Project Algatech – Centre for Algal Biotechnologies

The Třeboň Department of Phototrophic Microorganisms of the Institute of Microbiology gained a donation of 133mil CZK from the Operational Programme “Research and Innovation for Development” led by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for the implementation of project Algatech (construction and operation of a new scientific research Centre of algal biotechnologies). The implementation phase began on January 1, 2011 and aims to develop new cultivation equipment and algal biomass processing practices for the production of biofuel, animal feeding, food supplements and for the isolation of valuable substances. The project will also focus on research in the area of photosynthesis, the development of new measuring devices and the education of students in these areas.

The Project activities are divided into scientific research and investments. The investment activities of the project focus on the reconstruction and completion of additional buildings to the original historical building of the Opatovický mill (Opatovický mlýn). Biotech labs will be renovated and a new technology hall will be built. The original mill room will be rebuilt into laboratory facilities for molecular biology and analytical methods. Another important part of the investment activities is the purchase and installation of necessary modern technology.

The scientific research activities are divided into three research programs. Activities of the first research program aim at the development of a technical and biotechnological base and the methodological approaches in a large-scale production of micro-organisms - microalgae (photosynthetic bacteria, cyanobacteria and green algae) under autotrophic and heterotrophic growth conditions. Activities of the second research program focus on research in photosynthesis, the development and testing of new optical methods applied in ecophysiology of phytoplankton and for determining the primary production in freshwater environments. Activities of the third research program focus on enhancing the theoretical knowledge of heterotrophic algal biomass production, which will require a complete innovation of the technological base for heterotrophic microalgae cultivation. This process will further lead to the overall optimization of the fermentation process. The main goal will be to attain the required chemical content of biomass and to develop methods for its complex processing while focusing on the isolation of valuable substances.

More than 50 employees will be working at the Algatech Centre during the final stages of the project realization (finish December 31, 2014), approximately half of which will consist of new employees hired during the realization phase of the project. This number will be further increased in the upcoming years thanks to the development of a new research program at the end of the project realization phase. Researchers working at the Institute of Microbiology in Třeboň are actively involved in teaching bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degree programs and each laboratory at the Třeboň workplace is a place of study of numerous doctoral students. Therefore, the management of the Centre will be able to choose among successful students (in Master's and Ph.D. degree programs) and offer them the opportunity to participate in scientific activities and projects of the Center.

Total expenditure of the project:  133 220 578 CZK
EU Structural fund donation (ERDF): 113 237 491 CZK
CR state budget contribution: 19 983 086 CZK