Minister of Foreign Affairs Tomáš Petříček visited the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics, and Cybernetics of the Czech Technical University (CIIRC CTU) on 12 February 2020. At first, he discussed the aspects of international scientific cooperation with the management of CIIRC and also with the CTU rector Vojtěch Petráček. During follow-up lab tour, he visited also the Testbed for Industry 4.0, where Dr. Tilman Becker introduced to him the vision of RICAIP Centre too.
“We also discussed the topic of international cooperation with the Minister. CIIRC CTU has been cooperating with excellent scientific institutions since the beginning of its existence, such as the German DFKI or the French INRIA and is a part of international structures and networks – i.e. ELLIS and CLAIRE. Without effective cooperation with top institutes abroad, Czech science cannot fulfil the criteria of excellent world-class research. We greatly appreciate the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in acquiring and expanding international contacts, ” CIIRC CTU Scientific Director Prof. Vladimír Mařík said.
Minister Petříček also visited the Testbed for Industry 4.0, the experimental scientific workplace for development and testing innovative solutions for advanced industrial production, combining the physical and virtual worlds. “Progress is simply unstoppable, many things look a bit sci-fi. But it will soon be a reality and we will be ready for it, thanks to our scientists, ” the Minister said. The research centres as RICAIP create a unique academic-industrial cooperation, where long-term partnerships are established between academic institutions from the Czech Republic and abroad, but also leading industrial companies.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs understands scientific diplomacy as an important part of its activities and considers it is an effective tool not only for linking Czech research with international events, but also as an important part of creating the Czech Republic’s branding as a #Countryforfuture, a future leader in research and innovation, and strengthening its international position.
Full text of the Press Release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic can be found HERE (in Czech only).