We were successful in the Interreg program. We are launching two more cross-border projects with our Saxon partners
The Faculty of Science at J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem is expanding its activities in the area of Czech-Saxon cross-border cooperation. As part of the EU Interreg Czech Republic–Saxony 2021–2027 Program, two new projects were approved in July that will bring together Czech and German experts in the fields of computer science and nature conservation. The faculty is thus building on the already successfully implemented projects MATun – World of Materials – Universities Together and PraStud – Professionally Oriented Studies in the Border Region.
One of the newly funded projects is “Dual Certify”—a cross-border dual micro-certificate program—which will be implemented over the next two years in collaboration with Chemnitz University of Technology. The project focuses on three key areas of contemporary computer science: digitization, cloud applications, and artificial intelligence. The project’s academic supervisor is RNDr. Jiří Škvor, Ph.D., head of the Department of Computer Science at the Faculty of Science, UJEP.
Its goal is to create a joint educational program for students and professionals from both sides of the border. Participants will complete a series of joint educational activities culminating in the award of a micro-certificate confirming their newly acquired knowledge and skills. The project will also strengthen cooperation with companies and promote the integration of the academic environment with professional practice. It will officially launch at an opening conference to be held on October 8, 2026, in Chemnitz.
The second new project is InvaArt – Invasive Species in the Border Region, which will run until the end of 2028.The lead partner of the project is Umweltzentrum Dresden, and in addition to the Faculty of Science at UJEP, four other project partners are involved in its implementation.
The project focuses on research and monitoring of invasive species in selected locations in the Ore Mountains. Fieldwork, specialized workshops, excursions, and week-long summer camps will be key components of the project. The academic supervisor is Assoc. Prof. PhDr. Kateřina Jančaříková, Ph.D., head of the Center for the Support of Science Education (CPPV) at the Faculty of Science, UJEP. For staff members of the Department of Biology, the project represents not only an opportunity to participate in international research but also a chance for professional development and establishing new professional contacts.
“Both newly approved projects represent another significant step in the development of Czech-Saxon cooperation at our faculty. We are very pleased that we have been able to build on the successful projects of previous years and that, thanks to them, new opportunities will open up for students, faculty members, and our partners in the professional field. A big thank you goes to Faculty Secretary Petr Lauterbach, who prepared both projects and will also lead them. His long-term experience with cross-border cooperation and extraordinary dedication were key to their success,” says the Vice Dean for External and International Relations at the Faculty of Science, UJEP, RNDr. Regina Herma, Ph.D.
“I believe that the implementation of these new projects will not only yield concrete results in the areas of education and research but will also serve as a catalyst for further joint Czech-Saxon activities and partnerships,” says the project leader for both new initiatives, Ing. Peter Lauterbach, Secretary of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at UJEP.27