Regions of the Czech Republic
Region of the City of Prague
Name:
Region of the City of Prague
Region:
Region of the City of Prague
Total area:
496 km2 km²
Population:
1,384,732* (as at December 2023)
Working-age population:
883,418 (as at December 2022)
Unemployment rate:
2.80% (as at December 2023)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
more than 120,000 students enrolled in eight public and at least twenty-two private universities, forty-nine public research institutions (67% of the country’s total)
Sectors in which the region excels:
artificial intelligence, gaming, space technologies, cultural and creative industries, financial services
Note: *preliminary data
More detailed information was not provided.
Central Bohemian Region
Name:
Central Bohemian Region
Region:
Central Bohemian Region
Total area:
10,928 km²
Population:
1,452,113* (as at September 2023)
Working-age population:
912,381 (as at December 2022)
Unemployment rate:
3.17% (as at December 2023)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
Charles University, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Technical University, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering in Kladno, Škoda Auto University (private university), research institutions, other universities and research institutions located in Prague.
Sectors in which the region excels:
engineering and automotive industry, aerospace industry, biotechnology, biomedicine, chemical industry, laser technologies, additive technologies, new materials, civil nuclear research, agriculture, and food production
Note: *preliminary data
Central Bohemia is the largest region of the Czech Republic and encompasses the nation’s capital, Prague. The region contains a total of 1,144 municipalities in 26 administrative districts. The region has strong ties with Prague and its location has a significant influence on its economic characteristics. There are many important and valuable historical sites in Central Bohemia, including two UNESCO heritage sites and several protected landscape areas.
Several major companies, such as Škoda Auto, Toyota, Valeo, AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE, Eaton, RIGAKU, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Foxconn, LINET, Lego, Amazon, Philip Morris and Procter & Gamble, have either their headquarters or operations facilities in Central Bohemia. The region’s current development is aimed at making it a leader in the implementation of technologies and innovations.
The region has attracted significant investments in science and research, and top research centres of transnational importance have been established here, e.g. ELI Beamlines and HiLASE in the field of high-power laser technologies, BIOCEV – Biotechnology and Biomedicine Centre of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in the area of medical research and drug discovery, and the University Centre for Energy Efficient Buildings of the Czech Technical University in Prague (UCEEB). In addition, the Central Bohemia Innovation Centre (SIC) supports the implementation of innovations and the local business environment, from start-ups to expansions of companies to foreign markets. Its task is to bring together research centres and companies with the aim of developing the region’s innovation potential. Since 2015, SIC has helped more than 300 companies to innovate their products and services, expand into the market or successfully bring in investors. At the same time, SIC has accelerated nearly 100 projects of research organizations towards market application. SIC is a coordinator of digitalization activities within the European Digital Innovation Hub Brain4Industry, the aim of which is to help business make the best use of the benefits and possibilities offered by digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
The Central Bohemia Region offers a wide range of investment opportunities with support targeted especially at prospective fields and services with high value added.
Petra Pecková
Governor
South Bohemian Region
Name:
South Bohemian Region
Region:
South Bohemian Region
Total area:
10,057 km²
Population:
654,336* (as at September 2023)
Working-age population:
409,223 (as at December 2022)
Unemployment rate:
3.50% (as at February 2024)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
approximately 16,000 students enrolled in four public universities (University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, VŠTE, Faculty of Management of the University of Economics, Department of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň) and three private universities (VŠERS, FAMO, CEVRO Institut Český Krumlov)
Sectors in which the region excels:
services, construction, tourism, industry, fisheries, agriculture, forestry
Note: *preliminary data
More detailed information was not provided.
Plzeň Region
Name:
Plzeň Region
Region:
Plzeň Region
Total area:
7,649 km²
Population:
613,374* (as at December 2023)
Working-age population:
386,196 (as at December 2022)
Unemployment rate:
2.9% (as at December 2023)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
more than 13,000 students enrolled in three universities (University of West Bohemia in Plzeň, Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Plzeň, Metropolitan university Prague in Plzeň)
Sectors in which the region excels:
manufacture of electronic components and consumer electronics, machinery and equipment, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, railway locomotives, rolling stock and other transport equipment, aircraft and spacecraft and related machinery (aircraft interiors, aircraft seats, aircraft engine parts), medical and dental instruments and supplies (eyeglass lenses, plastic products for the medical industry)
Note: *preliminary data
More detailed information was not provided.
