Analytical part
1.1 Location of the region
The Hradec Králové Region is located in the northeastern part of Bohemia. It has a favorable transport position in the Czech Republic, which is limited by the absence of full connection to the highway network and the lower transport capacity of railway lines. With an area of 4,759 km2, it is one of the smaller regions; its population at the end of 2016 was 550,804, which corresponds to 5.2% of the Czech population. The population density (115 inhabitants per km2) is lower than the population density of the Czech Republic. In the long term, the population of the region does not change significantly; population growth is mainly dependent on population migration. The gross migration rate of the region in the period of 2005–2016 was 5.86 ‰, which is the 6th lowest value in an interregional comparison. The urban population percentage in the region (66.7%) is lower than the national average. The population in the Hradec Králové Region is aging; the average age in 2016 was 42.7 years, while in 2005 the average age was 40.3 years.
The Hradec Králové Region can be characterized as an agro-industrial region with richly developed tourism. Industry is mostly concentrated in urban areas, with intensive agriculture in the Polabí flatland. In 2016, the region contributed 4.6% of the gross domestic product of the Czech Republic. Between 2005 and 2016, the value of regional GDP increased annually, with the exception of 2009.
The region reached 88.8% of the national average of GDP per capita in 2016, which corresponds to the 5th position in an interregional comparison. Since 2005, GDP per capita increased by 45.5%. Real convergence as a % of EU 28 GDP in PPS was 78% in 2016, and since 2012 this indicator of economic strength has been increasing. The net household disposable income in the Hradec Králové Region in 2016 was 118,490 M. CZK, which is the 5th lowest number in an interregional comparison. Since 2005 the net household disposable income has increased by 40%. The region reached 97.5% of the national average per capita in 2016, which corresponds to the 5th position in an interregional comparison.
The development of gross value added of the Hradec Králové Region follows the growing trend of its GDP; since 2005 the GVA increased by 50% of its original state. The region accounted for 4.6% of the GVA of the Czech Republic in 2016, which is the 5th lowest value in an interregional comparison. A more detailed look according to CZ-NACE fields shows the dominance of Industry, Mining and Quarrying (42.6% of the total GVA of the region), which was also the only one to experience a very strong growth trend (an increase of 10 pps). The region's significant specialization in industry is also reflected in the expansion of primarily engineering plants in the region. In addition to Information and Communication activities, all other sectors recorded a decrease in the GVA share in the total; the most loss-making tendencies are apparent in the sectors of Public Administration and Defense (drop by 2.7 pps), Education and Trade; Transport; Hotels and Restaurants (drop by 2 pps).
In 2016, revenues from the sale of industrial products and services in the region reached 4.4% of the sales in the Czech Republic, which ranked 10th in an interregional comparison. In the period of 2008–2016, sales of industrial enterprises increased by 72.9% of their original state; with the exception of 2009 and 2015, sales always increased year-on-year. In a comparison of selected branches according to CZ-NACE, the highest sales were achieved in 2016 in the sector 'Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers'. A significantly high share of sales in the Czech Republic according to sector was in the manufacture of textiles (1st in interregional comparison). In terms of nationwide production of industrial enterprises, sales in the sector of the manufacture of electronic and optical devices and equipment, the manufacture of textiles, metal structures and metalworking equipment, the manufacture of electrical equipment and the manufacture of rubber and plastic products, are strongly concentrated in the region.
In terms of ownership structure, foreign-controlled enterprises perform better than domestic entities. In 2016 foreign-controlled enterprises achieved almost double labor productivity (in terms of value added per employee), and more than double productivity per employee. By contrast, domestic enterprises showed a higher share of value added in performance than foreign-controlled enterprises in 2009-2016.
The educational structure of the Hradec Králové Region is similar to the educational structure of the Czech Republic. The share of university-educated population is growing, but it is still below the Czech average. In 2016 the share of university-educated population in the region was 15.4%, and in the whole country it was 18.5%. On the contrary, there is a slightly higher share of persons with secondary education without a GCSE in the Hradec Králové Region than at a national level (36.2% and 33.9%, respectively). The number of students with permanent residence in the Hradec Králové Region is gradually decreasing, and the share of doctoral students in the total number of students is decreasing. Most students with permanent residence in the region studied fields in the categories of Business, Administration and Law (18% of students) and fields in the category of Technology, Production and Construction (16% of students). While the number of science students remained relatively stable between 2010 and 2016, the number of students in technical fields has been decreasing annually since 2011. In the Hradec Králové Region there are 8 faculties belonging to 3 universities. While the number of students at both faculties of Charles University remained relatively stable between 2012 and 2015 (about 1,800 at the faculty of medicine and about 1,600 at the faculty of pharmacy), the faculties of the University of Hradec Králové faced a decline in students. The most significant decrease in the number of students is apparent in the case of the Faculty of Education at UHK (4,048 students in 2012, 2,773 students in 2017).
