Regions of the Czech Republic

Note: *preliminary data

Note: *preliminary data

The South Bohemian Region is located in the southwestern part of the Czech Republic and shares its southern border with Germany and Austria. The total area of South Bohemia is 10,057 km2, which accounts for 12.8% of the total area of the Czech Republic. More than one-third of the region is covered with forests, while 4% is covered with water.

South Bohemia has a long history of fish farming, with 25,000 hectares of ponds accounting for half of the Czech Republic’s fish production. Agriculture also remains very important to the region’s economy. Strong emphasis is placed on sustainable agriculture, which is very often associated with the production of locally specific foods. Agriculture is presented annually at the Země Živitelka international trade fair. Brewing is a traditional sector that today is represented not only by large breweries such as Budweiser Budvar, but also by small local minibreweries. There are many industrial enterprises in the region (for example, Motor Jikov, Bosch, Jihostroj, Engel, Schneider Electric and Viscofan, among others), as well as companies operating in the food industry (Madeta, Budvar, Fruko-Schulz). Other large companies include KOH-I-NOOR Hardtmuth and Stabilo.

South Bohemia is a frequent destination for tourists, who take advantage of the region’s extensive tourism infrastructure. The renown of South Bohemia’s historical monuments reaches beyond the region’s borders, as the city of Český Krumlov and the unique village of Holašovice are on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites.

The region is also a place for active leisure; in particular, the Lipno Lake area offers year-round activities, including a popular ski resort focused on families with children. The region also has a strong science and research base supporting collaboration between universities, scientific institutions and the business environment. In the field of natural sciences, South Bohemia is an important centre at the national and, in some extraordinary cases, global levels.

In the future, the South Bohemian Region wants to focus on projects in the areas of infrastructure, education, healthcare and the environment, as well as development of historic sites and smart regions.

Note: *preliminary data

The Ústí Region has a fine industrial past. Historically, industry in the region was built on the mining of brown coal and its subsequent use for energy. The chemical industry also has a long history here. However, the region now focuses on research and development and modern technologies. Given the need to move the economy away from coal mining, the key vision is to use hydrogen as a source of clean energy. The Ústí Region and 17 other entities have concluded a so-called hydrogen memorandum, the aim of which is to prepare and implement activities supporting the comprehensive use of hydrogen in the Ústí Region, particularly the hydrogen that is already produced in the technological processes in place at local companies. Hydrogen will be processed, distributed and used in the region as a clean, carbon-free energy source (e.g. for the development of emission-free transport).

Focusing on modern technologies is also crucial for the future development of the region. The PORTABO project, a digital data platform for the Ústí Region, is being created through unique cooperation between the regional government, the local university, municipalities and The Innovation Centre of the Ústí Region. This is a web portal where data from various fields and places – transport, culture, sports, individual municipalities, etc. – will be uploaded in a uniform format. Such data will also be available to third parties in open reports for further evaluation and processing for the purpose of creating smart applications, statistics, comparisons within the region, etc.

In the coming years, the Ústí Region will face major socioeconomic and environmental challenges associated with the transition to a climate-neutral economy. The region faces major challenges, particularly in the areas of providing jobs for workers leaving the coal industry, improving public services and restoring landscapes affected by mining.

Note: *preliminary data

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.

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. As for tertiary education, there is 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.

Many other benefits are derived from international cooperation with partner regions such as Lower Austria, Grand Est (France), the Nitra Self-Governing Region (Slovakia), Transcarpathian Ukraine, the European Region Danube-Vltava, etc. Further international cooperation is being established with the Tampere region of Finland and Taiwan.

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.

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 and skilled people. From roots dating back a thousand years, Olomouc has grown into a modern region.

The real wealth of the Olomouc Region lies in its picturesque landscape, which captivates with its diversity, mysterious caverns and the world’s deepest freshwater pit cave. The exceptionally well-preserved environment forms an ideal foundation for top-quality spa care using the latest methods. Beautiful monuments are scattered throughout the region resemble precious pearls. Among them, the mighty Helfštýn Castle and fairytale Bouzov Castle shine the brightest. The Olomouc Region also has the largest number of church buildings in the Czech Republic, highlights of which include the important pilgrimage sites at Svatý Kopeček, Zlaté Hory and elsewhere. Numerous museums showcase the skills of our ancestors and massive forts are silent witnesses to the times when Olomouc was an impregnable fortress.

The region’s extensive history of engineering and the high level of expertise among its people form a combination that is of great benefit to top technology companies and facilities. Such companies export optical systems, lighting technology for the automotive industry, high-end electris electric motors, parts for aircraft engines and much more to developed European countries and overseas markets. The course of development is being set by the region’s technology leaders, which are making a name for themselves in the world. Success creates the conditions for innovation, which in turn gives rise to new companies with high-quality jobs and modern technology.

The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) of Palacký University in Olomouc attracts leading experts from all over the world to collaborate. Olomouc University Hospital is one of the best in the Czech Republic thanks to its state-of-the-art medical facilities equipped with the latest medical technology and its broad scientific and educational base.

Note: *preliminary data

Moravia-Silesia is a dynamically developing region with a changing image. Originally reliant on heavy industry and infamous for the negative effects of that, the region is being transformed into an important technological centre. Digitalisation and young technological companies are transitioning the region away from coal and steel towards Industry 4.0. Currently, the number of people working in the region’s IT industry is equal to those working in metallurgy. The region welcomes innova- tions and focuses on research and is enhancing its enterprising approach while keeping pace with the times and development. The Moravian-Silesian Region is on the right path and is taking specific steps in the area of environmental protection, developing healthcare and social care, strengthening its communities and in- terconnecting generations. It stresses education, supports culture and sport, and generally strives hard to be more attractive and a great place to live.
The Moravian-Silesian Region uses the Just Transition Fund for acceleration of its development.