Karlovy Vary Region
Name:
Karlovy Vary Region
Region:
Karlovy Vary Region
Total area:
3,314 km²
Population:
293,595* (as at January 2023)
Working-age population:
187,428 (as at March 2022)
Unemployment rate:
4.19% (as at Septemeber 2023)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
branches and dislocated workplaces of four public universities and regional workplaces of two private colleges, dozens to several hundred students (official numbers are not publicly accessible), the primary fields of study are economics, engineering, environmental studies, finance and management
Sectors in which the region excels:
mechanical engineering and custom metalworking, electrical engineering, automotive industry, traditional industries (glass, ceramics, porcelain, other non-metal mineral products), power industry and use of renewable energy sources, processing of secondary raw materials – advanced recycling technologies, production of rubber and plastic products, spa industry and tourism, beverage production, chemistry
Note: *preliminary data
The Karlovy Vary Region’s geographical location on the border between Bohemia, Bavaria and Saxony has always presented and remains a challenge for logistics e.g., limited transport infrastructure. For example, 500 years ago, its natural wealth gave birth to the precursor of the dollar, the Jáchymov silver tolar, and later was instrumental in the discovery of the element radium. It also offers materials for production of porcelain and glass and is home to the world-famous Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The region offers an international airport and, of course, is well known for its mineral waters and spas.
The spa industry and balneology are characterised by the so-called spa triangle formed by the cities of Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně, which is also on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites. The significance of traditional industries, such as glass and porcelain production, cannot be ignored, and local companies such as Moser and Thun are globally renowned in the field. The largest industrial employers in the region include Sokolovská uhelná, which produces electricity and mines brown coal, and WITTE Nejdek, which develops and manufactures automotive locking systems. Traditional engineering production has great potential in the region and the portfolio of traditional companies has been enriched by the arrival of the prominent automotive brand BMW, which is constructing a testing centre with a polygon for autonomous cars.
Though the Karlovy Vary Region is distinguished by its low long-term unemployment, it also is taking the necessary steps to remain an interesting location for the development of industry as well as for the development of scientific research and development. Especially the Sokolov area, which is now facing the challenges of the „post-coal” era, offers great potential for the arrival of new, interesting investors.
Petr Kulhánek
Governor
www.kr-karlovarsky.cz
Ústí region
Name:
Ústí region
Region:
Ústí region
Total area:
5,339 km²
Population:
811,706* (as at June 2023)
Working-age population:
437,200 (as at June 2023)
Unemployment rate:
5.40% (as at October 2023)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem - the only public university having its registered office in the region, eight faculties, 8,500 students, three detached facilities of other public universities and two private universities in the region
Sectors in which the region excels:
energy, chemical industry. The Ústí Region is the first region with its own hydrogen strategy.
Note: *preliminary data
The Usti Region is located in northwest Bohemia, sharing a border with Germany. Thanks to its location and good accessibility from Prague and neighbouring Saxony, the region has significant potential for international economic and cultural cooperation. Usti Region is currently facing challenges related to the economic transformation brought about by the shift away from coal-fired energy sources.
The Usti Region is therefore focusing on new challenges in the field of clean energy sources, particularly development of the hydrogen economy. The region has its own hydrogen strategy focusing on the development of an integrated hydrogen chain from production, transport and storage to final consumption. There is also potential for the use of geothermal energy in the region, including research with an international dimension and subsequent application in practice. In the area of public research institutions, the region has strong research background in green and sustainable chemicals and nanotechnology, and it is developing the area of digitalisation through the collection, analysis and provision of open data in line with Smart City/Region principles.