There are 84 secondary schools and 11 universities in the Hradec Králové Region, with a relatively wide range of fields of study. Secondary schools and universities operating in the region offer fields of education in 28 branch groups of a total of 31 groups of fields taught at secondary schools and universities in the Czech Republic. The most popular fields of education are those in field group 79 General Preparation (fields of gymansium education); the number of students in these fields is about 30% of all secondary school students (this also includes lower grade students at multi-year gymnasiums), and 24.3% of all secondary school students, respectively (this number does not include lower grade students at multi-year gymnasiums). Education fields of field group 79 General Preparation is offered by 21 secondary schools in the region. The second most demanded field by pupils/students is group 23 Engineering and Engineering Production (15 SS), with group 65 Gastronomy, Hotel Industry and Tourism (17 SS) in third place. The greatest decline in the absolute number of students was recorded in group 66 Trade (6 SS), where the number of students decreased by 70.4% in ten years; interest in group 26 Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications and IT (11 secondary schools) and group 37 Transport and Connections (2 SS) also declined.
On December 4, 2017, the Regional Assembly of the Hradec Králové Region approved the modification of the network of secondary schools established by the region in the form of merging a total of 21 regional contributory organizations. From June 1, 2018, this merging will create 5 new organizations, with the merging of schools in 5 cases. By the Resolution of the Council of the Hradec Králové Region of January 8, 2018, the offer of fields of study at schools established by the region was also adjusted.
Graduates of non-technical schools are predominate among unemployed graduates. According to employers, graduates demanded in the labor market are not sufficiently prepared to perform their profession, which is reportedly due to reduced demands on applicants' educational prerequisites, the students' lack of discipline and knowledge, moral and social unpreparedness, as well as the lack of cooperation between schools and employers. In the area of education, the Regional RIS3 Strategy focuses primarily on cooperation between schools and companies, as well as on career guidance, development of science and technology fields, development of students' competences for entrepreneurship, and support for talented students.
In the area of career counseling, the problem of “insufficient support of students in the choice of profession” was defined within the Regional Action Plan for the Development of Education in the Hradec Králové Region (hereinafter referred to as the RAP HKR). At the time of the writing of the document, the main causes were perceived to be unfavorable conditions for the implementation of career guidance in schools, the insufficient theoretical and practical readiness of teachers to pursue career guidance, and also the lack of cooperation between schools and other actors in career guidance in the region.
In the field of technical and scientific education, the "low interest of students in polytechnical and vocational education" was identified as a major problem in the RAP HKR. In many respects, this problem is primarily caused by the weak inner motivation of students and a superficial social approach. Students often feared the difficulty of polytechnical and vocational education. Secondary and tertiary professional schools did not always have sufficient spatial, material and personnel capacities that would correspond to the latest knowledge and technology, mostly due to a lack of funds. Cooperation between involved persons within the framework of polytechnical and vocational education was also partly complicated by legislative and administrative demands.
Within the framework of cooperation between schools and employers, the problem of “low intensity of cooperation between schools, employers and other involved entities” was identified within the RAP HKR. The main reasons were inadequate and outdated school facilities, insufficient preparedness of students for vocational education, training and practice, low participation of specialists and practitioners in the process of teaching and practical training, insufficient contact of teachers with real practice, insufficient links between theoretical and practical teaching and, above all, the different intentions of schools versus employers. In the area of support for the development of students' enterprising competences, a problem has been identified indicating a low level of enterprisingness and creativity of secondary and tertiary pupils. The main causes were a lack of interest on the students' part to develop their competences, a low level of individual approach to the education of students, and differing abilities and skills of teachers.
