New technologies, the modernisation of energy infrastructure, and more efficient ways to use and store energy were among the main topics of the fourth workshop of the National Centre for Energy II (NCE II). Held at the Ostrava Planetarium, the event provided an opportunity to present research achievements to date, engage in expert discussions, and agree on the next steps in joint research projects.
The Nanotechnology Centre CEET welcomed PhD student Julia Nadrowska from Nicolaus Copernicus University as part of the Erasmus+ programme. During her one-month internship, she focused on bionanotechnology and the advanced characterisation of nanomaterials.
Read the new edition of the newsletter from the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies at VSB-TUO.
Leading expert in the field of metal-organic frameworks and their applications, particularly in electrocatalysis and photocatalysis, Professor Tapas Kumar Maji from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bangalore, India, visited the Materials-Envi Lab (MEL) at the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies of VSB – Technical University of Ostrava. During his visit, he and local researchers agreed to collaborate in a number of research areas.
From 7 to 11 September 2026, the 17th edition of the international conference Pannonian International Symposium on Catalysis (PISC 2026) took place at the Kamzík resort in Malá Morávka in the Jeseníky Mountains.
From 7 to 9 September 2026, the 29th edition of the International Energy and Environment Conference (IEEC) took place at the Sepetná resort in Ostravice in the Beskydy Mountains
Sudip Bhattacharjee from the Materials-Envi Lab (MEL) at VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava has received the Early Career Scientist Award at the international Catalytic CO₂ Conversions Conference (CCC2026) in Copenhagen.
In August, researchers from the Institute of Environmental Technology at the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET), VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, tested an experimental photochemical unit for removing ammonia from exhaust air on a working farm in Slovakia.
As every year, the beginning of September at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava was dedicated to the popularization of science, technology, and creativity.
Researchers from CEET, VSB-TUO and Sakarya University are testing innovative brake materials. Together, they are seeking ways to improve braking performance and reduce environmental impact.
The three-day seminar brought together leading experts and investigators of the strategic projects REFRESH, MATUR, DMS MEET, and CirkArena. Together, they shared insights and new technological processes that can aid European energy and industry.
Catalysts, their design, synthesis methods, and applications were the main focus of a seminar delivered by Gianvito Vilé, an expert in heterogeneous and single-atom catalysis from Politecnico di Milano, Italy.
A research team led by Jan Najser has developed two new plasma torches with power outputs of 50 kW and 100 kW. The units are designed for the thermochemical conversion of feedstocks into synthesis gas (syngas) with a high proportion of hydrogen. The smaller plasmatron is intended primarily for experimental units, while the higher-capacity variant is ready for continuous industrial operations.
A new addition to the Energy Lab of the REFRESH project is materials scientist Dr. Sehreish Abrar
The reconstructed granary in Jevišovice is becoming the base for joint research by the CEET Nanotechnology Centre and Estetico Energo, focusing on the development of graphene inks.
Secondary school students tried their hand at research in our laboratories, gathering material for their final-year school-leaving projects.
The kick-off meeting for the cooperative project " Robotic Assistance for High Voltage Diagnostics and Service Technologies" (TS03020251) recently took place at the ENET Centre. The project focuses on the development and validation of an autonomous control system for a humanoid robot that could, in the future, assist with maintenance and diagnostic tasks on electrical distribution network equipment, particularly in environments where the risk of electric shock is high.
Our colleague Ladislav Svoboda from the CEET Nanotechnology Centre has successfully completed his habilitation procedure. His research into photocatalytic nanomaterials brings innovations to healthcare, energy, and environmental protection.
At the end of June, for the twentieth time, Silesian Ostrava Castle transformed into a place where chemistry, physics, natural sciences, and technology came alive through experiments, games, and practical demonstrations.
Colleague Zuzana Jankovská strengthened research cooperation during her internship in France. The project aims to develop sorbents prepared from various types of waste to capture airborne emissions.
A new solution for effective and eco-friendly anti-corrosion protection of metal material surfaces, free of undesirable nickel and cobalt, has been developed in the laboratories of the CEET Nanotechnology Centre.
CEET and the Taiwanese university NCUT have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, opening the door to joint projects, scientific mobility and publications.
An expert seminar organised by the CEET Nanotechnology Centre presented new trends in industrial materials recycling, the utilisation of critical raw materials, and the principles of the circular economy.
The Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) co-hosted a meeting in Belgium for hydrogen sector representatives from 15 countries worldwide, aiming to map out a clean energy future for semiconductors and AI.
Students from the Technical Lyceum in Frydek-Mistek have successfully defended their final secondary-school projects, which they carried out directly in the laboratories of the CEET Nanotechnology Centre.
A delegation from the Hyundai Motor Group visited the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET), VSB-TUO. Experts on hydrogen strategy from South Korea and Europe.
The Kopřivnice Days of Technology, once again offered visitors a varied programme combining technology, education and hands-on demonstrations.
On 27 and 28 May 2026, a face-to-face meeting of the partners of the international GeniusFuels project took place at the Institute of Environmental Technology of CEET at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava. The project focuses on the development of the technological connection of gasification and electrolysis for the production of sustainable fuels.
