In Vestec, the construction of the Biocev scientific center has begun for 2.85 billion

Vestec (near Prague) - Construction of the biotechnological and biomedical center Biocev, costing 2.85 billion CZK, which is mainly funded by EU funds, began today in Vesec near Prague. According to the outgoing Prime Minister Jiří Rusnok, it will create excellent conditions for the connection between science and private business. During the ceremonial laying of the cornerstone of the center, the Prime Minister stated that he sees a strong and untapped potential in the collaboration between the public and private sectors. According to him, Biocev is one of the opportunities that removes these reserves, which are generally large in the Czech Republic. Biocev is the last large infrastructure project initiated under the Research and Development for Innovation program and is also the fourth most expensive.
According to Rusnok, what is extraordinary is that it connects six institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences and two excellent faculties of Charles University into a center that will engage in both classical basic research and applied research, as well as the education of young scientists and collaboration with the private sector. "I expect that all the synergies we have been calling for will occur here so that the connection between science and the 'applied field' is as high as possible. I believe that excellent conditions have been created for this," Rusnok told reporters.
The Deputy Chairwoman of the Government Council for Research, Development and Innovation (RVVI), Miroslava Kopicová, emphasized that the Czech Republic needs to be perceived by foreign countries as a state where investments in science are made. However, many questions regarding the future financing of the centers must be resolved. Structural funds will support them until 2020, but in the future, they will need to be self-sustaining. "Some European regulations are hindering us in this respect. There is a relatively small volume of contract research permitted for these centers, but without it, they cannot function," Kopicová stated, adding that the Czech Republic will negotiate with the European Commission about the types of support that can be provided to the centers.
Scientists at Biocev will focus on areas such as the development of new drugs, improving disease diagnostics, developing tissues for damaged organs, or creating natural antibiotics. The center in Vestec is expected to be completed within two years; currently, the site is a field. Once built, it should employ up to 600 people, including foreign scientists.
It is anticipated that additional small companies will emerge here, which may gradually participate in the commercial utilization of results. "I think that is exactly what we need," noted the Prime Minister.
The outgoing Minister of Education, Dalibor Štys, believes that thanks to experiences from building other centers, Biocev will be operational on time and will be able to maximize the use of funds from European structural funds. "We will strive to prepare all the conditions for this and to make some changes in the management structures so that everything goes as smoothly as possible," Štys stated. At the beginning of September, the head of the European Research and Development for Innovation program (VaVpI), Jan Kříž, was dismissed from the Ministry of Education. He was responsible for securing funds for the new large scientific institutions. However, the sudden dismissal raised concerns among experts and representatives of research centers.
Biocev is one of six large scientific projects, known as centers of excellence, with a total budget of 21 billion CZK. Among them is the superlaser ELI for seven billion in Dolní Břežany near Prague.
Last week, Rusnok's cabinet did not allocate 1.5 billion CZK for excellent research as proposed by RVVI. However, the Prime Minister is convinced that a lot of money is allocated for excellent research, citing other research infrastructures across the country as examples. "No money was added to other chapters either; it is such a time that we have to live with what we have," he responded to a question from ČTK.