2007 press releases

Signing of U.S.-Czech Science and Technology Agreement

Prague, September 6, 2007

U.S. Ambassador Richard Graber and Czech Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Dana Kuchtová signed today a U.S.-Czech Science and Technology Agreement. The official signing ceremony was held in the premises of the Ministry of Education.

The agreement builds on an agreement signed in June 1998.  It promotes dynamic and effective cooperation among a broad array of scientific organizations and individual scientists in both countries. The aim is to develop, support and facilitate scientific and technological cooperation including basic research, applied research and development.  Cooperative activities may include coordinated programs and joint research projects, joint scientific workshops, conferences and symposia, exchange of scientific and technological information, exchange of scientists, specialists, and researchers, exchange or sharing of equipment or materials.

Ambassador Graber comments: "This agreement builds on the strong record of scientific cooperation between our two countries to further our mutual efforts and address some of the most difficult scientific challenges facing the world today."

Collaboration between the U.S. National Science Foundation and similar Czech organizations have already established projects in the Czech Republic, linking American partners with universities and institutions in Prague, Brno, Ostrava and Pardubice.  In expanding this bilateral effort, priority will be also given to projects which can advance common science and technology goals and support partnerships between public and private research institutions and industry.