Waste tyres represent a significant material flow, the utilisation of which is among the important challenges of the circular economy. Modern chemical recycling offers not only the possibility of their decomposition but also a way to obtain valuable chemical substances such as limonene and carbonaceous materials with the potential for further industrial utilisation
A meeting of the scientific board of the Large Research Infrastructure ENREGAT took place at the Institute of Environmental Technology. The programme focused on evaluating the infrastructure's activities in 2025, presenting new instrumentation, research results, cooperation with industry, and plans for further development.
CEETe II to Strengthen VŠB-TUO Research Infrastructure and Support the Region’s Transformation
The CLAIRO project continues to monitor air quality in the municipal district of Radvanice and Bartovice.
At first glance, it might resemble an abstract painting. In reality, however, it was created during scientific research into materials.
Carbon dioxide is most often associated with emissions and the climate burden. In research, however, it is increasingly appearing in a different role: as an accessible source of carbon, which, under suitable conditions, can be converted into substances usable in the chemical industry.
Carbon dioxide, associated with climate change, can be also viewed as a raw material for the production of valuable chemicals in science. This is exactly what Karolina Karpińska-Wlizło, a Polish PhD student from the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, focused on during her internship in the Heterogeneous Photocatalysis laboratory at the Institute of Environmental Technology (IET), part of the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) at VSB-TUO.
Scientists from the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) demonstrated at Earth Day celebrations that even complex ecological topics can be explained in a playful manner. The interactive programme captivated both children and adults, fostering interest in nature conservation.
CEET employees headed to the Beskydy Mountains, conquered Radhošť and strengthened team spirit. The sports day offered physical activity, scenic views and space to relax in nature.
Employees of the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies at VŠB-TUO participated in the Kadi4Mat user community meeting hosted at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
Pupils from Albrechtice Primary School experienced laboratory work at the CEET Institute of Environmental Technology. They decomposed peroxide, decolourised wine and isolated pigments from plants.
During the Improve Your Tech Day, VŠB-TUO hosted over 1,300 pupils. Colleagues from the Nanotechnology Centre CEET introduced them to the world of nanomaterials and their practical applications.
Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies of VSB-TUO (CEET) has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Kolibrik.net.
CEET hosted Professor Chia from Taiwan, an expert in polymer chemistry, who presented the development of liquid crystals, OLED technology, and the geopolitical context of the region.
Researchers from Lublin have visited CEET. The meeting enabled the sharing of know-how in polymer research and photocatalysis, while opening up new opportunities for future collaboration.
Students from Frýdlant nad Ostravicí visited the CEET laboratories, where they explored the world of nanomaterials and technologies for environmental protection.
How many microplastics are released from a tea bag or a bottle cap? Student Matěj Kovář is seeking answers in the CEET laboratories using infrared microspectroscopy.
The Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) welcomed researcher Anna Keskisaari from LAB University of Applied Sciences in Finland.
An international team of scientists, including researchers from VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, has overcome one of the long-standing and critical challenges in modern chemistry. The newly developed catalyst enables the efficient transformation of amides into valuable amines, key compounds used, for instance, in the production of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and advanced materials.
The safety of hydrogen technologies is not validated solely under laboratory conditions. This is clearly demonstrated by extensive experiments conducted in the harsh environment of the Doupov Mountains within the Hradiště military training area. The second phase of testing delivered unique data on the behavior of hydrogen systems under emergency conditions, with the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) playing a significant role.
What will the energy sector look like in the future? One possible answer is offered by the research of Vojtěch Blažek, who focuses on smart electricity management and the use of electric vehicle batteries. For this work, he has now received a significant award in the prestigious Werner von Siemens Award competition.
The annual CirkArena Conference brought together representatives of science, industry, and public administration. Researchers from CEET and VSB–Technical University of Ostrava presented their latest research and innovations in the field of waste processing.
The Materials & Environment Lab (MEL) at the Center for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) at VŠB–Technical University of Ostrava has expanded its research infrastructure with a unique HiPIMS (High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering) system, acquired with the support of the REFRESH project.
Representatives from VSB – Technical University of Ostrava and Ostrava University, project leaders and co-leaders of the INOVO!!! project, met on February 25, 2026 to begin the second year of the implementation of this significant project.
The Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies of VSB-TUO, the Institute of Environmental Technology, in cooperation with the WSB Academy, is launching the initiative "SMART Partnership for Modern Information," aimed at creating a specialized platform for sharing information between two universities in the Czech-Polish border region. The initiative will support education and expand access to up-to-date information in technical and humanities fields.
At the Technology Days conference, which brought together science and industrial practice, CEET researchers presented their latest findings in the field of sustainable energy.
The new project "O ovzduší společně" brings new tools to improve air quality in the Czech Republic and Poland and opens a topic that affects us every day but often remains without concrete answers.
The 14th edition of the Czech-Polish Catalytic Seminar CzePoCat, brought together dozens of scientists who presented innovations in catalysis.
Last week, the Nanotechnology Centre (CNT), part of the Centre of Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET), opened its laboratories to students, prospective applicants, and the general public as part of the Open Days of VSB – Technical University of Ostrava.
The two-day Open Day marathon at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava attracted thousands of prospective students. Together with their families and friends, visitors explored the world of contemporary science and technology.
The Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) is involved as an expert partner in the preparation and implementation of projects aimed at introducing hydrogen mobility into public transport in the Czech Republic.
Today’s energy sector is no longer defined solely by technology, but above all by its meaningful application in practice. The international trade fair Infotherma 2026 in Ostrava demonstrates how research, innovation, and the real needs of households, municipalities, and industry can be effectively interconnected.
