IEB Vision

The vision of the Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IEB)

IEB aims to carry out world class, fundamental research in plant biology to address the societal, economic and environmental challenges we face.

Specifically, it will focus on unraveling the mechanisms that control the growth, development and propagation of plants and their responses to external stimuli. The outcomes will explicate the extant biodiversity and provide the knowledge and tools needed to produce healthy food for the growing global population and to support a sustainable bio-based economy. We are also ready to address specific market needs and choices in terms of, not only agriculture and food, but through applications in a wide range of fields, including phytopharmaceuticals, phytochemicals and bioenergy.

IEB will continue in improving its research facilities and cultivate a research environment to attract talented students and young researchers to develop future leaders ensuring excellence in science and technology. The activities will include the support of young parents, hiring processes that respect equal opportunities, coaching all employees in responsible research (ethical issues) and strengthening a collaborative and appreciative organization culture.

The institute will support the introduction and use of state-of-the- art experimental methods and equipment, including high-throughput omics technologies. It will pursue interdisciplinary research approaches to deliver robust and complex descriptions of biological structures and processes.

It will carry on supporting international collaboration, staff exchange and development of joint research projects, including those funded by the European Research Council.

IEB will communicate with politicians and government administration bodies, organize workshops and deliver brief reports reviewing current and emerging research in the field of plant biology and biotechnology. It will also pay great attention to presenting its research to the general public by organizing popular workshops and seminars and visits to its research facilities.

Goals specifically addressed by the IEB

IEB will expand its research on plant genome organization and function, the role of plant hormones, phospholipid signalling and the actin cytoskeleton in plant development and on the molecular mechanisms of plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses.  We have established dedicated protection of know-how, patenting, licensing and technology transfer that will be further strengthened. IEB is willing to serve as a platform for knowledge transfer and collaboration with plant breeders, seed producers, biotechnological and pharmaceutical firms and to create novel public-private partnerships developing IEB products and bringing them to the market.  IEB will further support excellence in science which requires development of a more multidisciplinary, multicultural and international collaborative research environment. A progressive system of junior research groups based on open international competition will be introduced. IEB is willing to provide increasing human, fiscal, and infrastructure resources needed for the success of the plant biology research programs. The existing IEB infrastructure will therefore necessitate the completion of buildings in Olomouc and Prague and subsequent expansion of the existing facilities in Olomouc and equipment with new facilities and information systems.

We are confident that this  vision and the goals will attract  talented young researchers and entrepreneurs as well as public and private funding into the plant research sector for the benefit of science and society in Europe and beyond.