Strahov is synonymous with a sports stadium, but soon the most modern technology centre will be built here, especially thanks to the cooperation of the Prague City Hall and the CTU. The renovated stands, originally for up to 250,000 spectators, will offer sufficient space for testing technologies, including physical testing, such as robots.
"We plan to gradually develop the project with partners. From the smaller space in the east stand to the subsequent renovation of the larger space. We want to invite representatives of major companies to do this. We are already in initial negotiations and more will follow," says CTU Vice-Rector Veronika Kramaříková.
National and European innovation projects will be created at Strahov. At the same time, the business and academic environment will be closely connected, ten thousand students in the vicinity of the stadium will have a perfect opportunity to connect with innovative companies, while entrepreneurs from the Czech Republic and abroad will have the opportunity to reach new talents.
"We will finally offer students a space where they can learn about and try out the latest technologies, develop their ideas and possibly start their own businesses with them. In exchange, the partners will get the opportunity to reach out to new talent. In Prague, a neglected stadium will literally become the centre of the economy of the future close in sight of Prague Castle," says the pleased Rector of the CTU, doc. Vojtěch Petráček.
Once renovated, the space will provide students with quality facilities for testing technology and starting a business. Innovative (not only) Prague companies will gain direct access to research, while foreign entrepreneurs will find sufficient space for their operations in Strahov, right in the heart of the European Union.
"The aim is to create an innovative world under the head of CTU in cooperation with the CTU Student Union. In the first phase, CTU will borrow the commentators' space in the eastern stand of the stadium, where the first start-ups will begin to settle. A testing laboratory will be set up in cooperation with Prusa Research. There are much bigger plans for the future and I hope that we will be able to reconstruct the entire eastern stand first and then other parts of the stadium," says Jan Chabr, Prague's property councillor.
Ondřej Kašpárek, a representative of the aforementioned partner Průša Research, adds to the monumental plan: "Each partner has a slightly different role to play and we consider it important to be there right from the start." Tomáš Pluhařík from the investment fund DLTG promises, "We know how to adapt the space to serve both students and entrepreneurs. We already have temporary offices there and a number of start-ups interested in the portfolio. The idea is to create a functional but symbolic space that encourages the spirit of innovation and the courage to take risks."
Ivana Dvořáková, President of the Student Union, confirms that this is what students of the CTU will appreciate: "For students, this project is a significant shift for gaining professional practice and a unique step towards establishing international cooperation. We are looking forward to the challenges that the project will bring."
The memorandum was signed by CTU Rector Vojtěch Petráček, President of the CTU Student Union Ivana Dvořáková, Prague Councillor for city Property Jan Chabr and representatives of the partners - 3D printer manufacturer Průša Research together with venture studio and investment fund DLTG.