On 18 June 2019, representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Director of the Foreign Economic Policies Department Martin Pospíšil, Head of the Section for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Václav Lidl, and Territorial Expert Veronica Jelínková came to JINR for an introductory visit. The delegation was also represented by Member of the Committee for Czech-JINR cooperation, Director of the “Vakuum-Praha” company Pavel Hedbávný and Director of the “Asarko” company Jiří Granach.

JINR Director Academician Victor Matveev welcomed the delegation in the JINR Directorate. The JINR party was represented by JINR Vice-Director Richard Lednický, Deputy Head of the JINR International Cooperation Department Anna Kotova, and Head of the JINR Procurement and Logistics Service Pavel Dognal. According to Martin Pospíšil, the key aim of the delegation’s visit was the acquaintance with the Joint Institute and search for opportunities for the development of cooperation with JINR. The Czech representatives highlighted their vivid interest in an introductory lecture about JINR presented by Richard Lednický and pointed out innovation technologies, artificial intelligence, and proton therapy as promising fields for collaboration. Commenting on information about the JINR international cooperation in the fields of the synthesis of new superheavy elements, Martin Pospíšil highlighted that JINR perfectly exemplifies science without boundaries and limits. Along with developed scientific contacts between the Czech Republic and JINR, JINR Director Victor Matveev noted the experience of fruitful cooperation of the Institute with Czech companies, including work of the “Asarko” company on the reconstruction of JINR infrastructure buildings and production of high-tech equipment for JINR basic facilities by the “Vakuum-Praha” company. The parties expressed a mutual interest in further cooperation development. In particular, the Czech representatives made a proposal to organize in JINR the next Days of Visegrad Group, an alliance of four Central European states (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary).

During the visit, the delegation was acquainted with objects of the JINR scientific infrastructure accompanied by Czech representatives from JINR Head of the PLS office Pavel Dognal and ICD Chief Engineer Yana Makhonina. The guests visited the factory of superconducting magnets and saw the Nuclotron accelerator in the Laboratory of High Energy Physics. They also visited the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions where they were acquainted with the DC-280 cyclotron at the Superheavy Element Factory launched this year.

Kristina Moisenz,
Photos by Elena Puzynina