Representatives of CEITEC research programmes in Structural Biology, Genomics and Proteomics of Plant Systems and Advanced Nanotechnologies and Microtechnologies and their British colleagues introduced the current focuses of their research activities, they debated the achieved results, and talked about specific forms of future cooperation. The Brno scientists also visited the laboratories and were inspired by the instruments and equipment therein. Representatives of British grant agencies, which could support the cooperation between CEITEC and the Imperial College with financial resources, also took part in the negotiations.
The Deputy Director of CEITEC, Ondřej Hradil, welcomed the possibility to compare and discuss the management of the centre and research activities with leading specialists in the field saying, “the Imperial College of London is regularly ranked among the world´s best universities with excellence in education and research, at present it holds third position in Europe and Great Britain, it is eighth in the world. The university interconnects the fields of life and traditional sciences like CEITEC, therefore it is a great inspiration. The comparison of results from individual research groups of both centres will be valuable feedback for us in the assessment of our scientists.”
The representatives of CEITEC also met with the Director of the Centre for Plasmonics and Metamaterials at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, operating within the university, Stefan Maier, who is also a new member of the CEITEC Coordination Board. It is the highest authority at the institute and approves its internal operations and key documents. “We agreed on the development of further cooperation with our Czech colleagues. From March 2012, for example, there will be one student of Professor Šikola, who is the Coordinator of the programme Advanced Nanotechnologies and Microtechnologies, staying here and gaining valuable experience,“ Stefan Maier said.
The Scientific Director of CEITEC, Jaroslav Koča, also introduced his new “SYLICA” Centre project there, whose aim is financial and institutional support of cooperation with foreign scientific organizations and scientists. Summarizing the results of the meeting, he said: “I am pleased that we have agreed on common plans for the future and we will cooperate with world-renowned experts from this prestigious university in our research activities. It is partnerships like this which Czech scientific centres like CEITEC need in order to stand within international competition.”
Photogallery can be found HERE.
