Thirty-five years ago, the first applicants were able to enroll in physics studies at BUT. Established in 1991, the degree programme has, over three and a half decades, become one of the key pillars of Brno’s microscopy ecosystem. Today, graduates of Physical Engineering and Nanotechnology work in companies and institutions that contribute to the fact that every third electron microscope in the world is manufactured in Brno.
Student Filip Ulč in a physics laboratory with an electron microscope (photo: Václav Široký)
“Physics has been taught at BUT practically since the university was founded more than 120 years ago. However, until the early 1990s, we functioned only as a service department for other fields. In other words, we taught physics mainly for mechanical engineering students. A turning point came in 1990, when the university leadership, headed by Professor Miroslav Liška, pushed for the establishment of an independent study programme called Engineering Optics. That was when we began educating our first students of applied physics,” explains Tomáš Šikola, Director of the Institute of Physical Engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, BUT.
Over time, the programme expanded to include advanced physical technologies, nanostructures and thin films. In 1994, it was renamed Physical Engineering, and in 2009 nanotechnology was added to the programme title. “Nanotechnology is extremely attractive, and young people quickly recognised it as a field they wanted to study. This single step doubled our annual intake from around twenty to fifty students, and we have maintained that level ever since,” Šikola adds. He notes that the programme’s long-term growth is also driven by its responsiveness to current technological needs in industry and research, as well as its close ties to the CEITEC BUT research centre.
Since 1991, approximately 500 physical engineers have completed the programme. A significant proportion of them work in electron microscopy, now one of the most technologically sophisticated industrial sectors in the world. Modern science, medicine, the semiconductor industry and advanced materials development all rely on electron microscopes—and one third of these instruments are produced in Brno.
The three largest Brno-based companies—Thermo Fisher Scientific, TESCAN and Delong Instruments—employ more than 2,800 people combined and generated revenues of CZK 27.5 billion in 2023. Altogether, up to 5,000 people in the region work in this field. “Companies value our students primarily because they are used to hands-on work. They not only understand theory but also think like engineers and have experience with real equipment. Every student works with an electron microscope during their studies—there’s simply no other way,” says Šikola. BUT physics graduates also perform well in terms of salary: a recent faculty survey found that alumni with two to three years of experience earn an average of CZK 60,000 per month.
The strong link between education and practice is also confirmed by graduates themselves, who enjoy the unique opportunity to choose between a scientific career, high-tech industry or their own entrepreneurial path. One example is Jan Neuman, recipient of the Czech Head Award 2025 and founder of NenoVision, a BUT spin-off company. “We started while still students at the Institute of Physical Engineering. The fact that we were able to conduct experiments and collaborate with industry during our studies was crucial. Without this environment, NenoVision would never have been established,” says Neuman.
Over the past decade, NenoVision has grown into a globally recognised high-tech company, working closely with numerous Czech and international research institutions. Its flagship product, the LiteScope microscope, combines electron microscopy with atomic force microscopy. This innovative technology enables detailed material analysis as well as measurement of electrical, mechanical and magnetic properties.
Specialised laboratories are an integral part of the physical engineering curriculum, with students entering them as early as the bachelor’s level. “In our first year, we were already able to work with an electron microscope. Until then, I had no idea what this technology could actually do. The more you work with it, the more you realise how much information it can provide,” says fifth-year student Filip Ulč, who works with the LiteScope microscope developed by NenoVision.
“Last year, the University of Arizona published a study showing a completely unique use of this microscope: they connected a conductive circuit for measuring a material’s electrical properties directly with the electron beam. We are testing a similar approach as well. In my thesis, I focus on analysing the electrical properties of semiconductors,” Ulč explains.
“What fascinates me most about physics is pushing boundaries—working on something no one has ever done before. It requires deep thinking and solving a range of complex problems. It’s not a matter of ‘look and see’, but a gradual path toward a solution,” says another fifth-year student, Adam Novotný. He is exploring the potential use of graphene in electron microscopy, which also brings the challenge of explaining complex research to family and friends. “I try to use analogies. Graphene is a two-dimensional material, which can be hard to grasp. But if you describe it as a sheet just one atom thick, people can imagine it more easily. And I’m always happy when someone is genuinely interested,” concludes Novotný, who is currently considering pursuing a PhD abroad.
| Brno and Electron Microscopy
Source of data: data.brnoregion.com |