EIT Community Hub Czechia

Czech

Advancing Innovation and Strengthening Collaboration in Czechia

The Czech innovation ecosystem has been steadily developing, built on a foundation of research, technology, and industry. Czech innovators have leveraged the country’s strategic location, skilled workforce, and robust educational system to drive innovation. However, challenges remain, such as the need for better integration between education, research, and business, as well as more effective strategies for scaling innovation at both European and global levels.

Czechia is classified as a moderate innovator according to the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS). While innovation performance has improved since 2014, several barriers still need to be overcome. The country’s strengths include the use of information technology, exports of technology-based goods and services, and a commitment to environmental sustainability. However, challenges such as low private sector investment in research and development, weak collaboration between academia and industry, and the emigration of skilled professionals, which underutilises potential, persist.

A major issue is the low level of research and development funding in relation to GDP. Start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggle to access venture capital and other financial resources. Regional disparities also exist, with the majority of innovation activities concentrated in Prague and Brno, leaving less developed areas with limited access to European funding and engagement in public research.

About the EIT Community Hub

The EIT Community Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) Hub Czechia was established to address the challenges within the Czech innovation ecosystem and strengthen the country’s innovation capacity by connecting it with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), the largest innovation network in Europe. The Hub provides a central platform to support local talent, entrepreneurs, and researchers, offering access to crucial resources such as funding, mentoring, training, and international partnerships.

Several EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) are active in Czechia, each contributing to different sectors. EIT Urban Mobility facilitates the transition to sustainable cities and mobility solutions. EIT Digital drives digital transformation in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and financial technology, supporting technology start-ups. EIT Manufacturing promotes sustainable, digital, and globally competitive manufacturing processes. EIT InnoEnergy supports projects in renewable energy and energy storage. EIT Food focuses on enhancing food production and sustainability, and EIT Health advances healthcare innovation and sustainable healthcare systems.

Beyond Czechia, some KICs are present in nearby regions. EIT Climate operates in Vienna (Austria), focusing on solutions to combat climate change. EIT Culture & Creativity and EIT RawMaterials are both headquartered in Germany. EIT Culture & Creativity supports innovation in sectors such as media, arts, architecture, and cultural heritage, while EIT RawMaterials contributes to the sustainability of raw materials.

These Knowledge and Innovation Communities offer financial support and mentorship, helping Czech innovators access international markets. By fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government, they have played a crucial role in supporting start-ups, driving research, and shaping policy, contributing to Czechia’s status as a regional innovation hub.

The Hub’s primary objective is to identify opportunities for Czech innovators to leverage the European market. Through the EIT Online Campus, we equip local innovators with the skills needed to navigate rapidly changing technological landscapes. Our mission is not only to enhance Czech innovation capacity but also to ensure that local companies and innovators can compete successfully on the global stage.

The EIT Community Regional Innovation Scheme Hub Czechia, based in Prague, serves as a vital link between Czech research institutions, businesses, and international partners. We facilitate networking events, training sessions, and other initiatives to connect Czech innovators with European opportunities, ensuring the effective application of research and development outcomes. Furthermore, we are committed to reducing administrative obstacles and fostering a more innovation-friendly environment. Addressing regional disparities in research and innovation absorption is also a key focus, essential for achieving balanced development across the country.

“The Czech innovation ecosystem has enormous potential, with strong research institutions, innovative companies, talented people and a long industrial and technological tradition. The opportunity now is to connect these strengths even more effectively – across sectors, regions and borders – and to ensure that Czech innovators can fully benefit from the opportunities available within the wider European innovation ecosystem.

As the EIT Community Officer for Czechia, I want the Hub to serve as a practical bridge between the EIT Community and Czech businesses, universities, research organisations, public institutions and other innovation actors. My aim is to make EIT opportunities more visible and accessible, foster collaboration across the Knowledge and Innovation Communities, and help create partnerships that can turn promising ideas into tangible impact.

I particularly look forward to connecting people and organisations that may not otherwise meet, bringing Czech stakeholders closer to European networks and opportunities, and helping good ideas find the right partners, knowledge and support to move forward.”

JAN SCHNEIDER, EIT COMMUNITY OFFICER CZECHIA

EIT Funding & Impact

In 2022, Czechia received EUR 6.55 million in grants from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), representing a notable increase of EUR 3.15 million compared to 2021. The funding was distributed through seven EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) to support a range of innovation initiatives across the country.

The largest share of the funding, EUR 2.86 million, was allocated to business-related activities, reflecting a strong emphasis on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Czech SMEs were significant beneficiaries, receiving EUR 3.26 million in support, partly due to contributions from EIT Urban Mobility, which focuses on sustainable urban solutions.

This funding has been instrumental in enhancing the capabilities of Czech organisations, enabling them to engage more actively in the European innovation ecosystem and expand their reach both locally and internationally.

About the EIT Community Officer

Jan Schneider
EIT Community Officer Czechia

Jan Schneider is a public policy and management professional with more than 15 years of experience in regional development, European programmes, strategic management and public-sector innovation.

Before joining the EIT Community, he worked in senior positions at the Czech Ministry of Regional Development, where he was involved in the development and implementation of national and European policies and programmes and in cooperation with a broad range of partners from national and regional authorities, municipalities, businesses, non-profit organisations and other sectors.

Throughout his career, Jan has focused on turning strategic objectives into practical solutions, building cooperation between organisations and sectors, and creating conditions in which new approaches can be developed, tested and brought into practice. His experience spans regional and urban development, housing, social innovation and public services, giving him a broad perspective on how policy, funding, institutions and local ecosystems interact.

As EIT Community Officer for Czechia, Jan aims to strengthen connections between the Czech innovation ecosystem and the wider EIT Community, make EIT opportunities easier to navigate and help businesses, researchers, universities, public institutions and innovators identify relevant partners, programmes and resources. He is particularly interested in encouraging collaboration across sectors and EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities and in broadening participation in the EIT ecosystem across Czechia.

Contact Details

Email: czechia@eitcommunity.eu
Phone: +420 734 776 462
Address: Národní 135/14 Nové Město 110 00 Prague 1
LinkedIn: EIT Community Hub Czechia

Success Stories

Discover inspiring success stories from the EIT Community Hub in Czechia, showcasing innovation and impact driven by collaboration and regional excellence.