Faculty of Management and Economics Joins Prestigious Horizon Europe Easy2reUse Project
19. September 2025Since September this year, the Faculty of Management and Economics has joined the prestigious European project Easy2reUse (Reusable Easy to Breathe and Use Masks – Elastomeric Half-Mask), which focuses on the development of a new generation of reusable protective masks. The project has received funding under the Horizon Europe programme for the next four years.
Coordinated by LUT University in Finland, the project aims to develop a new generation of reusable protective masks to strengthen the preparedness of European healthcare systems while contributing to environmental protection.
“The Easy2reUse project addresses the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted Europe’s dependence on the import of disposable protective equipment and their limited sustainability. The goal is to develop a smart, reusable half-mask of a new generation that will be comfortable for long-term wear, easily disinfectable and economically affordable. Prototypes will be tested in healthcare facilities in Finland and Spain, with the results informing production plans directly in Europe. This will enhance the resilience of European healthcare systems and preparedness for future health crises. The project also includes an analysis of manufacturing, certification, distribution, and storage options to ensure that masks can be quickly and effectively deployed in the event of another pandemic or emergency situation,” explains the project’s principal investigator, Ing. Přemysl Pálka, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Management and Economics of Tomas Bata University (TBU).
Experts from the Faculty of Management and Economics will focus primarily on the economic and financial aspects of the project. “Our task will mainly be to analyse the total life-cycle costs of the newly developed masks, assess their economic sustainability and benefits for the healthcare system and society, and propose suitable business and distribution models. This will ensure that the project’s results are not only technically innovative but also economically and practically viable in the European context in the long term,” adds Ing. Michaela Blahová, Ph.D., co-investigator of the project.
This marks the third successful project acquired by the Faculty of Management and Economics in recent years through the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes. These projects are among the most prestigious research initiatives in the European Union and are highly regarded across universities throughout Europe, as they bring together top teams, push the boundaries of knowledge, and offer practical solutions to global challenges. “The successful involvement of our Faculty confirms our growing scientific quality and our ability to actively contribute to solving current European priorities. Participation in a consortium consisting of leading European universities, research institutions and healthcare organisations from Finland, Spain, Belgium, Lithuania, and Estonia represents a significant contribution not only to the Faculty but also to the entire University and the region,” concludes doc. Ing. Michal Pilík, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Management and Economics of TBU in Zlín.