The Regional Action Plan for the Development of Education in the Hradec Králové Region published in 2016 will be evaluated, and based on the conclusions of the evaluation, the Regional Action Plan for the Development of Education in the Hradec Králové Region II will be created in 2020 in accordance with the timetable set by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports during 2019. The reserves highlighted in the analytical part of the RAP HKR document are continuously addressed through the support of schools in the introduction of career guidance counselors and their education by optimizing the composition of secondary schools and offered fields of education, and by supporting creative activities of schools and teachers. The project "Implementation of the Regional Action Plan for the Development of Education in the Hradec Králové Region I" (I-RAP HKR I), which has been in implementation since January 1, 2018, responds to the needs defined in the RAP HKR. The key activities of the I-RAP HKR I project are support for career guidance, support for joint learning and support for polytechnical and vocational education. The implementation of these activities gradually solves the problems identified in the RAP HKR.
The share of economically active population in the Hradec Králové Region is the second lowest in comparison with the remaining regions of the Czech Republic, and it will probably decrease slightly in correlation with the aging of the region's population. The number of employed in the region has not changed significantly in the long term; in the period of 2005–2016 it increased by less than 5%. The share of those employed with university education is growing; in 2016 it was 21%. Unemployment indicators in the Hradec Králové Region have long been below the Czech Republic's level. In the period of 2005–2017 the region copied the development of unemployment in the CR, but the situation in the Hradec Králové Region was always more favorable compared to the CR average (lower unemployment by 1 to 1.5 pps). Paradoxically, this may be a problem for some incoming investors who would theoretically like to demand the cheaper unemployed part of the labor force in the region for their business (growing effect of the exhausted local labor market). The number of jobseekers in the region has been very low in the long term, and the small share of university graduates among the unemployed is also a positive factor. At the same time, since 2012 the number of vacancies has been increasing significantly. This development resulted in a situation where there is a lack of available job applicants. Regional hourly labor productivity has been steadily growing since 2012; today it ranks fifth in an interregional comparison.
5.2% of employees in the Czech Republic work in the Hradec Králové Region. According to CZ-NACE, the largest number of employees is in manufacturing (32.6%), wholesale and retail (11.8%) and health and social work (8.1%). The share of employees in professional, scientific and technical positions in the region was the third highest in an interregional comparison, but it is still below the national average. The region has a high share of specialists (13.7%, 4th in an interregional comparison) and technical and professional workers (18.8%, 2nd in an interregional comparison) in the total number of employees; both groups of employees continue to grow progressively. In terms of a detailed division of labor force according to field, high employment in progressive fields is a positive (education, manufacture of electronic and optical instruments and equipment, manufacture of motor vehicles, manufacture of electrical equipment, mechanical engineering, manufacture of textiles, healthcare and the rubber-plastics sector). Conversely, persisting low employment in knowledge-intensive fields may have a negative impact on maintaining competitiveness. High localizational sales quotas and employment in fields that indicates a significant concentration in the given field in the region are reported by the forestry and logging industries, the manufacture of electronic and optical equipment, manufacture of textiles, manufacture of rubber and plastic products and other manufacturing sectors.
The structural problem of both the region and the Czech Republic is the continuing mismatch between labor market requirements and the supply of skilled labor. Employers are unsuccessfully searching for workers with adequate qualifications who would be willing to take up employment under the conditions offered and in the relevant location. In the Czech Republic there is currently the greatest shortage of workers with qualification in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering branches, as well as other craft and technical branches. There is a similar situation with labor shortages outside technical fields (e.g. in health care and social services). Unfortunately, in an interregional comparison the average wage is higher in fields requiring less professional qualifications and lower in more demanding professions, which leads to an outflow of professional workers from the region for higher wages. Overall, the average monthly wage in the Hradec Králové Region is lower than the national average, ranking 6th in an interregional comparison.
The low value of gross fixed capital formation (78.8% of the national average and 7th position in an interregional comparison) indicates low investment activity of enterprises in the region, which probably focus more on operational optimization and less on capacity expansion. The development of GFCF per capita in the period of 2005–2015 followed the national trend, but since 2013 it has demonstrated a higher growth rate compared to the Czech Republic.
The volume of foreign direct investment in the region has increased significantly since 2005, but the rate of growth has slowed down considerably in recent years. In a relative interregional comparison, the region is losing its investment attractiveness; it is currently in about 9th place. Investment and reinvestment activity in the region is primarily in the automotive industry, textile industry, ICT and energy.
