The main purpose of the visit was participation in the 20th annual Nanotech 2017 Conference & Expo. The nanotechnology delegation furthermore partook in the Embassy’s open house and met with representatives of the National Science Foundation, University of Maryland – School of Engineering, and the National Institute for Standards and Technology. The visit was a part of the Embassy’s economic diplomacy and led by Miloslav Stašek, Deputy Minister for the Economic and Operational Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

 

NanoTech 2017

Czech companies had the opportunity to present their technology at the annual conference and expo as well as meet with strategic partners. The Czech company Pardam and Mendel University of Brno were selected for formal presentations of their technologies before a specialized audience, an exceptional distinction for those bringing new or innovative technologies.

Moreover, Lloyd Whitman, Assistant Director for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and Lisa Friedersdorf, the Director of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, visited and spoke with the Czech companies at the conference. Director Friedersdorf also gave an interview for Czech Television.  

 

University of Maryland – School of Engineering

Czech science and technology is well known at the University of Maryland (UMD). The UMD collaborates with and purchases microscopes from the Czech Tescan company in Brno. Further, there is interest in allergy free pillows from the Czech company nanoSpace. The President of Czech Nanotechnology Association, Jiří Kůs, gave a presentation and overview of Czech nanotechnology production to the university.

 

National Science Foundation

Mihail C. Roco, the founding chair of the U.S. National Science and Technology Council's subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET) and the Senior Advisor for Science and Engineering at the National Science Foundation (NSF), presented several national nanotech initiatives, including the National Nanotechnology Initiative 2000-2030, to the delegation. The conversation also focused on the nano-bio-informative-cognitive. The Embassy was thanked for its role in maintaining ties with the science and research community. Representatives from the National Science Foundation will visit the Czech Republic in June 2017.

 

NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology

Czech companies and experts met with representatives of the NIST, specifically with interest in regards to cooperation for establishing regulations for photocatalysis and LIBS, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.

The discussions involved the directors of several laboratories at NIST:  Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Physical Measurement Laboratory, Material Measurement Laboratory, Inorganic Materials Group, and the Polymeric Materials Group. Further talks were held with Czech firm Advanced Materials regarding using nanotechnology in protecting concrete construction.

 

EU Open House

The Czech Embassy opened its doors to the public for its annual, all day open house on May 13 and welcomed over 2,200 visitors.  As part of its program, the Embassy celebrated the father of modern-day genetics, Gregor Mendel, and the region of Moravia in the Czech Republic, where he lived and conducted his groundbreaking research on peas. Focusing on science, guests had the opportunity to speak with representatives of Czech nanotechnology and listen to several presentations by Jiří Kůs, the President of Czech Nanotechnology Association. Specifically, the public was interested in Czech-made products such as anti-allergy sleepwear, paints, batteries, and so on.  

 

The Future

Miloslav Stašek, Deputy Minister for the Economic and Operational Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, valued the entire visit to Washington, stating, “It is obvious that Czech companies and its experts match up to our US partners. It is important to continue in these transatlantic activities and missions. It is one way in how to make the Czech economy more competitive and also raise the standard of living at home.”