An international team of scientists, including experts from VSB–Technical University of Ostrava, has developed a new type of plasmonic photocatalyst capable of converting biomass into key raw materials for bioplastic production with high efficiency and selectivity using solar energy.
The CEET employees’ Christmas gathering, held under the motto “Energy in a New Balance,” demonstrated—through focused debates, PhD students’ posters, and the presentation of the Director’s Award—how cutting-edge research is being transformed into practical solutions, and which new projects and partnerships will help shape the energy sector in the years ahead.
On November 20, 2025, the MEET project organized a second joint meeting of researchers and partners at VŠB–TUO, where the team presented its latest results in the field of materials for energy in connection with the socio-economic impact in our region.
The Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies received the prestigious Green Phoenix Award in Poland for its long-term contribution to the development of eco-energy. The award was accepted by the director of the ENET Centre, doc. Ing. Lukáš Prokop, Ph.D.
At the end of October, the Nanotechnology Centre left Building N, which will undergo an extensive renovation over the next two years aimed at modernizing the space and ensuring optimal conditions for future research.
On November 4–5, the Institute of Environmental Technology hosted a workshop titled “Monitoring and Removal of Micropollutants from the Environment”, organized as part of the project Innovative Technologies for a Cleaner Ostrava!!! (CZ.02.01.01/00/23_021/0008588), funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and co-financed by the European Union.
A start-up grant for doctoral students focused on developing catalysts for efficient ammonia production has been awarded to Biswajit Mishra from the CEET Materials and Envi Lab at VSB-Technical University of Ostrava in a call launched by the Moravian-Silesian Region.
Linking the National Centre for Energy (NCE II) and the Centre for Advanced Nuclear Technologies (CANUT II) expands research from renewable to nuclear energy within a joint strategic project.
What happens to batteries once they reach the end of their service life, for example, in electric vehicles? And can these discarded batteries find a new purpose? These were the key questions addressed during a recent expert lecture and roundtable discussion, organized as part of the project Advanced Materials for Energy and Environmental Technologies.
In June, researchers from the Nanotechnology Centre, CEET, VSB – TUO achieved success in the form of obtaining a patent for an innovative adsorbent for the sorption of boron compounds from water (Patent 310487). This is the result of research focused on the development of advanced polymer ion-exchange adsorbents with high efficiency and repeatable use.
Invasive plants rank among the greatest threats to Europe’s biodiversity. One of them is knotweed, which spreads rapidly, destroys native communities, and transforms the landscape. How to address this challenge will be one of the main topics of the upcoming specialist seminar.
The theme of this year’s Czech European Researchers' Night was Wealth. At the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET), we demonstrated that the true wealth of science can be found in transforming waste into valuable raw materials, in developing environmentally friendly energy solutions, and in applying technologies that support sustainable development.
A delegation from Finnish universities visited Ostrava to see laboratories and research in the field of biomaterials and recycling.
As part of the INOVO!!! project, our researchers participated in a professional excursion organized by DEKONTA, a.s., one of the institute’s main industrial partners. The aim was to become acquainted with practical applications of environmental technologies and to assess their performance under real operational conditions.
Anna Gavlová and Kateřina Smutná from the research group Water Treatment and Analysis represented our team at the 16th Biennial CzWA Conference in Litomyšl.
During the summer, Aleksandra Zielińska and Patrycja Rutkowska, students from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland), participated in a two-month internship within the Erasmus+ program in the Water Treatment and Analysis research group.
The 16th European Catalysis Congress (EuropaCat2025) took place in Trondheim, Norway, organized under the auspices of the European Federation of Catalysis Societies (EFCATS) and co-organized by the Nordic Catalysis Societies.
Our colleagues from the Water Treatment and Analysis research group participated in the 77th Congress of Chemists 2025, which took place on September 1-5, 2025, in the High Tatras. This traditional conference attracted experts from all over Central Europe and provided a space for sharing knowledge and new trends in chemical research.
The growing need for energy transformation and increased regional self-sufficiency has led the Moravian-Silesian Region to initiate a new ambitious project in cooperation with the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) VSB-TUO.
Researchers from VŠB–Technical University of Ostrava (VŠB-TUO) have presented an environmentally sustainable strategy for the removal of micro- and nanoplastics from aquatic systems in the journal of the American Chemical Society, ACS Nano.
The EU-ASIA Workshop on Sustainable Technologies, an international conference bringing together leading researchers from Japan, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, China, Poland, and the Czech Republic, will take place from September 8 to 12, 2025.
The Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava has won a prestigious sustainability award in the Czech Industry Challenge competition.
The scientific team at the Nanotechnology Centre, CEET, in collaboration with the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology (FMT), has developed a groundbreaking device called EMU (Electrochemical Measuring Unit). This represents a significant step forward in research into the properties of batteries and supercapacitors. Unlike other measuring devices, it is compact, versatile, and can be customized to the needs of specific research.
Thanks to the MATUR project, in which CNT participates, scientist Lukáš Plesník from the Nanotechnology Centre at VŠB-TUO took part in a thirty-day research internship at AGH University of Krakow in Poland.
As part of the citizen science project Increasing the resilience of energy networks in the context of decarbonization, decentralization, and sustainable socioeconomic development (ZEUS, CZ.02.01.01/00/23_021/0008759), we organized a workshop on August 5, 2025, focused on practical familiarization with the principles of open science (FAIR – Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).
