The candidate for Minister for Science, Research and Innovation for TOP 09 is Marek Ženíšek - MP, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, representative of the Pilsen Region and in the past also deputy minister in previous governments. The nomination was confirmed by the TOP 09 Executive Committee.
Marek Ženíšek studied at the Faculty of Arts of the University of West Bohemia in his native Pilsen and at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University in Prague, where he received his doctorate in political science in 2006. Three years later, he became one of the co-founders of TOP 09, where he was vice-chairman for the next ten years, including two years as 1st vice-chairman of TOP 09.
He joined TOP 09 as Deputy Minister of Justice for the International Section and the Prison Service. At the beginning of 2012, he moved to the Ministry of Health, where as 1st Deputy he focused on the economic management of the ministry and the organisations it manages, and where he initiated a significant reform of Czech psychiatric care, for which he was awarded the Medal of Merit for the development of the field of psychiatry in the Czech Republic.
His parliamentary experience is also rich. He was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 2013 and served on the Defence, Security and European Affairs Committees. For the second time, he has been an MP since 2021 and is the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Chamber.
"I see the post of Minister as a service that will be successful in fulfilling the three priorities that are based on the programme declaration and reflect the time we are in - at the time of negotiations on the state budget for next year and one and a half years before the parliamentary elections," says Marek Ženíšek about the possible appointment. "The first priority is to secure the resources that will enable science to develop its full potential, i.e. the necessary increase in its funding for the coming year."
Czech science is good, even very good, and can boast many great achievements, so naturally it can be another successful brand for the Czech Republic to present itself to the world, and I intend to use my contacts as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee to do so. Czech science in an international context will therefore be the second priority. Science diplomacy is important for the Czech Republic. However, in addition to presenting local achievements abroad, it is equally important to draw attention to our scientists who have succeeded in the world. We need to present their international achievements here, but above all we need to create attractive conditions - both in the academic sphere and in the environment of start-ups - that would encourage them to return to the Czech Republic.
The third priority is the completion of key projects that are crucial for the area and are in progress and awaiting successful completion. The main one is the Law on Science, Development and Innovation and the related reform of the transfer of knowledge from science to practice."
"Marek Ženíšek is an experienced politician who has repeatedly demonstrated a knack for getting things done. Not only in the House and its committees, but also previously as a deputy at the Justice and Health Ministries." says TOP 09 chairwoman on Ženíšek's nomination Markéta Pekarová Adamová. "At the meetings of the Board and the Executive Committee, he presented a clear vision of how he wants to carry out the function of Minister for Science, Research and Innovation and how to help Czech science to stand out in international comparison. I have known Mark for many years, he has a lot of work behind him and I am confident that he will rise to this new challenge."
"Investing in science is not a cost but an opportunity for future development," adds Ženíšek about the increase in funding. "Our scientists and researchers need to be sure that their work will be properly valued and that they will have modern technology and facilities to realise their visions. The Covid crisis has shown that science can save lives, and we cannot stop with the applause and handshakes. For example, I want to improve the conditions for commercialising scientific discoveries and transferring them into practice. Helena Langšádlová has done a great deal of work in this regard, for which I have thanked her personally, but there is still work to be done. As Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, I want to actively listen to the voice of the scientific community and work closely with leading experts."
Markéta Volfová, spokeswoman of TOP 09
(za/gnews.cz-RoZ_07)
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