The Czech Development Agency started to prepare the geopolymers research support project in the Czech Republic in 2004 within the framework of support provided to student science-based undertakings, and science and research.
In 2005, the Board of Directors decided to file an application with the European Development Fund to gain funds for the project from EU structural funds. The project titled “The Innovation and Information Centre of Geopolymer Technology Use in Prague and its Support of its Research” was registered and then approved within the JPD2 programme. The amount of almost CZK 20 million was earmarked for implementation of the project from the funds of the Municipality of Prague, state budget, and the European Regional Development Fund. The project was launched in September 2005.
The project has been implemented by its beneficiary, the Czech Development Agency, in cooperation with project partners. The Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics of the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic is the main project partner.
The project is divided into 4 milestones and sets the following aims:
- Formation of the Innovation and Information Centre of Geopolymers;
- Support of research and development of geopolymer technologies directed at creating alternative construction material and matter with the use of industrial waste, unused secondary raw materials and some separated municipal waste components as initial production material;
- Transfer of research results into practice;
- Organization of an international scientific conference on geopolymers.
The
planned duration of the project is 5 years. The first two years of its
existence will be financed from JPD 2 sources and in the years to
follow, it will live on the income from the sale of know-how and its
introduction into practice, and on contributions made to it by its
partners.