The fourth Czech-Japan Science and Technology Days
Following three successful previous events were held alternately in Prague and Tokyo (in Tokyo in May 2005, in Prague in May 2006 and in Tokyo in May 2007) the fourth annual Czech-Japan Science and Technology Days (CJSTD) were take place on May 13-15, 2008 in Prague. The event was held under the auspices of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic on the Czech side.
A full-day seminar was held on Tuesday, May 13, 2008. Over the following two days, the participants was invited to visit selected Czech R&D institutions, universities, and high-tech companies and to meet Czech potential partners. The main objective of the fourth annual CJSTD seminar was to explore and to advance further possibilities of broader direct cooperation in the field of R&D, and to enhance and further develop contacts and cooperation between respective organizations, companies and institutions in both countries with the goal of achieving direct cooperation between such institutions, universities, companies, etc.
I. Three principal national partners which were engaged in R&D, innovation and knowledgebased economics, i.e. the government, academic and industrial high-tech sectors, were most welcome to attend the seminar and to thoroughly explore the ways and means to increase the scope and depth of bilateral cooperation.
II. The Czech side was introduce some results, capabilities and capacities in the field of R&D and technological innovation with the aim of identifying possible partnership opportunities with Japanese companies including those that are already operating in the Czech Republic or other European countries.
III. The effective use of EU structural funds within the Czech R&D network and possible participation of Japanese partners in selected R&D projects were discussed. Similarly, the Japanese side was expected to present corresponding proposals.
IV. Several specific R&D areas were the subjects of discussions during the seminar, namely:
- Life sciences (biotechnology, pharmacology, medicine, etc.)
- New materials, nanotechnology and new applications
- Aeronautics, space research and technology development
- Informatics, telecommunications, cybernetics and robotics
- New energy resources and environment issues (participation in ITER project in Cadarache, nuclear energy and alternative sustainable energy resources, etc.)
The seminar was focus on methods and cooperation arrangements to increase the efficiency of innovation, technology transfer from R&D to the industrial sector and commercialization of R&D results.
