Representatives of the Inorganic Chemistry Research Institute presented a project for a unique research and development center to representatives of the media in Litvínov. UniCRE, the acronym for which derives from the first letters of the English “Unipetrol Centre of Research and Education”, will grow in the coming years in one of the Unipetrol buildings belonging to Unipetrol RPA in the industrial facility in Záluží.
The project for building a center that will connect research capacity with first-rate
education and industrial experience was evaluated as one of the best in the regional development
area. It was the only one from the Ústí region to obtain support from the European Union funds that
are redistributing roughly 16,7 billion Czech Crowns for research projects in the regions of the
Czech Republic.
The Inorganic Chemistry Research Institute(VÚAnCh) based in Ústí nad Labem has been preparing the project for over two years. For the solution they closely cooperated with the Institute of Chemical Technology Prague and the Institute for Chemical Processes of the Czech Academy of Sciences was also a partner. VÚAnChf is also counting on the participation of these partners in the center’s activities in the future. Eighty-five employees are to work at UniCRE, some of which will be transferring there from the old workplaces of VÚAnCh, primarily from Ústí nad Labem. Others will eventually come from the students and doctorate students at the Institute of Chemical Technology Prague, who will also be working at UniCRE.
The total costs for building the center have been estimated at almost 800 million Czech Crowns. The contribution from the operational program Research and Development for Innovation is 600 million Crowns. It is expected that the initial investments will total approximately 450 million, a third of which will be used for the re-building of building no. 2838 and two thirds for furnishing and equipment. The support granted will enable the renovation work to begin on the former guild building, originally used for the manufacture of spirits, as early as the start of next year. Thanks to this, 23 modernly equipped laboratories; a conference hall with two auditoriums and other bases for research and education will grow in Chempark Záluží, along with other things. In the newly furnished building, the center will have at its disposal 35 independent experimental apparatus that will enable the investigation of most catalytic, petrochemical and refinery processes, including the study of modern processes of conversion of renewable resources (biomass) and environmental technologies. Trial operation of the center should commence in the second half of 2014. “We perceive the needs of the region and want to share in its development. This center will be unique within the Czech Republic in its approach to revitalization of unused manufacturing premises as well as in its focus and significance. It will help increase the attraction of the industrial agglomeration for young professionals. It will bring students into the region along with top scientists and pedagogues.” said Unipetrol general manager, Piotr Chełmiński. The research center is to focus primarily on applied research, cooperation with manufacturing companies, and above-all small and medium companies, particularly in the North Bohemia region. Customers of contracted research will be companies in the Unipetrol Group but will include other companies in the field from the broader region, such as, for example, Spolchemie Ústí nad Labem, Hexan Sokolov, Spolana Neratovice or Synthes Kralupy.
UNI noviny č. 11/2010
[4,9 MB] only czech version
11 Nov 2010
