I try to contribute to a better society

She would like science to be able to stop ageing and the illnesses that go with it. Alexandra Kala is convinced that among Czech scientists there are world authorities who are little known about. As a member of the administrative board of the Neuron Endowment Fund she is trying to change that, and she welcomes the fund's current focus on scientific transfer. "Scientists are not businesspeople, but some manage to become businesspeople successfully, and they need to be supported in that," she says. As a child Alexandra Kala wanted to be a vet; today, as the owner of the cosmetics company Profimed, she fights for better dental hygiene. And she fights on other fronts too. "I can't just look on at where others are steering us," she says of herself.

Your company Profimed has been a partner of the Neuron Endowment Fund for a long time; besides science you also support other non-profit projects. What do they have in common?

The common thread is my effort to contribute to a better society. It sounds grandiose, I know. But that impulse cannot be described any other way. For many years I have led a small community, my own company, and every day I am aware of what steps are necessary to secure it the longest possible life and prosperity. This way of thinking can be transferred by analogy to the community of our whole society, and if you have the means and the energy, I think it is necessary to get involved in this direction. I have no ambition to go down in history, but I certainly cannot just look on at where others are steering us. I am glad that I can support top scientists and give due recognition to the significance of their work, which our society often overlooks.

How do you see Czech science in 2022 and what do you think it deserves?

I think that thanks to covid, science and scientists have come much closer to our society and have begun to be much more appreciated. I also see the growing number of spin-off companies very positively. An amendment to the act on support for research, development and innovation is being prepared, which will support technology transfer even more. Science is coming closer to business.

Scientific transfer is an important topic for Neuron too. What makes it interesting for you?

Scientists are not businesspeople, but some manage to become businesspeople, and successfully at that. They need to be supported in it, because it is an enormous opportunity for our economy and thus for a strong state.

You enjoy fine art and design; how do you rate the "image" of Czech science in public?

The perception of science is not the same in all layers of society. That is probably natural. But I have the feeling that our national self-confidence in relation to scientists and science is much lower than it should be. We have had and do have world authorities who really did go down in history. And for lack of attention most of society does not know about them. Or does know, but it does not represent a very strong emotion for them. I think that needs to change. To get the information and the connections through to people. To put them in the right light. The image of Czech science ought by rights to carry a very strong resonance in society.

How can patrons or sponsors help Czech science? Is it only about money?

In many areas money comes first, and much follows from it. From opening possibilities to opening doors. Money, given or owned, also secures visibility and influence. And influence — gaining attention so that one is listened to and followed — is certainly a further help. Not least, it can be a good example to others.

Last year you joined the administrative board of the Neuron Endowment Fund. With what task and personal conviction did you take on that role?

I would like to help with fundraising, which is not an easy task. But by the nature of my business and social life I meet a great many entrepreneurs and I would like to involve them in Neuron. Another task I set myself is to make Neuron even more visible to the public and to help with the fund's marketing.

Do you have any scientific experience yourself, or science as a childhood dream?

I have no scientific experience; my childhood dream was to become a foreign correspondent and a vet. But by the very nature of Profimed I constantly have to work with clinical studies of the individual products we offer to doctors and to our customers. So I am in touch with science very often. And I am very glad that I can support the best and also listen to their views.

You say of Profimed that you help build dental IQ. Is there any science behind that?

Dental IQ is a concept similar to financial literacy. Everyone thinks they are good at handling money and also that they know how to clean their teeth properly. The opposite is true, and in a figurative sense both are actually quite a "science". Dental IQ is meant to help people understand that caring for one's teeth has very clear reasons, and those of course rest on the conclusions of scientists. From the point of view of both medicine and technology. Thanks to a precise understanding of what is happening in our mouths, we can work in a targeted way towards the best possible health and aesthetics of our teeth.

What discovery or invention are you still missing? What would help you, and what would help society as a whole?

I want a fusion reactor, because then the problem of energy and its cleanliness would be solved. And longevity is important; it would be wonderful to be able to stop ageing and the illnesses correlated with old age.