U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Nicholas Merrick visited the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice and the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences on Wednesday, May 13. Accompanied by Cultural Attaché Luke Meinzen, he met with Director of the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Libor Grubhoffer and Rector of the University of South Bohemia Pavel Kozák, who presented the research priorities of their respective institutions as well as their long-standing ties to the United States.
At the České Budějovice campus, discussions focused on the intersection of science and business, and on cooperation between Czech and American universities. The meeting was attended by academics and researchers who had previously worked at universities in the United States through the Fulbright grant and scholarship programme. They engaged the Ambassador in a debate on the benefits of Czech-American cooperation in science and education. Among the participants was, for example, parasitologist Julius Lukeš from the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, who highlighted the strong tradition of patronage by American entrepreneurs supporting research. The Director of the School of Doctoral Studies at the University of South Bohemia, Iva Stuchlíková, in turn particularly appreciated the sophisticated system of American doctoral education.
In his address, the Ambassador emphasised the key role of universities and their cooperation with the business sector in the long-term development of society and in strengthening bilateral relations between countries. He specifically cited the Fulbright Programme as one of the most significant instruments enabling such cooperation – contributing not only to the exchange of knowledge and experience, but above all to the building of personal connections and long-term professional relationships.
The joint discussion focused on developing Czech-American scientific ties, research funding, and support for technology transfer. The theme of cooperation between research institutions and the business sector resonated particularly strongly.
Vice-Rector for International Relations at the University of South Bohemia, Vladimír Žlábek, presented the university's strategic academic partnerships with institutions in the United States, characterised by a broad disciplinary scope, an emphasis on high-quality research, and systematic support for the mobility of both students and academics.
Director of the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Libor Grubhoffer, highlighted the importance of philanthropic support for science and research, both from international and domestic sources. He stressed that the combination of public funding, international grants, and private foundations creates a stable foundation for the development of world-class research.
Ambassador Merrick encouraged Czech institutions to systematically foster partnerships with the private sector, a key factor in translating knowledge into practice. The topic of protecting research and sensitive technologies from misuse was also raised. Participants also shared recent achievements from the Czech research environment, among them a notable increase in the representation of women in senior scientific positions.
Photo: Vojtěch Havlis (USB), Dalibor Novotný (BC CAS)
