Academy Assembly

The Academy Assembly, the highest body of the ASCR responsible for the topmost priority decisions related to the ASCR, held its XXXVII Meeting on December 14, 2010. Among invited guests was Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas, who is also the chairman of the Research and Development Council. He stressed that the financial support of research and development in the Czech Republic will not be reduced in 2011. On the contrary, it will rise from 25.4 billion Czech crowns to 25.9 crowns. He also asserted that the existing methodology of evaluating research and development is unsatisfactory and must be revised. Jiří Drahoš, President of the Academy of the Sciences of the Czech Republic, welcomed a new methodology and also the emergence of a new committee. “From my experience with a former and this Council,” he said, “I am convinced that the ASCR comprises the most experienced experts on analysis in the field of research and development, including evaluation and financing issues. This team is available to provide support in the preparation and implementation of necessary reforms, including to the Government, the Parliament of the Czech Republic and other institutions.” Professor Drahoš also emphasized that the Academy is the only research institution in the Czech Republic whose budget was reduced due to an erroneous methodology.