The IOCB Tech Foundation is rebranding as the IOCB Foundation and embarking on a new, ambitious chapter
The IOCB Foundation is the new name of the established IOCB Tech Foundation, which was founded by IOCB Tech, a company focused on translating scientific knowledge into practical applications. The foundation’s new name and brand reflect a closer connection with IOCB Prague, from which IOCB Tech emerged. The foundation is thus embarking on a new phase in which it aims to become a key philanthropic player in the field of technology transfer in the Czech Republic.
The foundation was established in 2022 to support the development of science, the practical application of scientific knowledge, and the popularization of science, using revenues from its parent company, IOCB Tech. Over the four years of its existence, it has supported dozens of scientific and educational institutions, projects, initiatives, and individual scientists, distributing approximately EUR 3.5 million among them.
The foundation will continue its mission under its new name. However, it will focus even more on supporting the transfer of knowledge into practical applications and will expand its own fundraising activities, with the goal of securing additional funding for new projects.
“We are pleased to have helped launch the foundation and to have supported meaningful projects worth several million euros during its initial phase. Now comes a phase that is naturally close to our hearts at IOCB Tech: we want to focus even more on supporting technology transfer while also opening the foundation to new partnerships with other donors.
We believe that combining expertise in technology transfer, a strong scientific background, and philanthropy will help turn scientists’ good ideas into useful results more quickly,” says IOCB Tech Director Milan Prášil.
“Ambitious startups based on cutting-edge research are emerging in the Czech Republic, though often in spite of various obstacles. In this regard, Czech science has not yet fully realized its potential, and that is precisely what the IOCB Foundation aims to change. We want to systematically support the development of the entire technology transfer field, including by strengthening ties with the business community and expanding funding opportunities,”
adds Linda Štucbartová, Chair of the Foundation’s Board, outlining the Foundation’s new goals, and continues:
“We need to create an environment in which scientists, startup founders, and investors can be confident that cutting-edge research in the Czech Republic has a real chance of growing into globally successful technology companies. What matters is transforming the entire ecosystem and securing stronger involvement from the private sector. This will determine whether we merely adopt innovations or create them ourselves and export them to the world.”
The Foundation will also collaborate more closely with IOCB Prague. As the Foundation’s new institutional patron, IOCB Prague will provide expert support in the areas of scientific development and raising public awareness of the importance of scientific knowledge for society.
“The IOCB Foundation has set itself a new ambition: to support technology transfer in a more systematic way. However, this is not possible without high-quality science, good conditions for research work, and public trust in the benefits of scientific knowledge. As its patron, IOCB Prague will therefore provide long-term, strategic support to the Foundation in fulfilling this vision, as it sees these goals as an integral part of the mission of a modern research institution,”
says Prof. Jan Konvalinka, Director of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry.
