Czech Technical University underground lab development

In mid‑July 2026 the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague signed a partnership agreement with the Vyšebrodský Cistercian monastery and the Central Bohemian Region. The memorandum established a framework for students to work on the monastery’s heritage restoration and for the university to collaborate on the underground laboratory known as Josef, linking public administration, academia and industry to advance applied research and training.

A week later the university’s Centre for Experimental Geotechnics described the Josef tunnel – an 8‑km former gold‑mining shaft near Čelina – as a fully operational underground research facility. The lab now conducts in‑situ experiments on geological barriers for permanent spent‑nuclear‑fuel disposal, supports geotechnical and geophysical studies, and provides training for emergency‑response teams. The development highlights the transition from partnership planning to the lab’s active use as a unique testing ground for nuclear‑safety and deep‑ground infrastructure in the Czech Republic.