Jan Evangelista Purkyn University in Usti nad Labem is active in the region and its activities reflect the interests of the Usti Region, ranging from the development of quality education to research and the development of renewable and emission-free energy, including, for example, the creation of a network of scientific institutes cooperating on research in the field of renewable energy sources and the use of hydrogen in modern carbon-free energy. New study programmes, including a PhD programme, are being developed to train future professionals in innovative and transformational areas of the economy (clean energy, hydrogen).
The Usti Region is also attractive in terms of tourism. Among the mining monuments in the Saxon and Bohemian Ore Mountains found on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Usti Region contains the Krupka Mining Landscape and the Mělnik Mining Landscape. Another UNESCO World Heritage site in the Usti Region is Žatec and the Žatec hop landscape, which is the first hop-growing area in the world to be awarded this status.
Liberec region
Name:
Liberec region
Region:
Liberec region
Total area:
3,163 km²
Population:
450,419* (as at December 2023)
Working-age population:
282,953 (as at December 2022)
Unemployment rate:
4.15% (as at January 2024)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
one public university - Technical University of Liberec (approximately 6,050 students - of which PhD students: 246)
Sectors in which the region excels:
nanotechnologies, advanced machinery, mechatronics, glass industry, optics, optoelectronics, automotive industry, electronics, ICT, advanced remediation, separation and membrane technologies, textile industry, plastics industry
Note: *preliminary data
Human potential, science, research, and innovation – these are the most important assets of the future worth investing in. Innovation is what propels the world forward; it is the engine powered by human ideas and the desire to improve what doesn’t work or could work even better. The result of innovation comprises projects and services for entities involved in education, science, research and development, and transferring knowledge into practice. The goal is to enable product development using unique local knowledge, traditions, experience and collaboration.
The Liberec Region can build on its natural competitive advantages in the fields of glassmaking, engineering, textiles, electrical engineering, nanotechnology and membrane technology.
As early as 2012, the Liberec Region adopted the RIS3 strategy with the main objective of supporting the development of research and development. A key tool for implementing this strategy is the Regional Development Agency’s Smart Accelerator project, through which numerous activities have been carried out.
The Liberec Region has long and intensively supported nanotechnology and research, development and innovation, thus opening up the potential to move the region to new heights of technological progress. The region is creating conditions that allow researchers and innovators to realise their ideas and projects. It actively seeks ways to support the establishment of new start-ups. It already has an excellent research base and top experts and aims to strengthen this area, enabling the region to play a significant role in global research and development. Focusing on nanotechnology and innovation will not only bring economic growth, but also contribute to improving the quality of life for the region’s inhabitants.
The Liberec Business Incubator (Lipo.ink) supports the establishment and development of innovative companies in the region. It focuses on companies that come up with unconventional solutions to address particular needs and problems, providing them with expertise on how to turn a good idea into a viable service.
As one of the Czech Republic’s twelve regional innovation centers, Lipo.ink ensures that entrepreneurs and their ideas and investments remain in the Liberec Region. With the opening of a new building in the center of Liberec in the fall of 2020, Lipo.ink expanded its unique facilities for entrepreneurs.
Although Liberec is the Czech Republic’s second smallest region, it certainly has a lot to offer.
Martina Půta
Governor
www.kraj-lbc.cz
Hradec Králové region
Name:
Hradec Králové region
Region:
Hradec Králové region
Total area:
4,759 km²
Population:
556,949* (as at December 2023)
Working-age population:
344,100 (as at December 2023)
Unemployment rate:
3.43% (as at January 2024)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
two public universities – University of Hradec Králové (6,242 students); Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové (1,799 students)
Sectors in which the region excels:
indsutry (engineering, automotive, textile, glass), agriculture, tourism
Note: *preliminary data
The high quality of life in the Hradec Králové Region is best proven by the repeated top positions in the comparative research Místo pro život (Place for Life). The region finished second last year. Analysts say the region fares well nationally in health care and social services. The Hradec Králové Region has a well-developed transport infrastructure and good conditions for education and childcare.