1.2 Research and development in the region, innovative entrepreneurship
Key characteristics
Many statistics describing the regional innovation and research system of the Hradec Králové Region have a growing trend in absolute terms over time, but in an interregional comparison the position of the region is deteriorating. This particularly applies to R&D expenditure and the amount of R&D staff. The public research sphere primarily focuses on life sciences (medical fields, drug development), with the important subfield of military research, as well as agricultural research and ICT. To a lesser extent, research in the areas of gnotobiotics, forestry, radiation protection and animal production is represented through branches of public research organizations. Research organizations cooperate in the region with several companies operating in the same fields in which they have found specific niches and exhibit high research/innovation activity. There is a subcritical amount of these companies in the region (in terms of their share in regional enterprise expenditures on research and development), which leads to the cooperation of regional research organizations with companies that are mostly outside the Hradec Králové Region. In the corporate sphere a substantial part of research and development activities is realized in the fields of electronics/electrical engineering/ICT, automotive, mechanical engineering, textiles, rubber plastic. Although there is gradual improvement and upgrading (as the localization factor of the cheap labor force in the region is exhausted and the parent organizations' confidence in “Czech” research and development increases), many foreign-controlled enterprises still focus on lower added value activities on lower levels of the value chain. Large domestic enterprises with R&D expenditures are present in industries such as the textile industry, non-automotive engineering, ICT, packaging technology and electronics. Generally, enterprises in the region do not cooperate with regional research organizations either due to different fields of specialization, or they do not have a strategy based on R&D but rather on increasing productivity (position of optimizer), and they de facto don't need to cooperate with research organizations. However, from the perspective of a long-term sustainable development strategy and the advent of a knowledge-based economy, this business strategy is insufficient and will lead to a more intense focus on system R&D involving multidisciplinary solutions.
The cooperation between companies and secondary schools is thus more actively realized than with universities in the region, as there are no technical university fields in the region.
Intermediate entities are represented by several innovation centers and two technology transfer centers; there are several active clusters (packaging, stone) in the region, whose members also perform research activities. Some companies are involved in clusters based outside the region.
Main research, development and innovation statistics
Research and development expenditures in the Hradec Králové Region increased to 1,808 M. CZK between 2006 and 2016 (11th in interregional comparison). Between 2006 and 2016, the share of R&D expenditures in the region's GDP increased by 0.17% to 0.82%, which represents the 11th position in an interregional comparison. The average value for the Czech Republic in 2016 was 1.68%, and only the South Moravian Region (2.91%), Prague (2.32%), the Central Bohemian Region (2.02%) and the Liberec Region (1.71%) reached higher values. The greatest share of this expenditure was realized by the business sector (76.1% in 2016). The university sector realized 22.5% of this expenditure in 2016.
In the Horizon 2020 - European Framework Programme for Research, Development and Innovation, entities based in the Hradec Králové Region are implementing a total of 10 projects (as of 3/2018). In general, the participation of organizations from the Czech Republic in this international prestigious program is low. In terms of fields, most regional project funds are targeted at ICT (61.9%), textile industry - environment, advanced materials (12%), Marie Curie Actions (10.3%), health (7.8%) and advanced production (6.6%), which is in line with regional RIS3 domains.
Under the programs of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, entities based in the Hradec Králové Region in the role of the main beneficiaries of projects implemented or completed in 2015-2018 contributed 2.4% to the total volume of funds (619 million CZK), which corresponds to 10th position in an interregional comparison. Applicants were most successful in drawing the Alfa, Gamma and Zeta programs (always in 6th position in an interregional comparison according to their share in the total volume of funds realized in the program). 9th position in the Omega program, and 12th position in the Epsilon program in an interregional comparison. Regarding the number of implemented projects, the Hradec Králové Region accounted for 2.4% of the total (37 projects; 11th position in an interregional comparison).
In the implementation of the TRIO program of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (2016-2021) aimed at supporting corporate applied research and experimental development related to KETs, entities based in the Hradec Králové Region contributed 6.8% to the total volume of granted subsidies (237 million CZK), which corresponds to the 5th position in an interregional comparison. The focus of the projects was diverse, with a slight prevalence of biotechnology and electronics, optoelectronics and IT.
