Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, together with Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Robert Plaga, attended the official opening of the new Charles University campus in Hradec Králové (Czechia).
The new complex brings together the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Pharmacy of Charles University in Hradec Králové in one location, creating a modern environment for education, science and research in medicine, pharmacy and biomedicine.
The opening of this modern campus in Hradec Králové marks the completion of one of the largest investments in the history of Czech higher education and one of the most significant investments by Charles University. A major centre for biomedical education and research is being created here, with modern lecture halls, simulation centres, pharmacy simulators and more than 200 fully equipped laboratories
Andrej Babiš, Prime Minister.
The total cost of constructing and equipping the campus is approximately CZK 7.2 billion. Charles University contributed CZK 1 billion to the project.
In his speech, the Prime Minister emphasised the scale and importance of the investment.
“Approximately CZK 6.2 billion comes from subsidies, primarily from the National Recovery Plan, the state budget and European funds. We discussed these funds in July 2020, and I am pleased that we have managed to secure almost CZK 1,000 billion for the Czech Republic. Thanks to this combination of public, European and university funding, we can open a campus today that will serve not only students and academics but ultimately the entire Czech healthcare system. It is a good example of how public money can be used for projects with long-term benefits for education, science and society,” said the Prime Minister.
The campus, with a capacity of up to 4,500 people, was built near Hradec Králové University Hospital and will serve almost 3,500 students from the two faculties. The new shared facilities will enable closer integration of teaching, research and clinical practice, while supporting interdisciplinary cooperation, doctoral programmes and international mobility for students and academic staff.
“Our healthcare system faces long-term structural challenges, particularly an ageing population and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases. It is therefore all the more important to invest in people, education, science and modern infrastructure. That is why this campus is much more than just a new building for me. It is an investment in the future of Czech medicine, pharmacy and biomedical research,” Prime Minister Babiš concluded.
