There are two key reasons for the UniCRE (Unipetrol Centre of Research and Education) to be built in Záluží. "Historically, there is existing research infrastructure on the premises of the chemical factory, notably a testing base that will become the core of the centre. A compound with cutting-edge laboratories will be built around it, offering a place to work for about 85 researchers," says Milan Petrák, Director of the RIIC, for listeners of Studio Reflex. The planned centre will not make do without cooperation from a university focussed mainly on chemistry. "The Prague University of Chemical Technology, which has a branch in Most – Velebudice, has made an offer," Milan Petrák explains the second reason. The other cooperating entity that will participate in the activities of UniCRE is the Institute of Chemical Processes of the Czech Academy of Science.

A summary of the said facts surely creates good grounds for the success of this research facility. But what is the current situation? "Completion of the centre and the ability to conduct research projects are two separate things," says Milan Petrák. Since last October, UniCRE has launched activities at the Záluží compound and solves research projects in leased areas with older equipment. "At the start of the year, we purchased an old testing base and alcohol production building from Unipetrol RPA. However, construction is not going quite according to plan," says Milan Petrák. First of all, there was a delay on the part of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Physical Education of the Czech Republic, and secondly the project for almost six hundred million crowns has strict rules set by the EU. The deadlines for evaluation of the bids alone are in the range of weeks to months. Therefore, construction activities will most likely start only after the summer holidays. "We have time from September and throughout next year to reconstruction the alcohol building (building 2838), which will house the laboratories, auditoriums for students, a large conference room and work rooms for researches, including the necessary amenities," adds Milan Petrák. At the end of 2012, construction should be concluded and the facilities should be furnished with laboratory fittings, equipment and devices in the course of the following year. Reconstruction of the testing base is planned from 2012 to mid-2014. Then, the centre should newly launch its activities in full. The centre will conduct research for all the said activities and help in the education of university students. The centre's benefit to the region will depend on the region itself, and also on how attractive the centre will make itself. "Just for information, some 30 to 35 similar centres are to be built in the Czech Republic. We will be the only ones in the Ústí nad Labem and Karlovy Vary region," adds Milan Petrák. Hence, UniCRE may logically be expected to become an important centre, which will bring together researchers who are interested in working for experience and applying their skills and expertise not only for the Unipetrol Group companies, but for other companies as well. We believe development of the centre in the Most area could be one of the ways to revitalise this depressed region. We also hope we manage to fulfil the vision by attracting a number of talented young research not only from the Czech Republic, but from across Europe.