At the end of 2017, the total expenditure of projects implemented in the region under the Operational Program Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness was highest in support programs for Innovation, Applications, ICT/Shared Services and Potential.
The number of R&D personnel (FTE) increased during the reference period. On average, however, the region contributed 3% to the total numbers of the Czech Republic, which corresponds to the 11th position in an interregional comparison. The number of researchers (FTE) increased in the reference period (932 FTE in 2016), but in an interregional comparison it corresponds to a share of 2%, which is in 11th position. If we look at the number of R&D employees according to sector (business, government, university), the Hradec Králové Region is in average to below-average positions in 2016 in an interregional comparison. In the case of R&D employees in the business sector, the Hradec Králové Region accounts for 4% of the total number of R&D employees in this sector. In the government sector it only accounts for 0.4% of R&D employees, and in the university sector the Hradec Králové Region accounts for 2.9% of R&D employees in the Czech Republic. Despite the positive development trend in the number of R&D employees in the Hradec Králové Region, when the number of R&D employees almost doubled in all three sectors in the last ten years, the Hradec Králové Region ranks among average to below-average regions in these statistics. For the sake of completeness, we present data from the private non-profit sector, where more than half of all R&D employees are in Prague; in the Hradec Králové Region there are less than 1% of employees in the Czech Republic.
The distribution of R&D employees in the Hradec Králové Region in terms of prevailing economic activity indicates a high concentration of employees in industry and construction, where 42.5% of all R&D employees in the region work. This is followed by the areas of education, professional, scientific and technical fields, and information and communication fields, which each have about 15% of R&D employees. Other services, health and social care, and cultural, entertainment and recreational fields fall below the 5% threshold. The smallest number of R&D employees work in agriculture (0.3%).
According to employee statistics of employees under international classification CZ - ISCO, in the period of 2011 - 2015 there were about 5000 persons working for code 21 - Specialists in science and technology, in the Hradec Králové Region, which corresponds to 4.8% of the total number of employees in the Czech Republic in this category (7th position in an interregional comparison). The share of workers of this category in the total number of persons employed in the region was an average of 2% in the reference period of 2011 - 2015, which was below the CR average (2.2%). In 2015, this share was 2.4% (5th position in an interregional comparison). Only Prague (4.9%) and the South Moravian Region (3%) ranked above the Czech Republic average (2.4%). The average gross monthly income and median salary of employees of this category in the Hradec Králové Region were below the CR average in the reference period 2011–2015 (11th position on average in an interregional comparison). In 2015 the average gross monthly income in this category in the region was 36,846 CZK (the Czech Republic's average is 41,412 CZK; 10th position in an interregional comparison), and the median salary was 33,972 CZK (the Czech Republic's average is 36,352 CZK; 8th position in an interregional comparison).
Other statistics that show the development of the region's innovation environment include patent activity by entities operating in the region. To protect their ideas and results, patents are used not only by large industrial enterprises, but also by SMEs or research organizations. However, statistics on patent activity need to be treated with caution, as many surveys suggest that some entities own patents for reputation reasons, or that some patents are not used for industrial or commercial purposes, e.g. to block competition. In late 2016, 139 patents were granted in the Hradec Králové Region, which places the region in seventh place in an interregional comparison. Looking at a comparison between 2006 and 2016, the majority of regions have seen an increase in the number of patents granted. In the Hradec Králové Region, there was almost a threefold increase from 11 patents in 2006 to 32 patents in 2016. Patent activity from the perspective of the type of applicant (enterprises, natural person, public research institutions, public universities) speaks clearly to the benefit of enterprises. In 2016, 24 patents of the total 32 in the Hradec Králové Region were granted to enterprises. Five patents were granted to natural persons, and three patents to public universities.
Patent protection is not the only appropriate form of protection for unique technical solutions. It is also possible to choose simpler, faster and less expensive protection than patent protection, i.e. a utility model. As of December 31, 2016, applicants from the Hradec Králové Region had a total of 337 registered valid utility patents. As in the case of patents, most utility models were registered in the Hradec Králové Region in 2016 by enterprises (66%), followed by natural persons (29%); public universities accounted for 3%, and other entities accounted for 2% of total registered utility models.
