PRESS RELEASE, Ostrava 22 October 2025
The European Space Agency will support 13 Czech scientific experiments that will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the upcoming mission of Czech astronaut Aleš Svoboda. Among the selected projects are two research projects from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of the Technical University of Ostrava, which combine cutting-edge technologies in the fields of nanorobotics, biomedicine, artificial intelligence and sensors.
Both projects are part of the Czech Space Journey programme, which is implemented by the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA). The programme aims to involve Czech universities, research institutions and companies in prestigious space missions and to inspire the young generation to pursue scientific careers. “The success of our projects confirms that Czech teams can carry out world-class research. And that scientific experiments can be sent from Ostrava to space,” said Igor Ivan, Rector of the Technical University of Ostrava. From a total of 70 originally proposed experiments, 13 best ones were selected, which are now waiting for the preparation of final flight versions for integration into ISS systems.
CONREX: the first nanorobots in space
The Czech Orbital NanoRobots EXperiment (CONREX) will be the world’s first nanorobotics experiment to be conducted in orbit. It aims to test magnetic nanorobots and microrobots as an innovative tool for removing biofilms, which are resistant communities of microorganisms that pose a risk to astronauts’ health and the safety of space missions. The project also offers significant application potential in areas such as cancer treatment, industry and environmental protection.
“In microgravity environments, bacteria tend to form stronger biofilms, exhibit higher virulence and antibiotic resistance. Removing these structures is therefore crucial to maintaining a healthy and safe environment on board the ISS,” explained Professor Martin Pumera, head of the Advanced Nanorobots and Multiscale Robotics Lab research group at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at VŠB-TUO and the most cited scientist in the country.
Nanorobots can mechanically disrupt biofilms and break down bacterial cells through light-driven reactions. The experiment will be conducted in the ICE Cubes Facility (ICF), where small cassettes containing aqueous solution containing biofilm and nanorobots will be placed. “The cassettes will be equipped with coils generating a controlled electromagnetic field to allow the robots to move, and LEDs to activate the photosensitive microrobots. A camera will capture the entire automated process and the data will be analysed by scientists on Earth. Based on the results, they will then adjust the algorithms controlling the nanorobots’ activity,” said Professor Radek Martinek, head of the Signal Lab research group at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at VŠB-TUO and the university’s coordinator for space research.
The CONREX project connects nanorobotics, biomedicine, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. “It represents an extension of our knowledge into the microgravity environment and the first experimental verification of the behaviour of microrobotic systems in space. The experiment may have a profound impact not only on the future of space missions, but also on the fields of medicine, industry and environmental protection,” added Professor Pumera.
TRL Space, a Czech engineering firm, is also working on the project, developing the hardware and preparing the system for deployment in space. “Experts from VŠB-TUO know exactly what they want to monitor and how. Our task, as a company from the space industry, is then to take the whole laboratory experiment and modify it so that it passes all the tests and meets the conditions for implementation on the ISS, which requires experience and care,” said Václav Havlíček from TRL Space, who led the preparation of the project for ESA.
The CONREX project represents a unique connection of two top scientific laboratories of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics of VŠB-TUO: Signal Lab and Advanced Nanorobots and Multiscale Robotics Lab with the leading Czech space industry leader – TRL Space. This cooperation combines excellent research in the field of nanorobotics, sensors and advanced control methods with the technological know-how needed for the implementation of experiments in space, and thus represents a significant step towards strengthening the Czech position in European and global space research.
ISS T-shirt: a smart T-shirt for monitoring astronaut stress
The second project will focus on measuring astronaut stress by analysing sensor data. The ISS T-shirt is being developed jointly by researchers from Masaryk University and VŠB-TUO with EGMEDICAL and G.L. Electronic.
“A smart T-shirt with integrated sensors can sense physiological parameters in real time, collect and store data that is transmitted to Earth for analysis. The technology has broad application potential, and can help us better monitor human responses to stress and strain,” said Professor Radek Martinek, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Signal Lab team leader.
“The ISS T-shirt combines current physiology with technologies that monitor the human body and its limits. Our goal is to understand when and why the body goes beyond safe limits in different conditions, including space, and to help people cope with extreme conditions not only in space but also on Earth,” said Professor Julie Vašků from Masaryk University, the principal investigator of the project.
Sources:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-pumera/
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