On 14 July 2020, the Technical University of Košice was visited by MUDr. RNDr. Ľudovít Paulis, PhD. MPH, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic.

The introductory presentation of the University took place in the Rector´s office in the presence of university management members. Rector emphasized the interest of the ministry representatives in the development and issues of higher education institutions. He then informed the State Secretary on how TUKE had dealt with the pandemic and stressed that, despite the difficult situation, a number of passionate staff and students had been working on the development and production of protective equipment for front-line workers.

The visit continued with a tour of selected university laboratories. In the OPEN Lab, the philosophy and a new way of interactivity between a student and artificial intelligence were illustrated. In the Laboratory of Additive Biomedical Processes, the State Secretary viewed the premises where protective shields and permanent respirators were manufactured and, as a doctor, he did not miss the opportunity to take a tour of the laboratory for the development of new biomedical implants.

The programme of the visit ended with a tour of the University Science Park TECHNICOM. The system and role of the science park were presented in the discussion. The presentation of a universal lung ventilator was used as a demonstration of development cooperation with industrial and professional practice. CEELABS applied research was presented in the premises of the TUKE Incubator, demonstrating how an innovative idea can gain support and background for the development and gradual commercialization of the product.