Technika a trh

rail transport l agencies

term contracts based on technological innovations, even in this non-standard period, serve as a stabilising factor providing

security.

Until the outbreak of the pandemic, the

growing volume of agreements indicated

that the market for the railway industry

was moving towards greater interconnection between global players. This is currently beneficial for innovative technological solutions with global reach. Global

players realise very well that their business

interests and innovations can only be pursued in this sector if they are as integrated

as possible in their supply chains. It is for

this reason that efforts are being made to

standardise and harmonise norms, as well

as to optimise production. This creates a

new space for technologically innovative

solutions, especially in the areas of cybersecurity, digitisation, and the development of alternative drives. An example of

this is the railway merger of the decade,

when the French Alstom bought the Canadian Bomardier for an amount somewhere between EUR 5.8 and 6.2 billion.

It can be assumed that technological

projects will be the key to maintaining

long-term prosperity of the company, regardless of the lockdown situation or the

occurrence of further waves of the coronavirus pandemic. Designed precisely for

the emergence of these technologically

innovative solutions, there are various opportunities for financial support and the

establishment of cooperation.

SUPPORT OPTIONS

TRANSPORT 2020+

The modernisation of the transport sector

with regard to sustainability, safety, and

social needs.

The Technology Agency of the Czech

Republic (TA CR), together with the Ministry

of Transport, has announced a public tender in the program to support applied research, experimental development, and

innovation in the field of transport. The second call was closed on 10 June 2020, the

third call is being prepared.

See more information here:

https://www.tacr.cz/program/programdoprava-2020

ÉTA

Applied social science and humanities research, experimental development, and

innovation.

TA CR announced the fourth public tender to support project proposals related

to the mitigation of negative societal impacts and the use of new opportunities

due to the COVID-19 pandemic related

crisis. Projects must make use of the

knowledge, experience, or data from the

current COVID-19 pandemic related crisis.

Project proposals are currently being evaluated.

See more information here:

https://www.tacr.cz/program-eta-vyhlaseni-4-verejne-souteze/

TREND

Support for Industrial Research and Experimental Development - Sub-program 1 "Technology Leaders."

TA CR, together with the Ministry of

Industry and Trade, announced the

third public tender in research and experimental development. The subject

of the public tender is the selection of

proposals for industrial research and

experimental development projects

supported from public funds of the TA

CR in order to support new products,

production processes, and services.

The third public tender was closed on

24 June; for further tenders follow the

TA CR website .

See more information here:

https://www.tacr.cz/program-trendvyhlaseni-3-verejne-souteze/

Czech Rise Up

In response to the outbreak of the pandemic, the Ministry of Industry and Trade

prepared the Czech Rise Up program.

The first call focused mainly on the rapid

deployment of technologies and solutions

to effectively combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2nd call of the program,

which is currently being prepared, will

support the use of modern technologies

in medical and non-medical solutions to

cope with the consequences of the pandemic. In particular, projects in the fields

of health, education, and economics, with

an emphasis on small and medium-sized

enterprises, will be supported.

For up-to-date information regarding the

announcement of the second call, see:

https://mpo.cz/cz/podnikani/dotace-apodpora-podnikani/program-czech-riseup-2-0/default.htm

Connecting Czechia

Connecting Czechia is an information

signpost and platform uniting initiatives

and projects of volunteers, companies,

and the state sector that help the Czech

Republic, people, and companies during

and after the coronavirus crisis. The portal

is used not only as a source of information, but also as a space for gaining new

connections and contacts and is operated

by the CzechInvest Agency and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

See more information here:

www.spojujemecesko.cz

Autor: Robert Keil,

CzechInvest's sector manager

of the Innovation Department