On Wednesday 28 May, we were pleased to welcome the new President of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prof. Radomír Pánek, to the HiLASE Centre. It was an honour and an opportunity for us to show how Czech cutting-edge research is turning into real impact on industry, space and defence applications and strengthening technological sovereignty.
Tomáš Mocek and Lukáš Masopust presented the direction of HiLASE as a centre that aims to shape the future of high-power laser technologies. We discussed how we combine deep technological know-how with the courage to innovate – and how we transfer these technologies from the lab to the real world through knowledge transfer and collaboration with Czech and foreign companies and research institutions.
Particular attention was also paid to the need for long-term planning in the context of the sustainability of research centres, which must be competitive not only today but also in the future.
Accompanied by Jan Kaufman, Professor Pánek toured the experimental hall for Laser Shock Peening, where HiLASE high-end lasers increase the lifetime of components in the energy and transport sectors. Petr Hauschwitz then presented laser micromachining of functional surfaces – for example for biotechnology or the semiconductor industry. A tour of the cleanroom followed, where Martin Smrž talked about, among other things, the development of new laser sources for demanding space applications.
Lastly, the President also got acquainted with the activities of the Brain4Industry Innovation Centre, which is, just like HiLASE Centre, part of the Institute of Physics of the CAS. HiLASE works closely with it to support the digital and technological transformation of Czech industry.
“Research is meaningful when it changes the world around us for the better. At HiLASE, we believe that lasers can be used from the Czech Republic to push boundaries – from industry to space and defence. And thus strengthen the technological sovereignty of our country and the sustainability of research centres, which must be competitive in the long term. Vision – Cooperation – Prosperity,” comments the head of the HiLASE Centre, Tomáš Mocek
