Some Czech R&D Success Stories

Focusing on a better life

The small yet dynamic Czech company Elmarco specialises in advanced manufacturing for the semi-conductor components industry as well as equipment for industrial production of nanofibrous non-woven materials. The most significant R&D product of this progressive company, a unique technology called Nanospider, which enables the industrial-scale production of nanofiber textiles, has been followed by interesting new applications in the area of healthcare. Elmarco has begun cooperation with Alltracel Pharmaceuticals Plc., a medical technology company focused on the wound-care, oral-care and coronary-health markets.

Spin-offs - putting academic research into practice

For many years the team at the Department of Cybernetics at the Czech Technical University in Prague has been delivering high-quality research work strongly oriented toward the needs of industry and the commercialization of R&D results. The results of this work can be seen in four spin-offs, one of which (Certicon) represents a worldwide centre for cardiac-pacemaker development. Research and development at Certicon was established in cooperation with Vitatron Medical, a Dutch producer that covers half of the world pacemaker market.

Investing in high-risk research

Investments in basic research in the pharmaceuticals industry are considered risky in a small country like the Czech Republic. Thanks to the support of a Belgian research team and the US company Gilead Sciences, the Czech director of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, professor Antonin Holy, was able to formulate the basis of drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and AIDS. The two drugs - Hepsera and Viread - were approved by the US FDA in 2001 and 2002 respectively.

Smart cooperation

The main players in the Czech telecommunications industry, Vodafone and Sony Ericsson, combined their R&D efforts with those of doctoral students and scientists at the Czech Technical University (CVUT) in Prague. At the facilities of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering students develop new wireless technologies and applications using equipment provided by Vodafone and Sony Ericsson and help to implement their findings under real-life conditions.

Innovation through partnership

Nanotrade, a small research company from the north of Moravia, focuses on the research and development of new materials, technologies and application procedures in the area of nanotechnologies. Nanotrade is one of the initial founders of the Czech Nanotechnology Cluster, which was established in August 2006. Thanks to the excellent scientific results (surface waterproofers, antibacterial gel, oil dopes) and an extensive communication network, the company was able to establish cooperation with institutions from Great Britain, Switzerland, Denmark and Taiwan.