The Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences

How has biotechnology sector in the Czech Republic changed during recent years? Is the biotechnology sector properly funded?

Michal Schmoranz: Biotechnology is one of the so called "priorities" of the Czech research and development funding scheme. There have been 2 separate grant agencies under the ministry of health and ministry of agriculture that co-finance biotech sector besides the standard grant agencies (GACR and TACR) working in Czech. The sector however expected rise in private capital and venture to flow in during the first decade of 21st century. This happened in Czech for the IT sector, cybernetics, machinery but not for biotech. And as the government counted on private funds to co-finance the biotech development, we are in a situation we lack these funds in biotech now. There have been specific projects under 2 global biotech companies who are dealing on possible R&D transfer to Czech but these are still in development.

What are the main areas of interest of the Biology Centre? What type of studies are you currently performing?

Michal Schmoranz: Research conducted at the Biology Centre predominantly addresses ecological themes, with a significant emphasis on biomedicine. The research involves collaboration across disciplines, use of diverse methodological approaches (molecular biology, genetics, taxonomy, field ecology, mathematical modelling, etc.), and a combination of analytical and holistic approaches to problem solving. Our core institutes are of Soil Biology, concerned with theoretical and practical problems of the maintenance and regeneration of soil fertility, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology with activities ranging from plant molecular biology to ecological studies, genetic engineering of plants, molecular genetics and diagnosis of plant viruses, Institute of Parasitology which performs research on human and animal parasites at the organismal, cellular and molecular levels and Institute of Hydrobiology with research of biotic interrelations and their interaction with abiotic factors in lenitic water bodies, especially man-made reservoirs. Research activities of the last part - Institute of Entomology - ranges from taxonomic, genetic, physiological, molecular and ecological investigations on a wide range of model insect species and model ecosystems.

Are your major goals associated with education or also commercialization of products in the Czech Republic?

Michal Schmoranz: We focus on University teaching and PhD students a lot also due to being in a midst of South Bohemian University Campus. The commercialization has been a priority for the past 3 years and so far we have successfully started to transfer technologies which may not have a huge commercial effect but in the end will make an impact.

What are the benefits of a membership in CzechBio association?

Michal Schmoranz: We get closer to potential partners, the companies in the association - for us these are so far mostly partners for e.g. sharing presentation costs at fairs.

by Maciej Smolarz