The Hradec Králové Region boasts many natural attractions, such as the Krkonoše National Park with the highest mountain in the Czech Republic, Sněžka, or the fascinating sandstone rock towns of Adršpach and Jičín. The region is also home to a number of chateaus, castles and other cultural, architectural and historical monuments. Among the most beautiful is the completely revitalised Kuks Hospital, which is known as the Baroque pearl of East Bohemia. These attractions in combination with ideal conditions for hiking, cycling, boating or skiing attract many visitors of all ages from the Czech Republic and abroad.
The largest industrial centre of the region is located a short distance from Rychnov nad Kněžnou. The industrial zone is home to the Škoda Auto Kvasiny plant and its suppliers. More than 12,500 people work in the entire zone. Today, the local car plant produces models of the successful Kodiaq and Karoq SUVs.
Currently, the largest investment projects of the Hradec Králové Region are the construction of two new pavilions in the regional hospitals in Jičín and Rychnov nad Kněžnou. The new pavilion at the Jičín hospital will cost EUR 27.5 million and will house laboratories, an MRI, a transfusion station, a haematology department, a sampling section and internal outpatient clinics and consulting rooms. A new multidisciplinary pavilion is also being built on the premises of the hospital in Rychnov for just under EUR 30 million. The project also includes the modernisation of the existing DIGP pavilion, which will be connected to create one multifunctional unit.
The Hradec Králové Region also plans to launch the second stage of the modernisation of the Náchod hospital in 2024 at a cost of almost EUR 60 million. The region is also preparing an extensive reconstruction of the dilapidated Vrbenského kasárna (Vrbensky’s barracks) in Hradec Králové, where a museum will be built at a cost of almost 19 million euros.
Martin Červíček
Governor
www.hkregion.cz
Pardubice Region
Name:
Pardubice Region
Region:
Pardubice Region
Total area:
4,519 km²
Population:
528,761* (as at December 2022)
Working-age population:
333,271 (as at December 2022)
Unemployment rate:
2.93% (as at March 2023)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
approximately 7,000 students at the University of Pardubice
Sectors in which the region excels:
electrical engineering, chemical industry, mechanical engineering, transport - Pardubice is a transport hub combining air, rail and water transportation
Note: *preliminary data
Located in the centre of the Czech Republic, the Pardubice Region will be ranked among important transport hubs in the near future due to the development of road, rail, air and water transport. It is an attractive region thanks not only to its high degree of safety, housing quality, health and life satisfaction, but also to its long industrial tradition. The decision two nearby cities – Pardubice and Hradec Králové – to join forces in the implementation of Integrated Territorial Investments in the Hradec-Pardubice agglomeration, thus further enhancing the area’s attractiveness, has proven to be the right step. The dominant role in the region’s economy is played by the manufacturing industry, which is driven by enterprises buttressed by their own research. The region is home to large companies that develop, produce and sell innovative final products and are competitive on the European and global scale, as well as innovation champions among small and medium-sized enterprises with a significant proportion of their own research at the international level, particularly in radio technology, chemistry and biomedicine. A positive aspect is that three-fourths of research funding comes from the private sector. Basic research is conducted at the University of Pardubice, which is developing successfully and where new space for collaboration is being opened. The P-PINK business incubator, whose operation is focused on active support for start-ups, was established in 2018.
The Pardubice Region offers a combination of beautiful countryside and magnificent history, arts, captivating music and all possible kinds of sports. The most important events undoubtedly include Smetana’s Litomyšl Festival, the Grand Pardubice Steeplechase and the Golden Helmet. The region is also associated with the taste of Pardubice gingerbread and the presence of horses, which are an essential part of the region. When visiting the Pardubice Region, you will be able to familiarise yourself with the local traditions including handicrafts, see numerous castles and chateaux, ancient military forts and fortifications, urban conservation areas and many attractive examples of Renaissance, Baroque, Art Nouveau and modern interwar architecture.