Patents and utility models may be licensed. The license agreement shall become effective upon its entry in the relevant register of the Office. The license may be paid by a lump sum or recurring payments during the licensing. In 2016, the Hradec Králové Region ranked among the more active regions in terms of the number of granted patent and utility model licenses (17 granted licenses to 4 licensors). With the exception of Prague, which surpasses this statistic, 17 licenses were granted in our region in a total value of 48 million CZK, which places the Hradec Králové Region in fifth place in the number of granted licenses, and first place (Prague 3.2 Bn. CZK) in received license fees in an interregional comparison.
The share of R&D workplaces in the Hradec Králové Region in the total number of R&D workplaces in the Czech Republic has been around 5% in the long term (6th position in an interregional comparison, 143 in 2016). 89.5% of these workplaces were in the business sector in 2016, 5.6% in the higher education sector, 4.2% in the government sector and 0.7% in the private non-profit sector. In 2016, more than 63% of them worked in industry and construction (sections B to E according to CZ-NACE), and a total of 5 in CZ-NACE 72 Research and Development (11th position in an interregional comparison, 2.1% of these workplaces in the CR). In 2016, the departments were thematically represented in the fields of natural/technical sciences (80.4%), agricultural sciences (9.1%), medical sciences (6.3%) and social/human sciences (4.2%).
The activity of research organizations, expressed as RIV points earned in 2016, was the highest at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Charles University (24,894.39), University of Hradec Králové (22,072.71), University Hospital Hradec Králové (15,152.77), Faculty of Medicine at Charles University in Hradec Králové (13,992.25), the Faculty of Military Health Sciences of the University of Defense (7,724.96) and the Research and Breeding Institute of Pomology Holovousy (3,647.24).
According to an analysis of trends in professional publishing performance of research organization workplaces in the Czech Republic in 2008-2014, there is the highest share of regional research organizations in the fields of EC-immunology, FK-gynecology/obstetrics, FR - pharmacology/pharmaceutical chemistry, FM - hygiene, KA - military, CB - analytical chemistry and GC - plant growing.
Through closer collaboration between the business community and research organizations, companies are increasing their technological standards. The commercialization of the intellectual property of research organizations thus directly supports the innovation potential of the business community. Financial evaluation of the intellectual property of research organizations is carried out through license agreements, the sale of intellectual property, a share in spin-off companies, etc. The process of commercializing R&D results is supported by established technology transfer centers. These centers provide comprehensive support for the process of commercializing R&D results. In the Hradec Králové Region there is the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer at the Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and the Faculty of Pharmacy at Charles University in Hradec Králové. As a joint workplace for researchers of the University Hospital in Hradec Králové, the University of Hradec Králové and the Faculty of Military Health Sciences of the University of Defense, the Center for Transfer of Biomedical Technologies was established in the University Hospital Hradec Králové in 2012. Between 2014 and 2016, the Center for Transfer of Biomedical Technologies filed a total of 10 patent applications and received 7 patents. Income from realized contract research for the same period amounted to 246.2 M. CZK. The performances of the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer of Charles University are presented for the whole Charles University. These data cannot be broken down to individual faculties from available statistics. During the period of 2014 - 2016, the center filed 68 patent applications, received 36 patents and sold 12 licenses. The center's income for the transfer of knowledge and technology of Charles University from contractual research between 2014 and 2016 amounted to 56.2 M. CZK, and the financial volume of licenses sold for the same period was 4 M. CZK.
Survey of the innovation capacity in the Hradec Králové Region
In 2018, the Center for Investment, Development and Innovation in the Smart Accelerator project of the Hradec Králové Region conducted an in-depth survey among selected companies based in the Hradec Králové Region that are among the most important economic entities in terms of performance, market position or the amount of research and development expenditure. The aim of the questionnaire survey was to chart the corporate innovation environment of the Hradec Králové Region in order to correctly propose new or set existing instruments of innovation policy in the Hradec Králové Region. The results of the questionnaire survey also serve as one of the inputs in the process of updating the regional research and innovation strategy - i.e. the Regional RIS3 Strategy. The questionnaire survey was carried out with the direct support and under the auspices of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, which provided a uniform INKA methodology and followed up on the already surveyed innovation capacity of the Hradec Králové Region in 2014. The selection of companies was based on criteria that characterize the companies in terms of performance growth dynamics, main business sectors identical to those in the Regional RIS3 Strategy, the number of employees and the amount of R&D expenditures. The base sample consisted of 60 companies based in the Hradec Králové Region that meet the critical values for the above criteria. According to the INKA methodology, at least 30 companies were to be selected for the sample. In the Hradec Králové Region, 31 companies were interviewed.
