Good ideas deserve to be implemented, says Karel Havlíček

He founded a start-up with a friend from Cambridge to bring 3D printing to medicine and is working as a researcher at TUL on water purification using nanofibres. How does Karel Havlicek, who works at the Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation, view the combination of science and business?

"I chose chemistry in high school, I have a school of chemistry. The Technical University in Liberec drew my attention due to nanotechnologies. It was something new. My love for chemistry was clear, but I kind of regret not going into medicine. But I take it with humour. I am a doctor. Just of natural sciences," Karel says.

His interest in medicine has never left him. As part of his teaching at TUL, he attended public autopsies. And, in fact, he is always involved with medicine. He founded a start-up with a friend of his who is developing cochlear implants at Cambridge.

"It made sense for us to have something of our own. We started a 3D printing company for medicine. We have certified materials, we can print so accurately that we can handle tiny bones in the ear. We print with high precision and attention to detail. My colleague from Cambridge is the expert in modeling, and I'm in charge of printing. We also do dental restorations, like different crowns. I take care of the printing and the running of the company," says Karel, who admits that running such a company involves a lot of administration and networking. "It's not as easy as people imagine."

TUL: Karel Havlíček

Nano soul in a floorball

Although Karel has a wide range of interests, he is most interested in the application of nanomaterials. "Nano has been with me throughout my studies. Then I focused on biotechnology for my PhD," says Karel, who has long been involved in the development of biomass carriers at CXI TUL. These are structures on which microorganisms capable of removing pollution in water grow and can thus increase the efficiency of water treatment processes. Karel used nanofibres as carriers because bacteria grow much better on them than on commercially available plastic carriers. But the challenge was that nanofibers are not as resistant to deformation. Karel tried various methods to protect them until he designed a package with holes in which to place the nanofibers. In simple terms, it looks like a shrunken floorball protecting the nanofibres with microorganisms inside. And it works so well that his project is in the semi-operational stage. A mould has been created for the production of these packages and pilot testing of the carriers in real-life operation at a wastewater treatment plant is currently underway.

Scientist should talk to companies

If Karel was only doing scientific research, he would be missing something. That's why he puts a lot of emphasis on getting science into companies. "It's important that science doesn't stay in a drawer. There are a lot of great things being created at universities, but in the end nobody sees them. I want to popularise research so that people in companies know about our work. I often meet them, talk about what we do and listen to their needs. Building relationships is not easy. Many scientists prefer to do the science and leave the contact with companies to others. But that's just not the way it works," explains Karel, who is a member of the Council for Research, Development and Innovation in the Liberec Region. "They talk about science not only within the university and there are mostly people from companies represented there. I see how they perceive science. And I have to say that they are interested in research and support it," he adds.

TUL: Karel Havlíček

From the university to the protection of nature and health

And because Karel doesn't want good scientific ideas to get lost, he also works as a product manager in the Nanoprogress cluster organization. This cluster brings together companies focused on the development of nanomaterials and the Technical University of Liberec is a founding member. The cluster has its own research facilities, state-of-the-art infrastructure and a spin-off company that produces nanofibre products. Thanks to this, research results are smoothly translated into concrete products and real applications.

"I am also one of the founding members of the new Nano4hope Foundation. This was created as an initiative within Nanoprogress and aims to support projects that use nanomaterials for general benefit, such as health and environmental protection. The foundation acts a bit like an incubator of ideas with the potential to connect everything to get research into practice," explains Karel, who adds that in the future, part of the proceeds from sales will support other environmental applications or charitable projects.

Airfare, laptop and dry cleaning as a tourist attraction

Karel gives his best to the work. But he tries to take time off for cycling, cross-country skiing, and especially travel. "I always have to be at the stage where I have bought a plane ticket. I would be stressed if I didn't have anything planned," he admits. He is looking forward to Madeira, the Azores, and the Faroe Islands in the summer.

"I sort of eat through most places," laughs Karel, who likes to sample local specialties. He is more attracted to places off the main tourist routes. He enjoys talking to locals and collecting stories. And work? He often takes it with him. "It's not ideal, but I've come to terms with it. It's a quid pro quo."

Of course, he doesn't forget about water purification on the road. For example, he follows the waste pipes leading to the sea from hotel complexes on the islands. And he wonders if the water has been cleaned before. Professional deformation? Maybe. But also, inspiration. "For example, we tested natural sorbents and when I was at volcanoes, I took samples of volcanic ash. It removes the unwanted micropollutants in the wastewater perfectly."

TUL: Karel Havlíček

Technology is not enough, we must change

What should people remember about water purification? Karel is unequivocal that we should always keep in mind that this problem affects us all. It's not just about how to treat or purify the water that eventually flows into our taps, but about people's overall attitude to water.

"Most people still don't realise what is happening to water. What we pour into it, what we flush down toilets. It all affects the quality of the water," says Karel, and there is a hint of indignation in his voice. He adds that it's not just about technology, but more importantly about attitude. "We are trying to develop technologies that will purify the water, but unless people start being considerate about what they dump into the water, nothing will change," he says, noting that there is only a limited supply of fresh water on planet Earth.

TUL: Karel Havlíček

The toilet is not a trash can. Water remembers everything

He adds specific examples. It is not necessary to clean the toilet with a litre of commercial cleaner, which contains a lot of chemicals. A great alternative is plain vinegar. It's natural, degradable, and also serves as a substrate for bacteria. "They use it all up and there's no chemical residue left in the water," he notes with a smile. He also considers pouring food or oils into toilets to be a bad habit. It clogs the drains. "The same goes for swimming pools. People pour bleach into them by the litre and if the quality doesn't hold, they often fill up a new one. And that's not sustainable."

"Even small things like the amount of shampoo or toothpaste play a role," Karel concludes, adding that when millions of people overdo it, the volume of pollution is huge.

TUL: Karel Havlíček