Regional innovation policy in the Czech Republic

1. Regional innovation policy in the Czech Republic Vladislav Čadil

2. Institutional framework • Czech innovation policy is designed, implemented and co-ordinated at the national level. • Self-governmental territorial units (NUTS III level) are relatively new actors active in the innovation policy. • Regional responsibilities and competencies are defined in the Act No. 129/2000 Coll., on regions. Main responsibilities – public health, elementary and secondary education, public transport and regional road system, regional planning and development (tourism, rural areas etc.) • The Act does not mention any competencies in the field of innovation, nevertheless, does not explicitly ban innovation support regions can support innovation activities under their self-governmental responsibility

3. Regional innovation policy mix The principal document – Development programme of the region • very general mid-term development documents defining specific developmental areas • according to the Act, each region must design the programme • not implemented as a whole, it is only a background for preparation of other (more specific) programmes and grant schemes • often used only for justification of decisionsof politicians, and as an argument in project proposals • implemented by Regional authorities Regional innovation strategies • The Act does not define the obligation to create innovation strategies, their design is fully in charge of regions

4. Regional innovation strategies • Almost all regions have their own regional innovation strategy (11 from 14), design in progress – Olomoucký Region and Vysočina, without a strategy – Central Bohemia Region • First strategies – South Moravia Region (2002), Moravskoslezský Region (2003) • The most successful strategy – South Moravia Region, currently the 3 version • Reasons for design the strategy • Inspired by the EU, EU programmes and initiatives • Copying from neighbouring and more successful regions • An argument for preparation and implementation for regional projects • An indispensable and modern tool for economic recovery based on innovation

5. Methods • Evidence based methods • analysis of statistical data, • questionnaires, interviews, • SWOT analysis • Foresight – very rare – used only in Prague and Plzeň Region

6. Priorities • The majority of strategies contains very general priorities, allocation of financial resources and responsibilities is absent. • Priorities usually focused on: • Human resources • Development of support infrastructure • Business supporting services • Support to progressive industries • Science-industry collaboration and clusters • Stimulation of universities and R&D institutions • Financial tools (venture capital funds, vouchers, etc.)

7. Implementation and evaluation • Organisations implementing the strategies: • Regional authorities • Regional development agencies • The intensity of implementation among regions differs significantly; some strategies are implemented and have continuously updated action plans, while other are “sleeping” or “dead” documents without any effort to implement even a particular measure or a project. • All strategies are evaluated ex-post, interim and ex-post evaluation is missing.

8. Innovation strategy for Prague (I.) • The main product of the BRIS (Bohemian Regional Innovation Strategy) project. • The BRIS project was methodologically and financially supported by the European Union and ran from January 2002 to September 2004. • Prepared by the international consortium led by the TCASCR (other partners – Prague City Hall, Centre for Regional Development, Wandworth Borough Council, AGIT Aachen and the Municipality of Roterdam) • The project respected two basic principles: • a focus on the needs of the region and respect for specific regional features; • the consensus of important regional players in the field of innovation.

9. Innovation strategy for Prague (II.) • The key mission of the Regional Innovation Strategy is to foster an environment conducive to the exploitation of the high scientific, research, and knowledge potential of Prague, especially via small and medium- sized innovation enterprises, and as such to help enhance the capital’s competitiveness by developing a knowledge-based economy. • The Regional Innovation Strategy is composed of seven strategic areas, i.e. six thematic areas and one cross-sectional area. • Each strategic area is divided into specific measures. Each measure is defined by its strategic goals and anticipated activities.

10. Innovation strategy for Prague (III.) • Thematic areas: • Competitive sector of innovative enterprises • Active involvement of the R&D base in the development of innovative entrepreneurship • Human resources for Innovation • Consulting services and infrastructure for Innovation • Financing Innovation • Innovation as a part of regional development • Cross-sectional area: • Inter-regional co-operation

11. Innovation strategy for Prague (IV.) Implementation: • The strategy has not been implemented as an individual documents because of the lack of interest of the previous political representation. It has not been approved by the City Assembly. • Nevertheless, some activities defined in an action plan have been realised. • The most important impact of the strategy – it was used as a background document for designing single programming documents for the previous programming period and operational programmes for current programming period.

12. Conclusions • In the majority of regions, Innovation support is not seen as an important priority in the field of regional development. • The most important barriers: • System weaknesses – legislation, system of taxation, system of education, etc. • Financial weaknesses – the lack of financial resources • Human capital weaknesses – the lack of skilled and experienced employees of regional authorities and their agencies. • Best practices (South Moravia Region) can inspire other regions to develop and implement their effective innovation policies.

13. Thank you for your attention! Vladislav Čadil cadil@tc.cz The Strategy for Prague downloadable at: http://www.strast.cz/dokums_raw/RIS_Prague_en_1501.pdf