Digitalization and Innovations as a priority
Building on its strong tradition of education, research, and industrial excellence, the Czech Republic is accelerating investments in transformative digital technologies, while promoting regulatory simplification and innovation-friendly environment.
Harnessing Digital Transformation to Shape Tomorrow
The key national strategies — Digital Czechia, the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2030 (NAIS), and the Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3) —aim to create a predictable, simple and innovation-driven business landscape, remain the backbone of the digital transformation. The Czech Republic also advocates for simpler, innovation-friendly rules in EU negotiations, including the Digital Omnibus, to cut red tape and speed up digital adoption.
To complement these efforts, the TWIST (Transfer, Research, Development and Innovation for Strategic Technologies) programme was launched, receiving a state budget allocation of EUR 204 million to support industrial research in strategic technologies, including AI, semiconductors, and quantum computing. To date, two calls focusing on AI applications have been held, offering grants of up to EUR 1.2 million per project, reinforcing the Czech Republic's ambition to become a leader in advanced tech innovation.
The successful European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) platform, which provides businesses with advisory services, such as pre-investment testing, training and skills development, investment search support, networking and access to innovation ecosystems, is transitioning into EDIH 2.0, with a reinforced focus on AI. Between 2023 and 2025, the services of six Czech EDIHs – EDIH Ostrava, Digimat, Brain4Industry, Northern & Eastern Bohemia, Cybersecurity Hub, and EDIH ČVUT – focusing on AI, cybersecurity, high performance computing and advanced digital skills were used by 2 431 unique small and medium enterprises and public institutions while their events were attended by over eleven thousand participants.
EDIHs also cooperate with Testing and Experimentation Facilities for AI (AI TEF) in Manufacturing which offers specialised services for testing and validation of AI technologies.
To boost start-ups growth and scale-up, Business and Investment Development Agency CzechInvest's Technology Incubation Programme together with the Acceleration Programme are another part of the set of activities contributing to the competitiveness of the Czech economy. The Incubation Programme, now extended until 2028, provides start-ups with funding, mentoring, investor access, and up to 24 months of incubation in specialised hubs.
Through coordinated strategies, targeted funding, active stakeholder engagement, and the EU-wide simplification efforts, the Czech Republic is shaping a future-ready economy. By fostering innovation and digitalisation, it intends to establish a robust ecosystem that will benefit businesses, citizens, and society as a whole.
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Daniel Všetečka
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