For the first time, the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) presented scientific diplomacy to foreign diplomats as one of its priorities. Michal Otyepka presented the research activities and accomplishments of CATRIN, Palacký University Olomouc, to almost 100 ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions on Wednesday, February 28, at the Czernin Palace.
“I am glad that I was able to talk about our research in front of diplomats and demonstrate that international cooperation is one of the pillars of CATRIN. Of course, I expressed my interest in further development in this area as well. I’ve made useful contacts at the meeting and agreed on further communication with several ambassadors. I commend the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the development of scientific diplomacy. As the meeting disclosed, the modernization of the country cannot be done without quality cooperation in the field of innovation and science. Only in broad cooperation can research adequately respond to the current burning global challenges,” said Michal Otyepka, Head of CATRIN-RCPTM.
According to the MFA representatives, it is also necessary to build bridges across countries in the area of research and innovation. “In its Programme Declaration, our government has committed itself to supporting the modernisation and raising the competitiveness of the Czech Republic. The Foreign Ministry contributes to the fulfilment of this goal mainly by supporting Czech research, development and innovation abroad. Last year, we therefore integrated scientific diplomacy into the scope of our diplomatic network and we will continue to strive for a greater connection of Czech science with the world,” said First Deputy Foreign Minister Jiří Kozák at the beginning of the meeting with diplomats.
Deputy Minister for Science, Research and Innovation Jana Havlíková also confirmed this priority on behalf of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic. Chief Director Kateřina Sequensová presented the MFA’s tools to support the internationalisation of Czech research, development and innovation and offered opportunities for cooperation with the network of Czech embassies to connect institutions with their foreign partners.
The MFA also supports universities or top research centres within the framework of scientific diplomacy; its representatives mentioned nanotechnology, biotechnology and computer sciences as very successful fields. That is probably why the research institutions were represented at the meeting by Michal Otyepka from CATRIN as well as by the Rector of the University of West Bohemia Miroslav Lávička.