Nanotechnology
Czech Republic
Nanotechnology In the Czech Republic there are at least 26 institutes in the Academy of Sciences plus 37 university faculties and 9 allowance research organisations conducting basic research in various areas of nanoscience. Research of applied nanotechnologies is conducted by at least 15 research-oriented private companies and by 69 small and large manufacturers.
WHY INVEST IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
► world-class basic nanotechnology research ► increasing number of research institutions, clusters and private companies working in nanotechnologies ► above-average research and human-resources potential of Czech small and medium size enterprises ► primacy in industrial production of nanofibres with a broad range of applications ► “Nanotechnology for Society”, especial Czech funding programme supporting projects focused on nanotechnology ► regulatory and patent environment in accordance with EU standards
BASIC FACTS
The Czech Republic has a growing interest in the area of nanotechnology, which is evident in the growing number of science institutes, universities and private entities that are dedicating themselves to this field. Most of them operate with unique technologies; achieve remarkable research findings and employee excellent researchers. However, some of them lack sufficient financial resources to implement bring research findings in the commercial sphere. Such entities would welcome cooperation with strong and prestigious companies and institutions in the form of joint R&D projects or joint ventures.
NUMBER OF SUBJECTS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY IN THE CR 2005 18 2008 26
The Czech Republic can boast some great successes in nanotechnology area. The most remarkable is primacy in industrial production of nanofibres. In cooperation with company Elmarco, the Technical University of Liberec developed the unique Nanospider technology, which made it possible to manufacture a prototype machine for production of non-woven nanofibre textiles. The Czech company Crytur, which produces and exports monocrystalline materials for electron microscopy and lasers, received a USD 80,000 grant from the United States for a joint project with DR Technologies involving the further development of 3D lasers. The Czech government awarded the prestigious “Czech Brain” prize to a team from the company Optaglio, s.r.o., which employs a unique electronlithography technology, for holographic security stamps used on banknotes.
Liberec–ELMARCO s.r.o., a global player in the production of machines for industrialscale production of nanofibres, has successfully launched a new type of line for producing of nanofibres. This so-called inorganic line is the first of its kind in the world. The material which the line will manufacture had its world premiere in March 2009, when it was introduced by ELMARCO at it’s “Nano for the 3rd Millennium” conference. Mr. Ladislav Mareš, Elmarco director.
Academy of Sciences
13 15
Universities
28 37
Faculties and other workplaces
4% 9
IF R&D IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
Contributory organisations
9 15
Private research institutions
6% 12
Large enterprises
19 27
Small and medium enterprises
Source: Nanotechnologies in the CR, 2008; CzechInvest, 2009
1949
1985–1992
1993
1995
Czech professor Armin Delong introduces the first electron microscope into production
A range of original works on research of semiconductor colloids
The Grant Agency of the Czech Republic is awarded the first grants supporting nanotechnology research
The term nanotechnology was first officially used in the Czech Republic
PRODUCTION FACILITIES
Czech companies and research institutions specialise in the following areas: ► industrial production of nanofibres and derivatives thereof (Nanospider technology) ► production of monocrystalline materials for electron microscopy and laser applications ► electron lithography used mainly for holography applications ► wound healing, tissue regeneration, targeted delivery of drugs/treatments, gene therapy, instruments for detecting damaged DNA ► production of laser interferometers for metrology and the machine-tool and microelectronics industries ► water treatment using iron nanoparticles ► surface and antibacterial treatments ► research of nanostructured and crosslinked polymeric materials
R&D CASE STUDY
The Czech company Elmarco is the industry’s first supplier of equipment for industrial-scale production of nanofibres. Based on a patent held by the Technical University of Liberec, Elmarco developed the unique Nanospider technology. Nanospider enables the production of a new sound-absorbent material called Nanospider AcousticWebTM, which has the unique ability to absorb sound in a broad spectrum of frequencies, and the new filtration material Nanospider AntimicrobeWebTM, which serves to remove physical and biological impurities from inhaled and exhaled air. The company has offices in Liberec, Czech Republic; Raleigh, North Carolina and Tokyo, Japan and cooperates with global industrial leaders and universities around the world.
