Students and researchers at the University of West Bohemia in Plzen to develop new automobiles

The University of West Bohemia in Plzen will cooperate on the development of new cars with one of the largest automotive developers in the Czech Republic, MBtech Bohemia s.r.o., which is part of DAIMLER AG and its MBtech Group. The framework agreement is to be signed today by representatives of the university and the Czech branch of MBtech at the 6th River Science and Technology Park in Plzen. Within the new MBtech Academy project, students and employees of the university will thus have the opportunity to take part in the development activities of one of the world’s most significant automobile companies.

“Foreign and domestic investors in the Czech Republic primarily appreciate the talented specialists here who provide them with new ideas and innovative solutions. Without this, CzechInvest would not have been able to bring 28 research and development centres to the Czech Republic last year alone,” says Alexandra Rudyšarová, acting CEO of CzechInvest. “One of CzechInvest’s aims is to contribute to strengthening the ties between the education system and the vision of private enterprises. This agreement is an ideal example of such a mutually advantageous relationship.”

“MBtech Bohemia has cooperated with the university since May 2007. Now our cooperation is official. In the course of their main studies, students in many technical fields will thus have the opportunity to directly gain practical knowledge in vehicle development,” explains Jaromír Horák, vice-rector for research at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Bohemia.

“Cooperation with the University of West Bohemia in Plzen has two long-term goals: to support students in technical fields and to concurrently interest them in cooperation with our company,” says Hartmut Tresp, director of the MBtech’s parent company, MB-technology GmbH.

Facilities of the MBtech Academy will be provided by the 6th River Science and Technology Park in Plzen. Students in technical as well as non-technical faculties at the University of West Bohemia will have the opportunity to gain experience at MBtech and to write their dissertations based on the company’s development projects. Thanks to this cooperation, they will also be able to improve their language, communication and presentation skills. Students in bachelor, master and doctoral study programmes will be allowed to participate.

For more information please contact CzechInvest's Public Relations Department. 

More about MBtech:

MBtech Bohemia is the most significant foreign branch of the German MBtech Group in Europe. The company mainly provides design and development services in the area of automotive undercarriage and body modules, interior and exterior modules, as well as engines and transmissions. MBtech employs 150 specialists in Prague and 60 in Plzen. The company’s turnover reached approximately EUR 10 million in 2007. MBtech Bohemia is thus among the biggest companies in the Czech Republic in the area of automotive engineering and consulting. More information is available at www.mbtech-bohemia.cz .

Contact to MBtech:
Václav Khin, Business Development Manager, MBtech Bohemia, tel.: +420 251 050 300, mobile tel.: +420 605 264 797, e-mail: vaclav.khin@mbtech-group.com

Contact to the University of West Bohemia:
Helena Hejdová, Director, Public Relations Department, tel.: +420 37 763 10 06, e-mail: hejdova@rek.zcu.cz