Participation of Czech Entities in Selected Other Programmes of the European Union

The position papers responding to the public consultation announced by the European Commission on 1 December 2022 focusing on the past, present and future of the EU framework programmes in the period 2014–2027 often mention the need for the coherence/synergy of the framework programmes with other European Union’s financial instruments and programmes. Namely, with the Digital Europe programme, EU4Health, LIFE, European Defense Fund, Innovation Fund, etc. The post provides brief information about the participation of Czech entities in these programmes in the period 2021+.

The table shows that Czech entities now participate in approximately 6% of projects in the Horizon Europe programme. To a similar extent, Czech entities also participate in the EU climate and environment support programme LIFE. 35 domestic teams have taken part in the 25 projects in this programme - mostly ENVIROS, s.r.o. (4 participations), SEVEn, The Energy Efficiency Center, z.ú. (4 participations) and CEE Bankwatch Network z. s. (3 participations). The highest contribution from the EU was then received by Military Forests and Estates of the Czech Republic (€2.7 million) and the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (€1 million). 5 projects were coordinated by Czech entities.

Czech entities also participated in the Digital Europe programme to the same extent. The Czech Republic reported 47 participations (including 6 coordinations) in 15 projects. The Czech Technical University in Prague and VŠB-Technical University Ostrava showed the most participation (5 each). 3 participations were reported by the Brno University of Technology, Masaryk University and CESNET, z.s.p.o. The highest EU contribution went to the Czech Technical University in Prague (€5.4 million), CyberSecurity Hub, z. ú. (€4.1 million) and VŠB-Technical University Ostrava (€2.6 million). Domestic enterprises reported 2 participations in the programme, with a total EU contribution of €341,000. Regional innovation centres reported 4 participations in the programme, with the highest EU contribution going to the Central Bohemian Innovation Center (€486,000 – Brain 4 Industry project) and the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre Ostrava (€309,000 – EDIH Ostrava project).

Above-average participation (but generally at low frequencies) was shown by Czech entities in the European Defense Programme – 12 teams from the Czech Republic have taken part in 10 projects, but in the role of regular participants. Two participations were reported by the Military Research Institute. The highest EU contribution have become the company RESPILON Membranes s.r.o. (€1 million). In total, domestic enterprises reported 6 participations with an EU contribution of €3.6 million (i.e., 60% of the EU contribution to domestic participants).

On the contrary, Czech entities do not participate in the Innovation Fund projects. However, entities from Poland, Croatia and Bulgaria participate in these projects.

Author: Vladimír Vojtěch, TC Prague, vojtech@tc.cz, 17.04.2023