Matfyz Establishes Collaboration with DZA
The German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA) in Görlitz has been gradually developing since 2021. Its ambitious scientific programme aims to support the development of Saxony and the entire region following the end of coal mining. In mid-May, Matfyz also became one of DZA’s partners.
The representatives of DZA and their new partners from the Czech Republic (photo: Paul Glaser)
In May 2025, at the Lusatian Seminar, several prominent Czech scientific institutions, including the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University, signed bilateral agreements to collaborate with the German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA).
In addition to Matfyz, the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences—who initiated the contact and inspired other Czech research institutions to join—also signed bilateral agreements with the DZA. Furthermore, the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague have become involved.
The German side was represented by the DZA Director Prof. Günther Hasinger. From Matfyz, the event was attended by Vice-Dean for the Physics Section Assoc. Prof. Jiří Pavlů, Assoc. Prof. Ladislav Šubr from the Astronomical Institute of Charles University, and Dr. Vojtěch Witzany from the Institute of Theoretical Physics.
“Charles IV, who sought to advance education in our lands, built a bridge in Prague in his time to bring people closer together. Signing the agreement with the DZA builds another bridge that will facilitate scientific collaboration throughout the region and bring together scientists from the Czech Republic and Saxony. I believe our doctoral students will seize these exciting opportunities, and I look forward to all joint projects,” said Assoc. Prof. Pavlů during the signing.
The DZA represents a significant research infrastructure and has planned from the dawn to engage in intensive national and international collaborations. In addition to Prague-based scientific institutions, it will develop further programmess with researchers from Wrocław and Dresden. The DZA’s activities are grounded in a German law from 2020 aimed at structurally strengthening coal regions in connection with the phasing out of mining.
The development of bilateral scientific collaborations is also supported by the relevant ministries of the federal state of Saxony and the agency of the Czech Republic.
OPMK
