Both awards were decided this spring and last year by juries composed of representatives of the European Parliament and prominent figures from Czech civil society. Every year, the European Parliament awards projects with a social impact in individual EU Member States.
"The two award-winning projects share two important characteristics: innovation and solidarity. Our universities, our research centres and our students prove that they are among the best in the world. Both projects have helped significantly in the fight against covid. We have much to be proud of," stresses Dita Charanzová, Vice-President of the European Parliament and Chancellor of the European Citizen's Prize, who focuses in particular on consumer protection, the digital economy and international trade in the EP.
"Science must be at the service of society. On behalf of the CTU, I am glad that our researchers from the CIIRC Institute have contributed to this mission with their highly professional protective 3D printed half-mask," adds Vojtěch Petráček, Rector of the CTU.
The protective half-mask, consisting of a body printed on special 3D printers and an external filter, was developed by scientists during a single week in March 2020 thanks to modern technologies at the new RICAIP Centre for Advanced Industrial Production. The half-mask has been certified to European standards and its print data has been shared for non-commercial purposes through the CTU spin-off company TRIX Connections. It has thus reached out hundreds of organisations in thirty countries, including the US Navy and NATO. Subsequently, it was possible to realize the model for mass production and to start producing the mask in cooperation with domestic companies.
"To receive the medal today is very symbolic for us: we recalled the emotional moments of last year, when we spent days and nights working on the development of the mask. In addition to the good feeling, we have gained completely new experience in an area that was unknown to us until then - how to quickly get an invention out of the academic sphere and then mainly into industrial production," recalls Vít Dočkal for the CIIRC CTU team and adds: "The prize is a recognition of the cooperation between Czech science and Czech companies." The other members of the core team are Alexandr Lazarov, Pavel Burget, Jaroslav Lískovec and Petr Kadera.
The Masaryk University Volunteer Centre was awarded for its effective ability to direct volunteers to organisations and individuals in distress during a coronavirus crisis. The original idea was implemented and automated thanks to the launch of a database system for coordinators. The Volunteer Centre is not limited to Covid-19 related assistance. MUNI HELPS also registers and links other requests or offers of assistance. For example, the platform has proved to be very useful in co-organising clean-up assistance in the Moravian municipalities that were hit by the tornado in June this year. It is developing other programmes, such as a student legal advice centre and an aid incubator.
"I was extremely pleased to receive the European award for our volunteer centre. It is a proof that Masaryk University has proven itself in the crisis as a socially responsible institution, which in a short period of time was able to mediate or provide assistance to thousands of citizens and hundreds of institutions, including hospitals, children's homes, charities, homes for the elderly, crisis lines and city districts. This award belongs to all the volunteers from our university and beyond who have selflessly joined in helping those in need at a time of unprecedented social crisis," said Martin Bareš, Rector of Masaryk University.
"In the year and a half of its existence, the Volunteer Centre has handled over 3220 requests for help from individuals and institutions. There are currently more than 5,000 volunteers registered in the application who are able to offer their time or expertise to help those in need," summarizes Daniela Niebauerová, coordinator of the Masaryk University Volunteer Centre, and adds: "We are very happy to receive this award and we also welcomed the opportunity to meet personally with our colleagues from CTU, with whom we cooperate at various levels."
Representatives of all the award-winning teams from across the European Union will meet again at a gala event in Brussels in November.
In previous years, the prize on behalf of the Czech Republic has been awarded to the non-profit organization Post Bellum, Charita ČR, the humanitarian organization ADRA CZ and the People in Need.
The European Citizen's Prize has been awarded annually by the European Parliament since 2008 to individuals, groups, associations or organisations. The prize recognises outstanding achievements in promoting better mutual understanding and closer integration between citizens and Member States, in promoting common values, in facilitating cross-border or transnational cooperation within the European Union, or for daily action that concretely expresses the values of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Photography, courtesy of: Evropský parlament/J. Zatloukal
