The U.S. Ambassador visited BUT

On Wednesday, December 10, the new U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic, H.E. Nicholas Merrick, visited Brno University of Technology (BUT). The meeting took place in cooperation with leading American companies associated with the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham). The aim was to present the university, particularly BUT’s academic and industrial collaborations with American institutions and companies. The program included a presentation of student creative teams and an introduction to the university’s approach to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as collaborations especially in advanced technologies in the context of the geopolitical situation and enhancing competitiveness.

The initial presentation of student teams took place in the hall of the BUT Rectorate. The U.S. Ambassador viewed the results of the creative work of student teams YSpace, TU Brno Racing, Drone Research Center, BUT Chicken Wings, Pneumobil Racing Team, Brno Mars Rover, and the newest team Spice. Ambassador Merrick was pleased with both the students and their projects: “I am truly impressed by what I have seen; you are the future of the Czech Republic, and the Czech Republic is on a great path thanks to you,” he said to the gathered students. The ambassador’s meeting with university and industry representatives followed.

Ambassador Merrick viewed the results of the student teams’ creative work and was pleased with both the students and their projects. | Author: Václav Koníček

The purpose of the visit was to familiarize the U.S. Ambassador with the university’s profile, technologies, educational and research activities, and collaborations between BUT and American universities, institutions, and companies. The rector, together with faculty and institute representatives, presented the university and its strategic technological areas, including specific collaborations with American partners. These include electron microscopy, space and aerospace technologies, the automotive industry and electromobility, nanotechnology, nuclear energy, semiconductor technologies, and more.

The university also participates in long-term security research and engages in technological cooperation in the defense industry. “The world has changed. The defense industry currently represents a major challenge, and it is essential to invest in it,” commented Ambassador Merrick. A central topic of the meeting was the presentation of the close connection between the university and industry, with representatives from companies with American capital associated with AmCham, including Thermo Fisher Scientific, onsemi, Garrett Motion, Honeywell, AT&T, GE Aviation, YSoft, and Manpower Group, present. “Collaboration with industry and the applied sector is essential for the development of the university and its strategic direction,” said BUT Rector Ladislav Janíček.

The aim of the meeting was to present the university, particularly BUT’s academic and industrial collaborations with American institutions and companies. | Author: Václav Koníček

The university’s approach to supporting entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer, including the creation of spin-offs and start-ups and links to the South Moravian Innovation Centre and technology parks in Brno, was also presented. The need for applicability and commercialization of research results was also highlighted. Internationalization as a prerequisite for competitiveness was discussed, including the number of international students at BUT and the university’s active participation in the European University Alliance EULiST, currently chaired by BUT, as well as the EUA and CESAER associations.

Faculty leadership representatives presented collaborations with American institutions, universities, industry, and joint research projects. Radimír Vrba, director of CEITEC BUT, highlighted four specific projects with the U.S., including research fellowships. Associate Dean Koton from FEKT BUT discussed strategic university topics and presented areas in which the faculty collaborates with American institutions, such as chip design, cybersecurity, nuclear energy, space applications, and biomedical engineering. Dean Hlinka from FSI BUT presented extensive collaborations including mechanical engineering, materials science, automotive, aerospace, and electron microscopy. He also mentioned solar corona research in cooperation with the University of Hawaii. Associate Dean Zemčík from FIT BUT spoke about a wide range of activities strengthening Czech-American academic cooperation – from Fulbright scholar stays to involvement of experts with U.S. experience and intensive programs focused on speech processing technologies. The American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic (AmCham CZ) also gave a presentation highlighting the necessity of developing advanced technologies and the university’s role in producing qualified graduates for both industry and research.

During the meeting, Ambassador Merrick emphasized the cultural ties between the two countries and the technological advancement of the Czech Republic. | Author: Václav Koníček

The ambassador appreciated the meeting, which brought together the university and industrial companies with American capital. “Thank you for the invitation – today I really learned a lot and look forward to further cooperation. It was a great pleasure to visit the university and see students actively driving things forward. It is inspiring to watch them. I am also pleased to see first-class American companies operating here and that the university creates an environment where academic excellence is connected with industrial practice,” said Ambassador Merrick.

“We are honored that, as the new ambassador informed us, one of his first trips from Prague led to Brno and BUT. It was a great pleasure for me to organize this amazing meeting with our industry partners at our university and to present to the ambassador our university and, in particular, our connections with American universities, institutions, and companies. I am very pleased that we could showcase our industrial partnerships, which we develop as a key element of the university’s strategy and which strengthen our competitiveness. I am also glad that our students contributed to the visit. They are our future. The creativity, motivation, enthusiasm, professionalism, and pride in the university, evident from the presentations of their creative work, guarantee the prosperity of our country,” concluded Rector Ladislav Janíček.

The visit of the U.S. Ambassador to Brno University of Technology confirmed the potential to deepen and expand partnerships between BUT and American universities, institutions, and industrial partners – whether in research, technological innovation, or student mobility. Both sides expressed interest in continuing these discussions, opening new opportunities for future collaboration.