A unique study was conducted in Karviná, focusing on monitoring air quality in the vicinity of coal storage sites using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). A team of scientists from the ENET Centre, CEET, VŠB–TUO demonstrated that drones are an effective tool for targeted measurement and detailed analysis of dust particles in the vicinity of coal storage sites.
As part of the project Advanced Materials for Energy and Environmental Technologies (MEET, CZ.02.01.01/00/23_021/0008592), we organized a workshop focused on introducing the FAIR principles of open science (FAIR – Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) in a practical context.
Naples, July 2025 - The CEET Nanotechnology Centre actively participated in the 21st International Conference on Diffusion in Solids and Liquids (DSL2025) held in Naples, Italy. The scientific programme of the conference welcomed eminent scientists from all over the world.
As part of the INOVO citizen science project, we organized a workshop focused on implementing FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) into research practice. The workshop was led by Tomáš Heryán, INOVO project data manager and CEET data steward.
Last week, our team had the privilege to participate in one of the world’s leading events on sustainable waste management, held in the beautiful city of Paphos, Cyprus. The conference brought together over 1000 inspiring presentations from researchers and practitioners striving to turn today’s waste into tomorrow’s resource.
On June 24, 2025, the 19th annual edition of the event “Chemistry and Other Natural Sciences at the Silesian-Ostrava Castle” took place. This traditional event, organized by the Czech Chemical Society, aims to promote natural and technical sciences among elementary and secondary school students, as well as the general public.
The Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava has received a prestigious sustainability award in this year’s Czech Industry Challenge. The jury particularly praised the centre’s comprehensive approach to research, development, and implementation of technologies that contribute to transforming the energy sector toward greater efficiency, self-sufficiency, and reduced environmental impact.
In June, our colleagues from the Heterogeneous Photocatalysis (IET) research group took part in an internship at the Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal, focusing on teaching and professional collaboration at the Departmento de Engenharia Química within the CERENA research group.
From June 15 to 20, 2025, the international summer school MECAREACT2025 (Mechanical and Reactive Characterization of Materials by In Situ Spectroscopies) took place at Sorbonne University in Paris. The event focused on the application of vibrational and electronic spectroscopies in the study of chemical reactions and was attended by colleagues from the research group Heterogeneous Catalysis (IET).
Long-term cooperation between Dr. Lenka Matějová, head of the Materials Preparation and Waste Recovery research group (IET, CEET), and Dr. Benoît Louis resulted in a joint project in which Dr. Matějová visited the University of Strasbourg.
How to manage lithium batteries efficiently and sustainably at the end of their life cycle? The topic, which combines research, industry and ecology, was opened by an expert seminar organised on 12 June 2025 by the Recycling Cluster and the Faculty of Environment of ÚJEP. At the seminar, the CEET Centre for Nanotechnology presented the latest findings on Li-battery recycling.
At the 18th annual INTARG® 2025 international exhibition of inventions and innovations in Katowice, colleagues from the Institute of Environmental Technologies (CEET) presented two applied results of the project “Support for cross-sectoral cooperation in the field of reducing pollutants in the environment and waste utilization.”
From May 27 to 30, 2025, we participated in the 51st conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering (SSCHI), which took place in the beautiful surroundings of the Low Tatras in Jasná.
Plastic waste is one of today's biggest environmental problems. It pollutes the oceans and land, breaking down into microplastics found in water, air, soil, organisms and the human body. Our colleagues in the Water Treatment and Analysis and Heterogeneous Photocatalysis research groups have therefore joined forces to find a new way to not only remove microplastics, but to make something useful out of them.
On 20 May 2025, the kick-off meeting of the project "Waste as an alternative energy source" (reg. no. CZ.02.01.01/00/23_021/0008590) took place. The meeting was held at the VŠB - TUO with the participation of representatives of research organizations, industrial partners and academia. At this meeting, basic information about the project was presented, the focus of individual research teams and further progress in the project was discussed.
On 19-22 May 2025, the Aula of the VSB-TUO in Ostrava became the venue of the ninth international conference NanoOstrava 2025. This prestigious event, organised by the CEET Nanotechnology Centre in cooperation with the Institute of Geonics of the CAS, welcomed top scientists from all over the world. Participants could look forward to a rich programme including inspiring lectures, practical workshops and interesting presentations focused on the latest innovations in sustainable energy.
The training of new technicians and experts is key to the development of hydrogen technologies.
As part of the INOVO project (Innovative Technologies for a Cleaner Ostrava Region!!!), members of research teams from the Institute of Environmental Technologies took part in a professional excursion to two industrial plants focused on research, development and production of catalysts.
The Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies - Explorer (CEETe) hosted a training session on electromobility for the Czech Peugeot dealership and its distributors. Participants had the opportunity to get a glimpse into the world of modern energy, test different vehicles and practically try charging electric and hydrogen-powered cars.
Today, we had the honor of welcoming pupils and teachers from Bulharská Elementary School to our institute. They visited us as part of the citizen-science activities of the projects foodCIRCUS and Innovative Technologies for a Cleaner Ostrava!!! (INOVO, CZ.02.01.01/00/23_021/0008588), which focus on raising awareness about food waste, waste management, and a sustainable approach to the environment.
