Projects aiming popularization of science supported more than practical application of scientific research outcomes

PRESS RELEASE on Audit No. 14/39 – February 9, 2015


The Supreme Audit Office (SAO) performed an audit of the Ministry of Education and its management of the state budget and EU funds, which were utilized in projects under priority axis 3 of the Operational Programme Research and Development for Innovations within years 2011–2014. Auditors aimed at six construction project of trans-regional and regional centres for popularization of science and scrutinized the utilized funds, which exceeded CZK 1,100 million in total.

Priority axis 3 of the Operational Programme Research and Development for Innovations provides support for practical application of scientific research outcomes, centres for transfer of technologies, and centres for popularization of science. From 2009 to 2014, the Ministry spent CZK 3,700 million on projects aimed at popularization of science while projects that focused on practical application of scientific research outcomes were only supported with CZK 1,400 million. Preferring popularization of science to practical application of scientific research outcomes may negatively influence the number of jobs in the field of research and development, and innovation capacities as well as competitive abilities in the Czech Republic.

The Ministry postponed invitation call terms for project submissions, which in combination with long assessment periods resulted in implementation delays. On average, the period from the projects submission due date to the decision about allotments lasted for 14 months. The Ministry also proceeded slowly when found out that subsidies had been used in breach of the previously proclaimed project objectives. For example, in one particular case it took nearly two years from the first suspicion to reporting to the appropriate financial authority.

The Ministry decided that the sustainability period for project outcomes should be five years. However, the beneficiaries usually declared in their submitted applications that the income from tickets, promotional goods, and other marketing would not cover the operating costs even during the sustainable period. Covering of the losses was ensured through contribution and endowment agreements but there is a huge risk that the centres would cease their operations when they become financially unsecured.

Continuous drawing from the EU funds allocated for projects under priority axis 3 of the Operational Programme Research and Development for Innovation is not jeopardized by the founded shortcomings.

Communication Department
Supreme Audit Office

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