Martin Netolický
Governor
www.pardubickykraj.cz
Vysočina region
Name:
Vysočina region
Region:
Vysočina region
Total area:
6,796 km²
Population:
514,777* (as at December 2023)
Working-age population:
323,972 (as at December 2022)
Unemployment rate:
2.6% (as at October 2023)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
the College of Polytechnics Jihlava (2,370 students)
Sectors in which the region excels:
automotive industry, metal-processing and mechanical engineering
Note: *preliminary data
The Vysočina Region is situated in the centre of the Czech Republic. Thanks to its strategic location between the two biggest Czech cities (Prague, Brno) and near the border with Austria, it is easily accessible both by road and by rail. There are also two international airports – Prague and Brno – within easy reach.
The region’s well-developed industrial manufacturing comprises traditional sectors such as the automotive industry, metalworking, mechanical engineering, wood processing and the furniture industry, as well as the newly growing sectors of industrial automation and IT. There are a number of highly innovative companies that are competitive on the European and global scale not only in these sectors, but also in the electrical engineering and energy industries. More than 98% of the region’s R&D funding comes from the private sector.
There are also several R&D centres and research facilities in the region, including, for example, the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Telč, the College of Polytechnics Jihlava, the Forestry and Game Management Research Institute in Pelhřimov, the Potato Research Institute in Havlíčkův Brod, the Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Studenec and the Nuclear Research Institute in Dukovany. These centres naturally cooperate not only with enterprises, but also with educational institutions.
The Vysočina Region has a well-educated and flexible workforce. Tertiary education is provided in the region by the young but rapidly developing College of Polytechnics Jihlava, which offers study programmes in the fields of electrical engineering and informatics, technical engineering and applied technology, economics and management, tourism, midwifery, healthcare and clinical social work.
Vysočina benefits greatly from international cooperation with partner regions such as Lower Austria, Grand Est (France), the Nitra Self-Governing Region (Slovakia), Transcarpathian Ukraine, and the European Region Danube-Vltava (the presidency of which Vysočina has taken place in 2024). Further international cooperation is being established with Taiwan and the Tampere region of Finland.
The Vysočina Region has many positive attributes including its rich cultural and natural heritage, beautiful landscapes and a pristine and safe environment. Together with the region’s talented population, these are among the many good reasons to invest here.
Vítězslav Schrek
Governor
www.kr-vysocina.cz
South Moravian Region
Name:
South Moravian Region
Region:
South Moravian Region
Total area:
7,188 km²
Population:
1,226,749* (as at December 2023)
Working-age population:
769,154 (as at December 2022)
Unemployment rate:
4.55% (as at February 2024)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
approximately 61,500 students enrolled in five public, four private and one state university (2019)
Sectors in which the region excels:
information technology, life sciences, electron microscopy, the space industry, precision instruments, mechanical engineering, production digitalisation, cybersecurity
Note: *preliminary data
More detailed information was not provided.
Olomouc Region
Name:
Olomouc Region
Region:
Olomouc Region
Total area:
5,271 km²
Population:
632,822* (as at February 2024)
Working-age population:
395,991 (as at January 2023)
Unemployment rate:
4.14% (as at February 2024)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
approximately 22,700 students enrolled in one public (Palacký University in Olomouc) and two private universities (Moravian Business College Olomouc, College of Logistics)
Sectors in which the region excels:
mechanical and electrical engineering, optics and fine mechanics, optoelectronics, industrial chemistry, advanced agricultural technologies for sustainable development and new materials and technologies, pumping and water technology, biomedicine, life science and health care, software development, spa and tourism
Note: *preliminary data
Located in the very heart of Europe, the Olomouc Region is easy to fall in love with. Visitors are captivated by the rugged alpine beauty of the Jeseníky Mountains and the gentle charm of the flat Haná region with the beautiful city of Olomouc. The region’s identity is woven from its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, skilled and hardworking people. From roots dating back a thousand years, Olomouc has grown into a modern region.
Highly skilled people and a rich history of engineering are a combination that benefits the region's top technology companies and workplaces. They export optical systems, lighting technology for the automotive industry, modern electric motors and components for aircraft engines to advanced European countries and overseas. The direction of development and future creation is shown by the technological leaders in the region, who are also able to assert themselves in the world. Success creates the conditions for innovation, from which new companies with quality jobs and modern technologies can emerge.