Kateřina Smutná and Anna Gavlová from the Water Treatment and Analysis (IET) research group took part in a professional internship as part of the Erasmus+ program. The host organization was the prestigious Bayreuth University in Germany, specifically the Department of Animal Ecology I, which is among the world leaders in the field of microplastics analysis in the environment.
On 14–15 May 2025, our colleagues from the research groups Materials Preparation and Waste Valorisation and Water Treatment and Analysis (IET) visited two major companies active in the field of tyre processing and recycling – Continental Barum s.r.o. and RPG Recycling s.r.o..
Two outstanding scientists, already involved in the REFRESH project, have joined the Materials-Envi Lab at the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) of VSB–Technical University of Ostrava.
On 19-22 May 2025, the Aula of VŠB-TUO in Ostrava will become the venue of the ninth annual NanoOstrava 2025 conference. This prestigious event, organised by the Nanotechnology Centre CEET VŠB-TUO, will welcome top scientists from around the world to share the latest findings and innovations in nanotechnology, energy storage and sustainable energy sources.
VSB – Technical University of Ostrava (VSB-TUO) has successfully obtained financial support and secured a grant for the reconstruction of Building N located within the university campus.
Employees and colleagues of the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) took part yesterday in the traditional sports day, which this year led to Pustevny and the Valaška Trail—two remarkable locations in the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy Mountains, known not only for their natural beauty but also for their cultural and historical value.
On 24 March 2025, ZEUS, a research project aimed at increasing the resilience of energy networks, was launched in Ostrava, bringing together research organisations and industry partners to optimise energy production, distribution and storage in the context of decarbonisation and decentralisation. The use of the latest technologies, including hydrogen applications and digital twins, will deliver innovative solutions for a more efficient and secure energy sector.
Why is it important to find new ways to use discarded batteries? Answers to this question were not only given at The 2nd Czech-German Business Meeting hosted by VŠB-TUO, where experts from academia and industry gathered to look for solutions for a more sustainable future.
Radek Zbořil, head of the Materials-Envi Lab (MEL), recently visited the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) in Rostock, Germany, where he delivered an invited lecture titled “Low-dimensional Materials in Advanced Biomedical and Chemical Applications.” His visit came at the invitation of Prof. Matthias Beller, Vice President of the Leibniz Association and one of the world’s leading experts in chemical catalysis.
On March 25-26, 2025, the CirkArena project was officially launched—a unique center dedicated to advancing the circular economy in the Moravian-Silesian Region. The project's ambition is to become a key research and development hub for circular economy solutions.
On Tuesday, March 18, we welcomed members of the City Council's Environmental Commission to our institute.
How can we boost the formation of superoxide radicals in photocatalytic processes—essential for rapidly and efficiently breaking down unwanted organic substances in water or enabling selective oxidation reactions in the chemical industry?
The Institute of Environmental Technology had the honour to welcome nice guests from the Čtyřlístek Centre, which provides support to people with disabilities.
The Energy Research Centre (ERC), part of the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, has long been involved in the development of energy-saving projects using the Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) method.
As of 2 March 2025, Ladislav Svoboda became the head of the Advanced Nanomaterials Laboratory (ANL) at VŠB-TUO, CEET, Nanotechnology Centre. He thus completes the CNT management, which consists of Radek Zbořil, Lukáš Halagačka and Michaela Tokarčíková.
On March 4, 2025, we will welcome to VSB-TUO, CEET an important foreign delegation from Laurea University of Applied Sciences (FI), The Lisbon Council (PT), Riga Digital Agency (LV) and Riga Technical University (LV).
Czech and Polish scientists have agreed to collaborate on research into nanocomposite materials. The joint projects have potential for both energy and industry. Moreover, they open the door for young scientists to take up internships abroad.
The Materials-Envi Lab (MEL) of the Nanotechnology Center maintains a very close partnership with EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology). During a recent visit to one of the research institution’s facilities in St. Gallen, MEL leader Radek Zbořil worked on specific projects and publications with local researchers, some closely related to the REFRESH project at VSB-TUO.
Swati Verma became part of the Materials-Envi Lab (MEL) at the Nanotechnology Centre, CEET, VSB-TUO at the end of last year.
On Friday 7.2.2025 another year of the traditional Czech-Polish Catalytic Seminar took place, which this year was attended by over 60 Czech and foreign scientists.
On 27 and 28 January, the Science Meetup MATUR 2025 workshop took place in the VŠB-TUO Auditorium, with the aim of sharing knowledge about advanced materials and their use in battery recycling and biomedicine.
Researchers from the Materials-Envi Lab (MEL) at the Nanotechnology Centre of VSB-TUO leverage state-of-the-art microscopy and spectroscopic techniques to perform complex materials characterizations at the atomic level. Thanks to the REFRESH project, they have acquired a high-resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM) valued at over 24 million Czech koruna and an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) system worth 16.5 million Czech koruna.
The new project, entitled: Waste as an alternative energy source, sees the prospect of using non-recyclable material that has considerable energy potential. Research teams from the ENET Centre and the IET will investigate the possibility of using it to produce solid alternative fuels that could be part of a future energy mix linked to waste management.
As of 1 February 2025, Dr. Karel Borovec has taken over as the director of the Energy Research Centre (ERC). The centre has long been engaged in energy research and works with both industrial and academic partners.
The project entitled "Research of novel sustainable approaches for zeolites and hybrid zeolite-carbon structures synthesis for catalytic and sorption applications", whose principal investigator for the IET is Dr. Lenka Matějová, has been launched.
