ODC events

“Pentagon Lures Czech Brains”

December 12, 2007

Hospodarske noviny  (12/12, p.1) reports that a U.S.-Czech BMD Industry Research and Business Seminar, facilitated by the Czech Foreign Ministry and Missile Defense Agency, will take place January 16 and 17, 2008.  Representatives of Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman who will seek Czech business partners and experts will participate.  “We want to initiate cooperation in the missile defense industry’s R&D field,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Pojar. 

According to the Industry and Trade Ministry, about thirty Czech companies and nearly twenty research institutions have responded to the offer already.  The Industry Ministry spokesman added:  “Americans are interested in cooperation related to the development of laser systems or sophisticated communication technologies.”  However, according to the daily, some Czech companies suspect the true intent of the Americans is to lure their best employees away.  To improve the chances of Czech firms gaining U.S. military contracts, a memorandum of understanding will be drawn up by the bilateral MD negotiating team that is meeting in Prague this week. 

“If we did not have this memo, which specifies, for example, the transfer of classified information, any contract would have to be agreed by the highest levels of Pentagon.  Agreeing on the memorandum means that we will be permitted to enter an area where Czech companies and research institutions would otherwise have no access.  The objective of the seminar will be to find out what the two sides have to offer.  “There is no top level expertise on MD in the Czech Republic.  We will offer them research in health care, specifically on polymer research that expedites healing of wounds,” says Head of Academy of Sciences Vaclav Paces. 

In February, another visit from the Pentagon is expected in the Czech Republic that will teach Czechs how to write up contracts with the U.S. Army.  Also in February, the first contact between Czech suppliers of construction and technical components for the possible radar facility will take place.  The extent of Czech participation in the MD project is currently being negotiated by the bilateral negotiating teams. “We are trying to find the best example from the already existing agreements the U.S. has with other countries.  Those who underestimated this factor have had bad experience with the outcome.  We, naturally, want the Czech suppliers to get the greatest possible share of the contracts,” said Pojar.