The 2022 Technology Agency of the Czech Republic Award won the National Centre of Competence for MATCA (Materials, Advanced Technologies, Coatings, and their Application). NCK MATCA focuses on the innovation of additive, plasma, and laser technologies. Twenty-four research organizations and private companies have joined this program. Department of Physical Electronics and CEPLANT belong among the participants.
The Technology Agency of the Czech Republic announced the winners' award for the best project in applied research with a significant contribution to society. This year, there were five categories - Business, Partnership, Company, Governance, and MIT (Ministry of Industry and Trade) award Country for the Future. The public decided on the sixth award, "Czech Idea," through online voting.
The Partnership award won the program of the National Centre of Competence for MATCA (project TN01000038). The Department of Physical Electronics and CEPLANT belong among their partners. The NCC MATCA comprises twenty-four partners from various research institutes and private companies. The cooperation of partners with different research focuses allows fast and flexible reactions to new market demands.
NCC MATCA focuses on developing three strategic areas: additive, plasma, and laser technologies in the research of material science, advanced technologies, coatings, and their application. It also provides training, raises awareness, and organizes expert conferences and other activities. "The NCC MATCA has been active for three years. Already twenty-seven results have been reported, and we expect another twelve. Through education, training, and partnership between private companies and institutions, we enhance the communication between participants," says MACTA participant Alexandr Dejneka, the head of the Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems of the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
The Department of Physical Electronics and CEPLANT have been a part of NCC MATCA from the very beginning, January 2019. We have worked on to separated sub-projects within NCC MATCA. The first project focused on increasing the deposition speed with a sufficient ionization rate of sputtering species. The second project, which is still active, aims to prepare antibacterial and antiviral coatings based on plasma-enhanced chemical deposition (PECVD). These coatings can find their applications not only in medicine. Our department's connection with an extensive research group is essential. The collaboration, communication, and new contact widened our partner network for preparing the new project and applied research results.
More information about all awards winners can be found here. You can watch a short video introducing the NCC MATCA project on followinf link.
The Heart of Europe workshop is a traditional gathering of scientists dealing with thin films. The center of Europe is presented by the Technical University of Vienna, Masaryk University in Brno, and Comenius University in Bratislava.
At the beginning of April, the Day with ERC, an event for junior researchers took place. The aim of the discussion meeting for junior scientists is networking. Dr. Jakub Kelar from the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology was nominated as a representative from the Faculty of Science.