Recent advancements in hybrid porous materials and defect engineering, promising for various electrochemical and catalytic applications, were presented at the Materials-Envi Lab of the Nanotechnology Center by Yayaramulu Kolleboyina from the Indian Institute of Technology Jammu, India. His focus was on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and hybrid two-dimensional porous materials that combine MOFs with robust 2D structures.
The methodology for the passporting of railway lines intended for trains with alternative drives defined a procedure enabling a quick and efficient analysis of the possibilities of using alternative drives on railway lines. The researchers focused on the technical, environmental and infrastructural aspects of the lines and their adaptation to modern propulsion systems. This also enabled the first battery-powered train to run on the line.
On 4 and 5 December 2024, the international workshop "Rheological Characterization of the Powder Samples" was held at the VSB-TUO, CEET, Nanotechnology Centre in the Laboratory of Powder and Surface Characterization.
With the financial support of the European Structural and Investment Funds, the Institute of Environmental Technologies (CEET, VŠB-TUO) is implementing a project called "Innovative technologies for a cleaner Ostrava region!!!" (CZ.02.01.01/00/23_021/0008588) in the period 1 January 2025 - 31 December 2028. The project was created within the framework of the Operational Programme Jan Amos Komenský (OP JAK), call: Inter-sectoral cooperation and inter-sectoral cooperation for ITI.
We are pleased to announce that from January Petra Wojnarová will take on the role of Principal Investigator of the project "Regional and Sustainable Hydrogen Production from Renewable Sources", which was supported in the 7th public competition of the TAČR SIGMA - DC2: Starting Researchers programme.
The fourth annual workshop of the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET), held on December 9, 2024, at the Poklad Cultural House, introduced a completely new format with panel discussions. The event, which took place in a friendly atmosphere, focused on key topics such as nanotechnology, sustainability, green hydrogen, and air and water quality.
On 25.11.2024 the long-awaited kick-off meeting of the MES ITI project Advanced Materials for Energy and Environmental Technologies took place in the auditorium of VŠB-TUO. One of the topics discussed in the project is to create such attractive conditions in the science and research of materials for energy and environmental applications at VŠB-TUO that the interest of young scientists and students in these fields and newly created jobs in the Moravian-Silesian region will increase.
Within the framework of the project "Building laboratory capacities for the determination of microplastics in drinking, surface and waste water and in sediments and sewage sludge", the instrumentation of the Laboratory ofTrace Analysis was expanded.
On 14 November, a ceremonial meeting of the Scientific Council of the VSB-TUO was held. The event was not only an opportunity to forward diplomas to new associate professors and graduates of doctoral study programmes, but also to award the best scientific research results.
This year's 32nd annual prestigious Building of the Year 2024 competition culminated in a grand gala evening at Prague's Rudolfinum. Amid strong competition from over a hundred projects, CEET's innovative polygon shone brightly, winning the prestigious National Centre for Construction 4.0 Award. This recognition confirms that our innovative polygon is at the forefront of technological and sustainable solutions, serving as an inspiration for the entire field.
At VSB–Technical University of Ostrava, representatives from the Energy Research Centere CEET, the Faculty of Safety Engineering, and the Centre of Excellence for Safety Research (CESAR) met to discuss the potential for deepening cooperation in the areas of energy technology safety, materials, and processes.
On 31 October 2024, the prestigious competition Building of the Moravian-Silesian Region for 2023 was announced. The Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies Explorer won two prizes from the announcement of the results. The Award of the Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region and the Award of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The unique technology polygon CEETe was thus the only double winner of the gala evening.
Scientists from VSB - Technical University of Ostrava and Fraunhofer ICT in Pfinztal recently came together for a workshop entitled Thermal Energy Storage and Energetic Materials. The event allowed researchers to share their latest work and explore collaborative research opportunities that could lead to joint publications and projects.
As part of the REFRESH project, the first meeting of Energy Lab took place. It focused on sharing experiences and knowledge in the field of energy and technological innovations, while also considering the social aspects of the energy transition.
On 18 October, the first meeting of the Steering Committee of the COST Action Network for Indoor Air Cleaning (Net4CleanAir) took place in Brussels.
A group of experts from the VSB-TUO CEET Nanotechnology Centre, led by prof. Gražyna Simha Martynková, has been working for several decades in the field of natural and synthetic carbonaceous and clay layered materials. From this research, the topics of modern ceramic types of layered nanomaterials gradually emerge and are being discovered by the team of scientists.
Last week, the cooperation between the research group Water Treatment and Analysis (Institute of Environmental Technology) and the company VODASERVIS s.r.o. within the Innovation Vouchers programme was successfully completed.
Scientists from research organisations, universities and innovation leaders in the field of modern energy came together again after a year to discuss partial achievements and continue addressing key challenges in the energy sector at the National Centre for Energy II (NCE II) workshop.
The internal marketing team of the VSB-TUO Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies CENET designed and produced a brochure that impressed the board of experts of the Phoenix Awards so much that it won the first and only place in the brochure print category.
Scientists from Palacký University Olomouc (UP) and the Technical University of Ostrava (VSB-TUO), in collaboration with colleagues from China, have discovered a groundbreaking method for developing a new generation of antibiotics.
On 22.10.2024 a workshop will be held at the Institute of Environmental Technology before the end of the research project involving the research groups Biochemical Processes and Water Treatment and Analysis.