CZECHINVEST SERVICES CASE STUDY INVESTMENT
The company Czech Holography entered the holding company Optaglio, Ltd. in 2000, bringing about the establishment of Optaglio, s.r.o. Since its establishment Optaglio, s.r.o has performed all research and development activities in the area of holography for the entire Optaglio, Ltd. holding company. The Optaglio group operates a network of several permanent offices around the world and supplies products to more than 60 countries. The company is one of the world’s top three providers of document protection (passports, IDs, stamps, etc.) and 70% of its overall production comprises government orders. The company is a member of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association and is currently a holder of several prestigious awards in the field of holography. The Optaglio group’s product portfolio is protected by 18 patents.
.
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU ► to arrange contacts of Czech universities, research institutions and private companies for research or business cooperation ► to help obtain funds from Czech programme “Nanotechnology for Society” or other Czech or European programmes ► to enable an approach to the unique Czech nanotechnogy technologies e.g. electrospinning, electron lithography or monocrystalline production ► to bring excellent Czech ideas, concepts, researchers and professionals into international research or industry projects
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM CR
Education in the field of nanotechnology is provided in a range of scientific disciplines, such as physics, chemistry, materials, mathematics and engineering. In the Czech Republic there are fifteen universities performing nanotechnology research and development in addition to their pedagogical activities. The Technical University of Liberec, which holds a worldwide patent for nanofibre production (electrospinning technology), occupies a leading position among the nation’s science and research institutions.
1997
2003
2006
2007
The first analysis of the nanotechnology sector in the Czech Republic is conducted according to individual thematic areas
Professor Jirsak from the Technical University of Liberec developed fibres measuring 200 nm in diameter as the first in the world
Launching a new programme “Nanotechnology for the Society” with the aim of supporting nanotechnologies in the CR
Company Elmarco became the industry’s first supplier of industrial scale nanofiber production equipment
Czech Republic
UNIVERSITIES WITH NANONOTECHNOLOGY FOCUS Source: Nanotechnologies in the CR, 2008; CzechInvest, 2009
LIBEREC
Technical University
ÚSTÍ NAD LABEM HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ KARLOVY VARY
PRAGUE
OSTRAVA
Czech Technical University Institut of Chemical Technology
PLZEŇ
University of West Bohemia
PARDUBICE
University
OLOMOUC
Technical University
ZLÍN
JIHLAVA
Tomas Bata University
BRNO
University of Technology
ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE
TOP NANOTECHNOLOGY PROJECTS ASSISTED BY CZECHINVEST (2008–2009) Czech Republic
International partner
Project
Crytur Company
Hitachi High Technologies
Established cooperation at international conference Nanotech 2008 Japan
Elmarco company
NAMI-Nano and Advanced Material Institute, hosted by Hong-Kong University
Registered membership
Elmarco company and Technical University of Liberec
Deputy Minister of National Science Council
Workshop at Technical University of Liberec and visit of Elmarco company
Czechinvest and Czech Embassy in Malaysia
Universities, research institutions and nanotechnology companies operating in Malaysian and south-east Asian region
Nanotechnology workshop organised in frame of international conference Nanotech 2008 in Kuala Lumpur
Outstanding quality of life
The Czech Republic boasts extraordinary quality of life. The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook’s Quality of Life Index ranks the country twentieth in the world and first in the CEE region. But one must experience the local cultural heritage, nightlife, sports facilities and natural beauty to fully grasp the joys of living in the Czech Republic. The country offers the full range of services that are required by expatriates and their families, including multilingual international schools covering all levels from kindergarten to MBA studies, attractive housing, shopping malls and first-class recreational facilities including over 80 golf courses and 12 UNESCO heritage sites.
czechinvest czechinvest headquarters worldwide
Nanotechnology In the Czech Republic there are at least 26 institutes in the Academy of Sciences plus 37 university faculties and 9 allowance research organisations conducting basic research in various areas of nanoscience. Research of applied nanotechnologies is conducted by at least 15 research-oriented private companies and by 69 small and large manufacturers.
