Prague hosts the best in Japanese research

The event, which features the participation of top scientists from Japan and the Czech Republic, is being held under the auspices of Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek, who is also chairman of the Council for Research and Development.The primary aim of CJSTD is to present and to offer concrete opportunities for cooperation between Czech and Japanese research organisations and companies.

“No other country in Central Europe and only a few other economies in the world can boast such strong economic and scientific ties with Japan. It is thus in the natural interest of both countries to uncover further opportunities for cooperation,” says Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek, adding: “The Czech government has approved a reform of research and development and yesterday began a debate on university reform. The changes will result in greater innovation potential and our country will also become more attractive for international cooperation in science and top-level research, which of course concerns Japanese universities, research institutes and companies.”

Besides science and research, one of the main topics of this year’s CJSTD is the Czech presidency of the European Union in 2009, the primary focus of which will be the removal of barriers to further development of member states and strengthening of innovation in the European Union. “The Czech-Japan Science and Technology Days also directly relate to the final negotiations and preparation of a new agreement between Japan and the entire European Union on cooperation in research and development,” says Tomáš Pojar, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. .

“More than two hundred Japanese companies with over 40 thousand employees are operating in the Czech Republic today. A number of these firms are focusing on proprietary research and development here. Japanese companies thus comprise a very significant part of the Czech economy,” adds Alexandra Rudyšarová, acting CEO of CzechInvest.

According to CzechInvest’s statistics, Japanese companies have invested over CZK 101 billion in their Czech branches, and Japanis thus the second largest foreign investor immediately behind Germany. The most extensive Japanese investment is the TPCA car plant in Kolín, while Panasonic in Plzen and Denso in Liberec are also among the biggest Japanese investors in the country.

“Japanese companies have been extraordinarily successful in the Czech Republic,” says Josef Lébl, advisor to the CEO of CzechInvest and a specialist in Japanese investment. “All investments from Japan have succeeded in the local conditions. In addition, the Czech branches of Japanese companies are often among the most successful within their respective corporations.”

The main part of the Czech-Japan Science and Technology Days will take place on Tuesday in the form of a one-day seminar at Černín Palace in Prague. The morning session will feature the participation of statesmen and representatives of research institutions, as well as specific opportunities for cooperation between the Czech Republic and Japan. In the afternoon, guests of the event will be able to participate in seminars on the topics of biotechnology, pharmacology and medicine; new materials and nanotechnology; new energy sources and the environment; and aviation and aerospace. Individual topics will be addressed in the afternoon

The Japanese delegation includes, for example, Kimikazu Iwase of the department for science and technology at the Japanese education ministry, Toshiyuki Mineno, president and CEO of NEC Europe, for the Keidanren trade federation, and Hideaki Kumazawa, Japanese ambassador to the Czech Republic.

The Czech-Japan Science and Technology Days are traditionally organised by CzechInvest and the Czech Technical University in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the Academy of Sciences, Association of Research Organisations, the Engineering Academy and the Confederation of Industry. In addition to the Czech-Japan Science and Technology Days, this year CzechInvest is organising similar events with Swiss, Israeli and British partners.