The atomic engineering approach serves as the common denominator of two research initiatives stemming from the MSCA Fellowships CZ call under the Jan Amos Komensky Operational Programme that commenced in August at the Materials-Envi Lab (MEL) of the Centre for Nanotechnology of VSB-TUO.
Information about a personnel change in the leadership of the Energy Research Centre
Laboratory of the powder and surface characterization has been upgraded with new equipments that allow us to analyze the surface potential of solid samples and provide dynamic material analysis.
The energy savings for producing material from recycled aluminium can be up to 95 % compared to the energy required to produce aluminium from primary ore. It is not only for this reason that scientists from the ENET Centre were involved in research in the project Recycling of waste aluminium foil as a low-carbon substitute for feedstock (CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/19_262/0020077)
The months of May and June were rich in trips by scientists of the Nanotechnology Centre. They went to several trips to partners working on collaborative projects in the Czech Republic and abroad, as well as to an international trade fair in Germany focused on battery and electronics recycling.
VŠB-TUO has gained significant scientific reinforcement. Since January of this year, Professor Mark H. Rümmeli has been leading the EBEAM (Electron Beam Emergent Additive Manufacturing) project under the prestigious ERA Chairs Horizon Europe program. He relocated to Ostrava from China with his entire family and is gradually building a new research group with a groundbreaking research theme at the Institute of Environmental Technologies.
The progress in the development of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) and their applications in energy storage devices is summarized in a review article co-authored by scientists from the Nanotechnology Centre, who are involved in the REFRESH project. This paper, published in the prestigious journal Advanced Energy Materials, highlights significant progress in the field.
On 11-14 June 2024, colleagues from the Heterogeneous Photocatalysis and Heterogeneous Catalysis research groups attended the SPASEC-27 and AOTs-28 conferences held in Limassol, Cyprus.
On 9-12 June 2024, members of the Industrial Chemistry research group attended the 13th International Colloids Conference in Sitges, Spain.
Colleagues from the research group Biochemical Processes Dr. Kateřina Chamrádová and Dr. Panagiotis Basinas participated in the Kick off Meeting of the international project Circular solutions for keeping food waste out of Central Europe's schools (foodCIRCUS), which took place in Vienna on 6.6.-7.6.2024.
A new three-step process designed and validated by scientists from the Institute of Environmental Technology (IET) at VSB–Technical University of Ostrava, in collaboration with colleagues from Friedrich Alexander University in Erlangen, Germany, makes it possible to convert waste plastics and carbon dioxide into hydrogen and other useful chemical substances applicable in the chemical or petrochemical industry.
The research program focuses on the development of advanced materials for sustainable energy and environmental protection, integrating materials research with physics, chemistry, and nanotechnology.
Today we had the honour to welcome colleagues from the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen at the Institute of Environmental Technology.
One of the main topics of the research group Water Treatment and Analysis at the Institute of Environmental Technology is the study of microplastics.
prof. Ing. Gražyna Simha Martynková, Ph.D. - "The Nanotechnology Centre is a dynamically evolving institution with an exceptional scientific range from fundamental research to industrial technologies in the field of materials science."
‘NanoLumCat Ostrava–Revealing the Future of Light Transformation’ has brought together leading materials scientists from Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland, Slovakia, China, the Czech Republic and other countries.
An innovative approach for the production of advanced biofuels, which responds to the global demand for sustainable energy and reduces dependence on fossil fuels, is to be the result of the prestigious European project GlaS-A-Fuels: Single-Atom Photocatalysts Enhanced by a Self-Powered Photonic Glass Reactor to Produce Advanced Biofuels.
On 9 February 2024, the twelfth edition of the CzePoCat seminar took place.
E pluribus unum, meaning one out of many or the unity in diversity. This proverb became the motto of the third Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) Workshop at VSB-TUO. The saying, referring to the fact that four formerly separate scientific centres have joined together under the banner of CEET, also framed the new promo video that premiered at the workshop.
In their new study, CEET researchers have presented a way to turn waste into a useful product.
CNT scientists, as well as PhD students in nanotechnology study program, are working with their colleagues in Turkey to develop safer battery prototypes.
The NanoCzech Liberec 2023 conference, the first edition of which took place on 27 September, offered a meeting place for nanotechnology companies and interest organisations, companies demanding high-tech solutions, representatives of public administration, scientific researchers and students. The research of the Nanotechnology Centre, CEET at VŠB-TUO was presented by Radek Zbořil, head of the Materials-Envi Lab, who described the event as a unique celebration of nanotechnology.
Scientists from the CEET Nanotechnology Centre presented a new way to measure the photocatalytic activity of nanomaterials at the 15th European Congress on Catalysis.
Since 2015, the VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava has been organising an exceptional Art and Science festival that breaks down stereotypes about technology and science. It shows the university in a new light - as a place not only for education and research, but also as a space for creative thinking and playful creativity.
VSB - Technical University of Ostrava has succeeded in the prestigious Johannes Amos Comenius Programme (P JAC). With a grant of CZK 464 million, scientists led by the the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, in collaboration with other partners, will develop new materials and technologies for sustainable development over the next five years within the MATUR project.
Scientists from Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) of VSB-Technical University of Ostrava acquired significant project named ExPEDite. This project focused on digitalization of energy technologies will be solved by research team of Smart Grids Lab specialists lead by Dr. Lukáš Prokop.
