Historical Moment: Opening New Institutes and Signing the Memorandum
Photo: Pavel Konečný
Research and lecturing at the Medical Faculty of Palacký University in Olomouc has received a new dimension. At a formal opening ceremony on November 28, 2012, two new buildings were inaugurated at the campus of the Medical Faculty: the Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine (IMTM) and the new Theoretical Institutes building. With the National Biomedical and Biotechnological Park being constructed as well, Olomouc has become the Czech capital of biomedicine, biotechnologies, and other related branches.
Both structures complement the building of Theoretical Institutes built in the 1950s. The two new buildings were constructed thanks to the nearly €80 million contribution from the Operational Programme "Research and Development for Innovation".
The fact that outstanding experts who will guarantee the future sustainability of the project have been brought to Olomouc is considered by the director of IMTM, Marián Hajdúch, as the major achievement. "There have been many applicants for our jobs. Ten per cent of our employees come from abroad, such as neighbouring Poland and Slovakia, but even from as far as Japan and India," says Hajdúch.
The two institutes will be followed by the National Biomedical and Biotechnological Park, which will be established on 70 acres of land near Olomouc. The locality will host a number of companies and investors who will utilise the research findings.
"Investment projects from the fields of biomedicine and biotechnology bring added value, one of the pillars of the competitiveness of Czech economy," said Hana Chlebná on behalf of CzechInvest, the investment and business development agency of the Czech Republic, when signing the Memorandum of Cooperation. "The common goal of CzechInvest and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is the acquisition and allocation of countless domestic and foreign investors, who will help to further develop this promising branch of science in the Czech Republic."
More information on the Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine is available at www.imtm.cz.
