The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports is showcasing successful projects from the Operational Programme Jan Amos Komenský (OP JAK) through a traveling photography exhibition. The first stop is the Upper Square (Horní náměstí) in Olomouc, where visitors can view the display until May 25. Among the selected projects is TECHSCALE – Technologies Beyond the Nanoscale, led by physical chemist Michal Otyepka from CATRIN at Palacký University. In addition to scientific laboratories, the exhibition also offers a glimpse into school classrooms.
“I am very pleased that TECHSCALE was chosen among the featured projects. I greatly appreciate the idea of presenting at least some of them to the public, which is why we at CATRIN were happy to collaborate on the exhibition. It’s important to show people how European Union funds are helping to transform Czech education and research,” said Michal Otyepka.
Since 2021, OP JAK has supported 11,800 projects worth CZK 67 billion, contributing to the improvement of education and creating conditions for top-tier research with international impact.
TECHSCALE addresses societal challenges such as climate change, the energy crisis, and the need to improve quality of life by developing a new generation of nanomaterials for applications in energy, catalysis, sensing, and even theranostics. The project also includes assessing the social impacts and public acceptance of new technologies. For this reason, the research team brings together representatives of natural, social, and human sciences. At Palacký University, CATRIN cooperates with experts from the faculties of Arts, Medicine, Law, Theology, and Health Sciences. Project partners also include Charles University and CEITEC – Brno University of Technology.
The exhibition panels feature photographs of three other leading research projects focused on regenerative medicine, modernization of research infrastructure, and the use of advanced technologies in brain research and improving the treatment of mental and neurological disorders. Educational projects illustrate how EU funds help develop talent, skills, and opportunities for a better future. Visitors will see modern dance instruction, animation, project-based learning, early childhood education, and support for students’ career development. The exhibition also includes examples of non-formal education, such as scouting programs and tutoring for Roma children.
The “Labyrinth of OP JAK Projects” exhibition will continue from Olomouc to Brno, Karlovy Vary, and Liberec. More information about supported projects is available on the Labyrintu projektů OP JAK, which also features articles, interviews, and videos about the work of Czech scientists and teachers, and the improvement of learning environments for pupils, students, and youth. Visitors can also take part in a competition held alongside the exhibition.
Jan Amos Komenský Operational Programme (OP JAK) is a multi-year thematic programme under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, offering funding from the EU Structural Funds during the 2021–2027 programming period. The total financial allocation is CZK 84 billion, with CZK 41 billion dedicated to research and development, CZK 17 billion to higher education, and CZK 26 billion to regional schooling.