The graphene-based biomaterial is the basis of a breakthrough technology that will turn biodiesel production waste - glycerol - into a useful product, increasing the efficiency of existing biofuels. In addition, the non-toxic and fully recyclable material can replace the acids that have been used to convert glycerol.
Renowned materials scientist, Mark H. Rümmeli, is set to establish an international research team at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava (VSB-TUO) to utilise electron beams to create novel materials with precise structures at or near the atomic scale.
If you are interested in life cycle assessment and green automotive, do not miss Final Conference aLIFEca organised within project aLIFEca in Congress Centre, Prague on 17th of October.
The event promoting chemistry and natural sciences offered an amazing program for the seventeenth time, not only for pupils and students of primary and secondary schools.
The National Centre for Energy project was assessed as outstanding in the final opposition procedure. The opponent committee particularly appreciated the originality and novelty of the outputs, centre partners' mutual cooperation and the commercialisation potential of the centre, which the researchers will build on in the National Energy Centre II ongoing project.
On Wednesday, 14 June 2023, an important meeting of experts took place at the office of the Moravian-Silesian Region. Its main topic was hydrogen.
On 13 June 2023 consortium of the project aLIFEca coordinated by ENET Centre, CEET VSB – Technical university of Ostrava arranged International Webinar aLIFEca where the topic of Life Cycle Assessment in Automotive was discussed.
The Miloš Hudlický Prize for significant contribution published within the Chemistry Europe consortium was awarded to physical chemist Radek Zbořil, on May 30 during the executive board meeting of Czech Chemical Society (CChS). One of the most prominent
Research group of dr. Lenka Matějová has been cooperating with the University of Lima for a long time.
In the 25th anniversary edition of the Werner von Siemens Awards for 2022, which recognizes the best students, young researchers, and teachers in technical and natural science fields, representatives of VSB – Technical University of Ostrava (VSB-TUO) achieved great success. In the overall number of awards, the university ranked second, behind the Czech Technical University in Prague and Charles University.
To use ground-breaking science to develop new materials to generate green energy or reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions, and to demonstrate ways to end dependence on fossil fuels and prevent potential energy and climate crises in the future.
On February 17, 2023, the 11th edition of the Czech-Polish Catalytic Seminar CzePoCat took place.
Director of the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies Prof. Stanislav Mišák is delighted to invite you to the CEET Workshop, which will take place on Wednesday 7 December 2022 from 9 am to 3 pm in the VSB-TUO New Auditorium.
On Friday, 29 April 2022, the 10th edition of the traditional Czech-Polish Catalytic Seminar took place.
Scientists from the Olomouc Institute of Palacký University CATRIN in collaboration with other experts have developed a new nanomaterial that should significantly speed up and cheapen the production of a number of drugs, chemicals, plastics or dyes. Its composition corresponds to common minerals found in nature, but it can replace the precious metals used so far.
A new method for the preparation of catalysts for the removal of nitrous oxide (N2O) from industrial waste gases has been developed by scientists from the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) at VSB-Technical University of Ostrava. The eventual use of catalysts to reduce N2O emissions from nitric acid production will have a positive impact on the environment.
The increased use of hydrogen can also be a welcome impetus for closer collaboration between the private and academic spheres. For example, the University of Mines is already working with the heating company Veolia.
How to get the energy mix right and why must we not stigmatise nuclear or coal? Is it possible to produce clean energy from coal? Where can alternative energy sources realistically work? How to ensure functional and climate-neutral energy production, storage and distribution? Not only these topics were discussed by experts in a regional debate in the Moravian-Silesian Region.
A course specifically designed for the needs of sustainable management and today's fast-growing automotive industry facing the challenges of green mobility is being prepared together with other five partners within Erasmus+ program, KA220-HED Cooperation partnerships in higher education. On 24th of November, the consortium met at Centre ENET, VSB-TUO at Kick off to initiate its cooperation on the project aLIFEca: Virtual Open Course on Automotive Life Cycle Assessment.
The joint publication resulted from the collaboration of researchers from the Institute of Environmental Technology (IET), part of CEET, at VSB - Technical University of Ostrava and the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Poland.
Congratulations to the Director of CEET and CENET prof. Ing. Stanislav Mišák, Ph.D. and doc. Ing. Lukáš Prokop, Ph.D.
This year we are organizing the third year of the Summer School with Permoniks, which in previous years has won the favour of children for its imaginative and rich programme. The week-long suburban camp on the premises of VŠB - TUO is intended for children of the second grade of primary schools and multi-year grammar schools.
On May 26, 2021, the international workshop Training 1 “Miscanthus Waste Conversion” for SMEs and professionals was organized by the Technical University of Ostrava in a hybrid format with remote access.
The scientific team of the Centre for Advanced Innovative Technologies of the Technical University of Ostrava (CPIT VŠB-TUO) has found a solution in the fight against the spread of the covid-19 disease.
On Friday, 7 February 2020, the Institute of Environmental Technology hosted the 9th Czech-Polish Catalytic Seminar – CzePoCat 2020 in the NA4 lecture hall (New Auditorium, VŠB-TUO), focusing on materials, their characterization, and their use in catalysis and photocatalysis.
Blue, purple, orange zones, endless “circling” and fines for bad parking in the hundreds or thousands of crowns. It is not only our metropolis that needs a revolution in parking. The development of a new automated parking system (APS), which will also be environmentally friendly, could be just the thing.