Speech of the PM of the Czech Republic, Mirek Topolánek on the Occasion of Signing Memorandum of Association of the Biotechnological Centre in Vestec

I have only rarely an opportunity to speak about something that I am so delighted with as with the BIOCEV project. I am really glad to have an opportunity to participate in signing the Memorandum of Association of the centre of excellence of an advanced biotechnological and biomedicine research. Success in a global competition depends on the ability to discover, to find new solution, new procedures, to introduce new technologies. It is a general rule; all the more so for small and open country with poor natural resources. Earlier on, we proved that we were able to turn our handicaps into advantage, that we were able to overcome lack of natural resources by our assiduousness and cleverness. Thanks to these qualities we were among six most advanced economies of the world before the World War Two. It must be our ambition to continue in this tradition. I can see the only one chance how to achieve this – to aim our maximal efforts to the future, to give maximal resources to the research, development and technologies.
The BIOCEV Project is one of few, which can help to fully achieve this objective. A famous university, a significant research institute and private technological firms are joining here. Here, in this triangle, in this cluster we can hope for real results and I hope that excellent real results. The key to the future consists in interlinking all the phases of the innovation chain. We must underestimate neither the basic research nor its applications, nor introduction of results into practice. It is a long and prickly way from the initial idea, genial idea to the revolutionary technology. But short-cuts, as it is widely known end in the hell. It is not a task of the government to go through this way instead of you. It is not our duty to tell you the right way. However, I regard as my duty of a statesman to create the best conditions for you, so that you could use your invention. I, as the Prime Minister who has the sphere of the science, innovation development as his own priority, have three principal tasks.
Firstly, it is necessary to ensure effective use of money from the governmental Council for Research and Development and from structural funds of the EU, so that they would be used by those who are the best, by those who are excellent, not by those who have the gift of the gab and the best contacts. Secondly, it is necessary to create conditions for private firms, so that they would be better motivated to invest more in the research, including the basic research. Thirdly, it is necessary to perform the reform of universities and research institutions, which will strengthen the managerial responsibility of their managements and which will lead to closer mutual cooperation. I am really glad that you succeed in it without any pressure, I would say. We have a common task: to strengthen scientific, research and innovation potential of this country. I believe you that you feel the same and that we will find a common speech as far as means how to achieve this are concerned. I wish you – and all of us – good luck.