilia projects