New Science Complex in Kobylisy
9th January 2008
A new complex for top-quality science is planned to be established in Kobylisy (Na Mazankách) in the next three years. The proposal was approved by the Prague 8 city district. The lord mayor of Prague 8 gave his go-ahead in June of 2007, and all project documentation was also approved by the corresponding institutions. However, the commencement of the project depends on whether the funding from the European funds will be granted.
The Institute of Applied Sciences should comprise of ten institutions – nine of them belong to the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic and one to the Czech Technical Institute (ČVUT), as described by Jan Škoda from the Academy of Science. The science campus will be focused on natural sciences and technology, mainly physics, but also chemistry. The principal aim will be to establish innovative scientific space for interdisciplinary collaboration at the international level and under the supervision of top scientists and specialists. The project consist of three parts: a technical and administrative as the first part, lecture series and facilities as the second, and laboratories will be the third part. The laboratories should mainly be utilised by 4th and 5th year students of the Technical Institute, as explained by Mr. Skoda. The complex should also contain scientific and technical libraries and accommodation facilities for international scientists. The new complex will be an extension to the current campus of the institutes of the Academy of Science.
The realisation of the project currently depends on obtaining sufficient funds from the EU. The estimated cost is around 800 million CZK, where over half of the sum will finance the top-end equipment and instrumentation.
Students and scientist, who will engage in e.g. nano-sciences, research into alternative and renewable energy sources or applied mathematics, should be able to start using the facilities at the end of 2010. “It will be clarified during this year whether the funding will be granted. Then the construction administration will take action and finally the construction work itself should commence in early 2009. The new building will replace the temporary porta-cabins within the Academy of Science campus. The author of the project is architect Ivan Stuchlý from the Prague based studio D. E. S.
Source: Lidové noviny
