Czech Focus 2/2005 - AFI

CZECH INVESTmentNEWS12Computer Associates to establishMainframe Centre of Excellence in Prague€36 million investment to create world-class development facility for next-generation software solutionsComputer Associates International, Inc. (NYSE: CA) announced that itwill create its first worldwide Mainframe Centre of Excellence in Prague,representing a major expansion of its operations in the Czech Republicand a significant commitment to the mainframe computing market. Thenew Centre will focus on software development, maintenance, validationand quality assurance for the mainframe computing environment.The staff of CzechInvest, the Investment and Business DevelopmentAgency of the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, is assisting CA byproviding expert advice and incentives under the Agency’s FrameworkProgramme for support of technology centres and business supportservices.“CA is proud to announce this partnership with CzechInvest to create astate-of-the art mainframe development and support centre in the heartof Europe,” said Guy Harrison, senior vice president, DevelopmentOperations at CA. “This Centre of Excellence will provide mainframeusers worldwide with a host of innovations, and will help strengthen theCzech Republic’s position as a hub of IT activity.”CA’s Mainframe Centre of Excellence will be established in a 4,237square meter (45,222 square foot) facility in Building 6 at The PARK inChodov, Prague 4 and is scheduled to open in August 2005. The Centreexpects to hire and train more than 200 people including talented students,mainframe experts and experienced managers.“CA’s Mainframe Centre of Excellence brings investment from one ofthe world’s most successful software companies to Prague and is a signthat large multi-nationals see tangible business benefits in the Czech Republic,”said Radomil Novak, CEO of CzechInvest. “The opening of thisCentre is a testament to the skills and resources we have available in thismarket, where our people and our infrastructure can provide the rightbasis for strategic growth and improved competitiveness in the globaleconomy.”Toyota Peugeot Citroen (TPCA) plant in the Czech Republichas officially launched productionPSA Peugeot Citroen and Toyota Motor Co officially inaugurated their1.3-bln-eur (1.7 billion dollar, 39 billion koruna) joint carmaking plant inthe Czech Republic. Production of three small city car models designedfor fuel-frugal Europe officially began Tuesday, May 31st at a new ToyotaPeugeot Citroen (TPCA) auto plant in the town of Kolin, 60 kilometres eastof Prague. Not only will the plant employ 3,000 people by the end of thisyear, but TPCA’s exports to other parts of Europe are expected to have ahuge impact on the Czech economy. Radomil Novak, director of the governmentagency CzechInvest, said the factory’s output is expected to boostthe country’s foreign trade balance by about 40 billion koruna annually.The ceremony was attended by Jean-Martin Folz, chief executive of PSAPeugeot Citroen, and Fujio Cho, president of Toyota, as well as CzechPrime Minister Jiri Paroubek and other ministers and officials.The plant makes small entry-level cars from a single production line to beseparately branded as Toyota Aygos, Peugeot 107s and Citroen C1s. Pricedat around 11,000 dollars each, the fuel-stingy models are designed for entry-levelbuyers in urban Europe. Production will be split equally amongthe three brands, with one vehicle rolling out every minute once full annualcapacity of 300,000 vehicles is reached early next year.“We are producing 400 cars daily but that will rise to 1,050 once full capacityis reached by next January,” said Jean-Pierre Chantossel, the vice presidentof TPCA, the joint venture running the factory.The carmakers said the central location, close to important markets, a developedsupplier network and infrastructure were key reasons for optingfor Kolin. Another was the Czech Republic’s rich industrial and automobilemanufacturing tradition.Source: TPCAAlltracel has signed a development partnershipwith Czech nanofibre technology specialistsAlltracel Pharmaceuticals Plc., thehealthcare technology company focusedon the consumer woundcare, oralcare and coronary health markets, announcedthe signing of a nanotechnologyand product development agreementwith nanofibre technology specialistsELMARCO s.r.o. of the Czech Republicfor the development of a next generationdelivery platform for Alltracel’sm-doc(TM) technology.Elmarco is a specialist R&D and manufacturingcompany specialising in advancedmanufacturing for the semiconductorcomponents industry as well asequipment for industrial production ofnanofibrous non-woven materials. TheTechnical University of Liberec (Czech Republic) came up with a breakthroughtechnology enabling industrial production of nanofibrous nonwovenmaterials. Elmarco became its partner in development of the manufacturingequipment and became an exclusive patent user of this very new andunique technology that is far ahead of present nanofiber technologies.Alltracel’s CEO Tony Richardson commented, “Alltracel has always beencommitted to innovation in our markets and we are particularly excitedby the prospects for m-doc(TM) based nanofibrous advanced woundcaredelivery systems. Although at an early stage of development nanofibretechnology is showing market transforming potential in a number of ourmarkets and we are delighted to have formalised our partnership withElmarco and the nanofibre technology team at the Technical Universityof Liberec. We are now focused on jointly reviewing a range of patentprotected potential applications for m-doc(TM) based nanofibre solutions,initially for the advanced woundcare and surgical markets and bringingthese innovations to market via our network of existing and new commercialpartners.”