Tomáš Mikolov’s decision to leave CIIRC has sparked a broader debate about the science funding system in the Czech Republic. We’ve decided not to stay silent on the issue.
We appreciate that five years ago, he returned from the U.S. and chose to develop artificial intelligence research specifically at CIIRC. His contribution lasted for years, despite difficult conditions and frustration with an environment that often holds back top-level research instead of supporting it.
💬 “We also see his decision as a way to strongly highlight the problems that top-tier research faces in the Czech Republic. The evaluation of his projects was amateurish and unqualified. Instead of expert assessment, decisions are increasingly made by bureaucrats who don’t understand the field,” said our Scientific Director, Prof. Vladimír Mařík.
CIIRC has long pointed out systemic issues and is actively seeking paths toward change. Despite repeated offers from abroad, Tomáš Mikolov stayed because he believed he could help Czech science grow.
The issue is also covered in a new article by Hospodářské noviny, which features insights from experts across the academic community, including from the Czech Technical University in Prague. Their testimonies confirm: the grant evaluation system is non-transparent, bogged down in bureaucracy, and fails to adequately support excellence.
If you’re interested in the background of grant allocation in the Czech Republic and the circumstances surrounding Tomáš Mikolov’s departure from CIIRC, read the article 👉 https://archiv.hn.cz/c1-67702010-pozadi-odchodu-spickoveho-vedce-mikolova-stiznosti-zaloby-i-tahle-problemy-ceskych-grantu
