The centre will be located on the CTU campus, and it is expected to use the premises of the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics (CIIRC CTU). It will be established with the support of the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade. While CTU will provide the facilities, the Korean side will oversee the establishment and operation of the centre and ensure the participation of Korean companies and institutions.
"ČVUT is an excellent institution in both education and research. Any such expansion of cooperation allows our scientists and students to keep pace with the global leaders," said ČVUT Rector Vojtěch Petráček.
The cooperation follows an agreement signed between ČVUT and its Korean partners in September 2024. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and CIIRC CTU are involved in the new initiative. The aim is joint research and development of robotic technologies, such as new machine learning algorithms based on physical modelling or so-called robotic skin for more natural interaction between humans and machines.
"CTU has significant research capacity in areas where robotics and artificial intelligence intersect. The planned centre will contribute to further development in this field and offer new opportunities for contract research, among other things," adds Prof. Tomáš Svoboda, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at CTU.
The centre will also serve students, who will be able to participate in research projects and take advantage of exchange opportunities in South Korea. CTU has long supported the active involvement of students in international research.
The centre is expected to open in September 2025. Czech companies will soon gain direct access to cutting-edge know-how and new solutions that will help them advance the robotisation of their production and increase their competitiveness on global markets.