WHY INVEST IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
► world-class basic nanotechnology research ► increasing number of research institutions, clusters and private companies working in nanotechnologies ► above-average research and human-resources potential of Czech small and medium size enterprises ► primacy in industrial production of nanofibres with a broad range of applications ► “Nanotechnology for Society”, especial Czech funding programme supporting projects focused on nanotechnology ► regulatory and patent environment in accordance with EU standards
BASIC FACTS
The Czech Republic has a growing interest in the area of nanotechnology, which is evident in the growing number of science institutes, universities and private entities that are dedicating themselves to this field. Most of them operate with unique technologies; achieve remarkable research findings and employee excellent researchers. However, some of them lack sufficient financial resources to implement bring research findings in the commercial sphere. Such entities would welcome cooperation with strong and prestigious companies and institutions in the form of joint R&D projects or joint ventures.
NUMBER OF SUBJECTS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY IN THE CR 2005 18 2008 26
The Czech Republic can boast some great successes in nanotechnology area. The most remarkable is primacy in industrial production of nanofibres. In cooperation with company Elmarco, the Technical University of Liberec developed the unique Nanospider technology, which made it possible to manufacture a prototype machine for production of non-woven nanofibre textiles. The Czech company Crytur, which produces and exports monocrystalline materials for electron microscopy and lasers, received a USD 80,000 grant from the United States for a joint project with DR Technologies involving the further development of 3D lasers. The Czech government awarded the prestigious “Czech Brain” prize to a team from the company Optaglio, s.r.o., which employs a unique electronlithography technology, for holographic security stamps used on banknotes.
Liberec–ELMARCO s.r.o., a global player in the production of machines for industrialscale production of nanofibres, has successfully launched a new type of line for producing of nanofibres. This so-called inorganic line is the first of its kind in the world. The material which the line will manufacture had its world premiere in March 2009, when it was introduced by ELMARCO at it’s “Nano for the 3rd Millennium” conference. Mr. Ladislav Mareš, Elmarco director.
Academy of Sciences
13 15
Universities
28 37
Faculties and other workplaces
4% 9
IF R&D IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
Contributory organisations
9 15
Private research institutions
6% 12
Large enterprises
19 27
Small and medium enterprises
Source: Nanotechnologies in the CR, 2008; CzechInvest, 2009
1949
1985–1992
1993
1995
Czech professor Armin Delong introduces the first electron microscope into production
A range of original works on research of semiconductor colloids
The Grant Agency of the Czech Republic is awarded the first grants supporting nanotechnology research
The term nanotechnology was first officially used in the Czech Republic
PRODUCTION FACILITIES
Czech companies and research institutions specialise in the following areas: ► industrial production of nanofibres and derivatives thereof (Nanospider technology) ► production of monocrystalline materials for electron microscopy and laser applications ► electron lithography used mainly for holography applications ► wound healing, tissue regeneration, targeted delivery of drugs/treatments, gene therapy, instruments for detecting damaged DNA ► production of laser interferometers for metrology and the machine-tool and microelectronics industries ► water treatment using iron nanoparticles ► surface and antibacterial treatments ► research of nanostructured and crosslinked polymeric materials
R&D CASE STUDY
The Czech company Elmarco is the industry’s first supplier of equipment for industrial-scale production of nanofibres. Based on a patent held by the Technical University of Liberec, Elmarco developed the unique Nanospider technology. Nanospider enables the production of a new sound-absorbent material called Nanospider AcousticWebTM, which has the unique ability to absorb sound in a broad spectrum of frequencies, and the new filtration material Nanospider AntimicrobeWebTM, which serves to remove physical and biological impurities from inhaled and exhaled air. The company has offices in Liberec, Czech Republic; Raleigh, North Carolina and Tokyo, Japan and cooperates with global industrial leaders and universities around the world.