The research sector in the Olomouc Region has a rich tradition and is highly developed. In the field of research, the Catrin Institute of Palacký University in Olomouc attracts leading experts from all over the world. There is also significant medical and health research in the region, which contributes to innovation and improved patient care. The University Hospital in Olomouc is one of the best in the Czech Republic thanks to its modern workplaces, and its top medical facilities are equipped with the latest treatment technology and a broad scientific and teaching base.
The Olomouc region also boasts a rich gastronomic offer, which includes traditional Moravian cuisine and wines from the surrounding vineyards. Thanks to its fertile soil, Haná is known as a rich agricultural region. The Olomouc region is also rich in natural beauty and scenery. Among the most famous are the Jeseníky Mountains with their picturesque mountain peaks such as Praděd or Dlouhé stráně. Beautiful monuments are scattered throughout the region resemble precious pearls. Among them, the mighty Helfštýn Castle and fairytale Bouzov Castle shine the brightest. The warm springs springing in Velké Losiny from a depth of almost a thousand metres are unparalleled in the Czech Republic.
Moravian-Silesian Region
Name:
Moravian-Silesian Region
Region:
Moravian-Silesian Region
Total area:
5,430 km²
Population:
1,190,050* (as at June 2023)
Working-age population:
758,072 (as at December 2022)
Unemployment rate:
5.23% (as at December 2023)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
more than 26,000 students enrolled in three public (Silesian University in Opava, Technical University of Ostrava, University of Ostrava) and two private universities (The College of Entrepreneurship and Law, Prigo University)
Sectors in which the region excels:
IT industry, iron-ore processing, mechanical engineering, vehicle manufacturing, biomedicine technologies, chemical industry, smart - agriculture, new materials, hydrogen technologies, e-health, food industry
Note: *preliminary data
More detailed information was not provided.
Zlín Region
Name:
Zlín Region
Region:
Zlín Region
Total area:
3,963 km²
Population:
571,757* (as at February 2023)
Working-age population:
365,359 (as at December 2022)
Unemployment rate:
3,06% (as at February 2023)
Institutions of higher education – type, number of students:
one public university – Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín (approximately 9,600 students)
Sectors in which the region excels:
product and industrial design, plastics processing, rubber, machinery, aerospace, electrical engineering
Note: *preliminary data
The Zlín Region is situated in the eastern part of the Czech Republic. The motorway network connects the region with the main development centres - Prague and Brno - and construction of new motorway infrastructure in the direction of Slovakia and Austria is ongoing.
In terms of per-capita GDP growth, the Zlín Region ranks among the more successful regions of the Czech Republic, as it possesses a professional and flexible workforce and a high-quality education system.
The economy of the Zlín Region is distinguished by a strong basis comprising innovative companies, especially in the segment of small and medium-sized enterprises, a large number of which operate in industrial and significantly export-oriented sectors. The plastics industry holds a particularly strong position in the region due to the presence of Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín and its Centre for Polymer Systems, which is an important research partner of companies associated in the Plastics Cluster. An important position is also occupied by the aviation industry, which is represented in the region by manufacturers of aircraft and aircraft components and related technologies, which are brought together by the Moravian Aviation Cluster.
Other strong sectors in the region include the mechanic-engineering, electrical-engineering and metalworking industries, as well as ICT, which is a developing part of the services sector. Furthermore, the Zlín Creative Cluster supports the region’s dynamically growing creative companies, whose success is based on the design of their products and technologies.
The Technological Innovation Centre and its partners in the ZLINNOVATION platform provide a broad range of support services for entrepreneurs and investors in the Zlín Region. An important part of this offering is the Holešov Industrial Zone and the Progress Technology Park, which is in its heart. Also, strength lies in the new initiative, the ZRIA (Zlin Region Investment Agency), which aims to foster business growth, contribute to the development of new study fields, establish an entrepreneurial and investment environment, and enhance the out-of-the-box mindset of local students and residents.
The Zlín Region is thanks to its creativity known as a region with a live creative spirit, which is present here at every step - whether in history, architecture, design, culture, folklore or gastronomy.