On Monday, 3 March 2025, the Minister for Science, Research and Innovation Marek Ženíšek visited the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics – a leading scientific research institute of the Czech Technical University in Prague. The Minister met with a group of top researchers in the field of artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics with an international reputation, who discussed with him mainly issues of research funding and management. The programme also included a visit to the RICAIP Testbed Prague experimental laboratories, where he learned about the latest technologies and their application in industrial practice.
Minister Ženíšek appreciated the work of the scientific teams at CIIRC CTU and stressed the importance of cooperation between the academic sector and industry. „We need scientific knowledge not only to be created, but also to be effectively transferred to industry and the education system. This is the key to the long-term competitiveness of the Czech economy,“ said the minister, who visited the CIIRC CTU for the first time since taking office in May 2024.
„We have designed the programme to enable not only the presentation of key activities, cutting-edge infrastructure and international achievements of our institute, but also an open discussion of current experiences, challenges and recommendations that can contribute to strengthening Czech science at the European level,“ said Dr. Ondřej Velek, Director of CIIRC CTU
During the visit, key topics related to the funding of science and research in the Czech Republic and the availability of computing infrastructure for industrial AI solutions in industry were discussed with leading Czech CIIRC scientists – Dr. Josef Šivic, Dr. Josef Urban, Doc. Petr Kolář and doc. Petr Kadera. These heads of scientific teams at the CIIRC drew attention to the fact of problematic distribution of funding between disciplines. Funding of existing research infrastructure is a separate chapter. The sustainability, operation and necessary further development of key scientific facilities is almost impossible to cover from regular grant programmes or standard institutional instruments.
Doc. Petr Kolář pointed out the problem of interrupting financial support for teams and infrastructures after they were initially supported on the basis of clearly identified strategic needs of the Czech economy. After the initial one-off support, teams lose institutional support regardless of the results or wider benefits of the outputs and are left to rely solely on raising earmarked resources. Researchers are thus caught in a vicious circle of bureaucracy and uncertainty, making long-term planning and maintaining a quality team impossible. „Reducing bureaucracy in the grant system and ensuring stable funding for strategic research infrastructure are key issues, which would lead to better conditions for research and reduce the outflow of talent to industry,“ says Doc. Petr Kolář. He also pointed out the lack of a strategic view of the state on which areas of science and research are beneficial in terms of economic development and GDP creation. Josef Urban, who heads the new Artificial Intelligence Department at the CIIRC CTU and has long held senior research positions abroad, pointed to the underfunding of basic research in AI in the Czech Republic compared to other European countries. Czech support cannot be compared not only to Western countries such as France, which has announced its intention to invest 100 billion euros in AI research. Even countries to the east are aware of the strategic importance of AI, and Bulgaria, for example, has allocated 100 million dollars for the creation of a national institute for artificial intelligence.
CIIRC CTU took the opportunity of this visit to directly discuss what works in the field of science and research and what needs to be improved. The discussion was supported by the experience of top experts in the field, with the aim of openly naming challenges and finding solutions to support research infrastructure and innovation more effectively. The need to straighten funding and ensure the long-term sustainability of science centres was highlighted.
The visit to the institute included a tour of the RICAIP Testbed Prague experimental laboratory, where emphasis was placed on demonstrations of the link between scientific research and applications for industrial practice. Key areas include robotics, artificial intelligence, advanced autonomous manufacturing systems, additive and laser manufacturing technologies and digital twins of manufacturing machines and systems.
In the Robotics and Flexible Manufacturing Laboratory, Dr. Pavel Burget, Director of RICAIP Testbed Prague, presented the work of his teams and several concrete examples of technological solutions in the field of advanced modular manufacturing. He explained the possibilities opened up by the use of 5G networks in industrial environments, which enables the deployment of artificial intelligence in robotic manufacturing. Another technological highlight was robotic 3D printing for the precise production of parts. A new feature is 3D reconstruction of objects, thanks to which a digital model of any part can be created in a few minutes, for example for simulations of handling operations.
The Robotics and Manufacturing Technology Laboratory of RICAIP Testbed Prague was then introduced by doc. Petr Kolář. The laboratory is dedicated to applied research and support of companies in the field of laser and additive technologies, development of the application of ultra-short pulse lasers in the production of microstructures of technical components and large-scale 3D printing from plastic. Another strong theme is smart manufacturing machines that use data sensed from machine control systems and digital twins of machines and technologies for in-process control and quality management of production.
„The Minister’s visit to CIIRC CTU and RICAIP Testbed Prague was aimed at showing that the Czech Republic has a lot to offer in the field of industrial research and technological innovation,“ summarised Prof. Vladimír Mařík. „We also wanted to stress that we are ready for an open dialogue on the issues of ensuring long-term sustainable support for scientific infrastructure and professional capacities, which are essential for the competitiveness of Czech industry.“
The testbed at the CIIRC CTU is part of the Czech-German RICAIP centre, which was funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Education and Science with 48.5 million euros (about 1.2 billion CZK). It offers not only top-notch facilities for scientific research at the European level, but also comprehensive services to companies of all sizes looking for innovative solutions for digitalization and automation of production. It serves as a space for simulations, testing of new technologies and proof of concepts before their deployment in practice or further development. Education of future engineers – both in university programmes and in professional upskilling – also plays an important role here.