CZECHINVEST SERVICES CASE STUDY INVESTMENT
The company Czech Holography entered the holding company Optaglio, Ltd. in 2000, bringing about the establishment of Optaglio, s.r.o. Since its establishment Optaglio, s.r.o has performed all research and development activities in the area of holography for the entire Optaglio, Ltd. holding company. The Optaglio group operates a network of several permanent offices around the world and supplies products to more than 60 countries. The company is one of the world’s top three providers of document protection (passports, IDs, stamps, etc.) and 70% of its overall production comprises government orders. The company is a member of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association and is currently a holder of several prestigious awards in the field of holography. The Optaglio group’s product portfolio is protected by 18 patents.
.
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU ► to arrange contacts of Czech universities, research institutions and private companies for research or business cooperation ► to help obtain funds from Czech programme “Nanotechnology for Society” or other Czech or European programmes ► to enable an approach to the unique Czech nanotechnogy technologies e.g. electrospinning, electron lithography or monocrystalline production ► to bring excellent Czech ideas, concepts, researchers and professionals into international research or industry projects
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM CR
Education in the field of nanotechnology is provided in a range of scientific disciplines, such as physics, chemistry, materials, mathematics and engineering. In the Czech Republic there are fifteen universities performing nanotechnology research and development in addition to their pedagogical activities. The Technical University of Liberec, which holds a worldwide patent for nanofibre production (electrospinning technology), occupies a leading position among the nation’s science and research institutions.
1997
2003
2006
2007
The first analysis of the nanotechnology sector in the Czech Republic is conducted according to individual thematic areas
Professor Jirsak from the Technical University of Liberec developed fibres measuring 200 nm in diameter as the first in the world
Launching a new programme “Nanotechnology for the Society” with the aim of supporting nanotechnologies in the CR
Company Elmarco became the industry’s first supplier of industrial scale nanofiber production equipment
Czech Republic
UNIVERSITIES WITH NANONOTECHNOLOGY FOCUS Source: Nanotechnologies in the CR, 2008; CzechInvest, 2009
LIBEREC
Technical University
ÚSTÍ NAD LABEM HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ KARLOVY VARY
PRAGUE
OSTRAVA
Czech Technical University Institut of Chemical Technology
PLZEŇ
University of West Bohemia
PARDUBICE
University
OLOMOUC
Technical University
ZLÍN
JIHLAVA
Tomas Bata University
BRNO
University of Technology
ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE
TOP NANOTECHNOLOGY PROJECTS ASSISTED BY CZECHINVEST (2008–2009) Czech Republic
International partner
Project
Crytur Company
Hitachi High Technologies
Established cooperation at international conference Nanotech 2008 Japan
Elmarco company
NAMI-Nano and Advanced Material Institute, hosted by Hong-Kong University
Registered membership
Elmarco company and Technical University of Liberec
Deputy Minister of National Science Council
Workshop at Technical University of Liberec and visit of Elmarco company
Czechinvest and Czech Embassy in Malaysia
Universities, research institutions and nanotechnology companies operating in Malaysian and south-east Asian region
Nanotechnology workshop organised in frame of international conference Nanotech 2008 in Kuala Lumpur
Outstanding quality of life
The Czech Republic boasts extraordinary quality of life. The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook’s Quality of Life Index ranks the country twentieth in the world and first in the CEE region. But one must experience the local cultural heritage, nightlife, sports facilities and natural beauty to fully grasp the joys of living in the Czech Republic. The country offers the full range of services that are required by expatriates and their families, including multilingual international schools covering all levels from kindergarten to MBA studies, attractive housing, shopping malls and first-class recreational facilities including over 80 golf courses and 12 UNESCO heritage sites.
czechinvest czechinvest headquarters worldwide
