How TA CR funds science and research

The Czech Republic has always been a country of innovation. Czech researchers are among the best in the world. Our country is a world leader in electron microscopy, which is a key tool for the development of nanotechnologies. The Czech Republic has a strong scientific base in the field of lasers, which paves the way for new technologies for the treatment of materials used e.g. in the surface hardening of metals or for increasing the resistance of optical components. Czech companies and research organisations are also intensively involved in the development of space rockets and satellites.

The Technology Agency of the Czech Republic is the main provider of state funding for research and innovation. Its objective is to promote cooperation between research organisations and businesses in order to ensure that practical uses are found for the results of applied research. State-funded projects generate unique products, patents and other outputs that make it possible to quickly apply the results of research in practice. We help to increase the competitiveness of the Czech economy, which is growing thanks mainly to innovative domestic and foreign companies.

 Main TA CR programmes

THETA 2 – focuses on  the support for applied research and innovation in the field of energy for projects in the public interest, new technologies with rapid application and long-term technological perspectives. Project themes are built on key trends in the energy industry.

BETA 3 – puts greater emphasis on the support of ministries research, which contributes to the improvement of the performance of state administration functions. Namely on legislative, organizational and administrative functions. The effort is to strengthen the building of an innovation ecosystem in public administration.

National Centres of Competence - ensures efficient collaboration between research organisations and businesses through virtual research centres focused on progressive disciplines that are crucial for increasing the Czech Republic’s competitiveness.

SIGMA - comprehensive and long-term instrument to support applied research and innovation projects. The main vision is the consolidation of several current TA CR programmes into a single programme, enabling regions to be supported according to their innovation potential, and support for cross-cutting and systemic measures, while leaving space to support areas/themes not identified at the time of programme preparation. The SIGMA programme ensures the implementation of activities from the previous programmes, and International/EU instruments (e.g. ERA-NET Cofund, European Partnership, Bilateral Cooperation) in which the provider is involved.

International cooperation support tools

The Bilateral cooperation is focused on funding bilateral projects between Czech enterprises and research organisations and their foreign partners, mainly from countries outside the European Economic Area. Since 2024 bilateral calls have been implemented under the SIGMA programme - partial International cooperation scheme.

ERA-NET Cofund within Horizon 2020 and European Partnership within Horizon Europe are mechanisms that enable Czech entities to establish multilateral research cooperation in various thematic calls every year.

TA CR is a member of the TAFTIE European network of innovation agencies, which gives us the opportunity to share experience and information with partner organisations that also support research, development, and innovation in various parts of the world. 

In addition TA CR is involved in smaller international projects under the European Union‘s Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 Programme, for instance in coordination support actions (CSAs).

Programmes managed by TA CR for ministries

As the main provider of state funding for research and innovation, TA CR also administers the programmes of individual ministries.
TREND programme of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which aims to increase the international competitiveness of enterprises through new products, manufacturing processes and services.
Transport 2030 programme of the Ministry of Transport aims to modernise transport while emphasising sustainability, safety and social needs.
Environment for Life programme of the Ministry of the Environment aims to create a healthy environment and promote sustainable use of natural resources.

PRODEF programme of the Ministry of Defense is used to fulfil synergistic and complementary effects, especially with the European Defence Fund (and possible follow-on programmes). It shall also focus on independent defence industry projects of national importance. For that reason, the Programme is divided into two sub-programmes, each of which has a different method of selecting and evaluating projects.

The main objective of the Programme is the further development of national R&D in the field of the defence industry, by increasing the involvement of Czech entities in international chains and consortia, and strengthening the technological level of Czech entities that already work or can work in defence R&D, while also increasing multidisciplinarity through the involvement of entities that have not yet been active in defence R&D.