The most numerous group of surveyed companies were companies in field 26 - Manufacture of computers, electronic and optical equipment according to CZ-NACE. Within the Regional RIS3 Strategy, they fall under Electronics, optoelectronics, optics, electrical engineering and IT. This domain also includes three companies in the field of 62 Information technology activities, two companies with CZ-NACE 27 Manufacture of electrical equipment, and a company with CZ-NACE 23 Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products.
The RIS3 field "New textile materials" is represented in the survey by three companies in the field of CZ-NACE 13 Manufacture of textiles.
Three companies in the field of CZ-NACE 25 Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment, fall under the domain Mechanical engineering and capital equipment. This domain also includes two companies in the field of CZ-NACE 28 Manufacture of machinery and equipment nec.
The Regional RIS3 Strategy field “Pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare” is represented in the survey by two companies in the field of CZ-NACE 21 Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and preparations, one company in CZ-NACE 72 Research and development, and one company in CZ-NACE Other manufacturing industry.
The field of Advanced agriculture and forestry is represented by a company with CZ-NACE 20 Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products, and a company in the field CZ-NACE 72 Research and development.
The sample also included a company in the field CZ-NACE 22 Manufacture of rubber and plastic products, whose production focuses on the automotive industry falling under regional domain RIS3 Manufacture of transport equipment and their components. This domain is also represented by an entity with CZ-NACE 29 Manufacture of motor vehicles (except motorcycles), trailers and semi-trailers, and an entity with CZ-NACE 30 Manufacture of other transport equipment.
Beyond regional RIS3 domains, companies with the following CZ-NACE fields of activity were included in the survey: 10 Manufacture of food products, 71 Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing, analyses, 16 Manufacture of wood and products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials.
One of the monitored categories in the questionnaire survey was the company's position within global production networks. Tier 1 and 2 is a specific supplier classification used in industry; it indicates what stage of the supply chain a company delivers its components to. An integrator delivers the finished product (e.g. car manufacturer, production line/machine supplier, etc.). A Tier 1 supplier delivers the entire module to the final product/service (e.g. headlight, integral part of a production line, etc.). A Tier 2 supplier delivers parts such as plastic headlight parts or gears for a production line. More than half of the companies in the sample are in the position of an integrator. In general, the higher the company is in the production network, the greater its business autonomy and the potential for innovation. The lower a company's position within the global production network (Tier 1 - 22.6% of companies, Tier 2 - 19.4% of companies in the questionnaire survey), the smaller the space for innovation, and its innovation effort is directed towards a lower degree of innovation. Integrators in the questionnaire survey include companies engaged in the production of single-purpose machines, the production of medical devices and aids, software development, textile production and agricultural machinery.
In the questionnaire survey, respondents answered what the position of their company is on the market according to their self-assessment. The territorial scope of a company in foreign markets is related to the competitiveness of the company's products in international markets, the company's strategy and barriers preventing them from entering a given market. However, export to world markets is a strong motivator for companies and a drive for innovation. According to respondents' self-assessment, only one sixth of the surveyed companies consider themselves to be a global player on the market. This category includes the manufacture of other transport equipment (20% market share), textile production (10% market share) and wood and wood products (70% market share). More than one fifth of the companies surveyed are among the top five manufacturers in Europe. The sectoral classification of these companies includes wood processing and production of wood products with a 70% market share in European markets, followed by the production of electronic components for industry with a 60% market share. The remaining sectors such as the food-processing industry, automotive parts and medical devices have a share of 15% - 30% in European markets. Almost half of all surveyed companies ranked among the top five retailers in the Czech Republic. This group includes companies operating in the electrical engineering or mechanical engineering field, manufacturers of parts for the automotive industry, manufacturers of medical devices, software companies, or entities with research activities in agriculture.
Corporate vision and strategy have a significant impact on the long-term development of any business. The vision forms the basic boundaries within which a company operates. Another question in the questionnaire survey therefore focused on the company's aspiration to grow. More than half of the surveyed companies (61.3%) do not expect an increase in the number of employees and want to achieve an increase in profit by other means. Roughly a third of companies plan to increase their performance and increase their number of employees, having an upper limit of employees that they do not intend to exceed. Only 6.5% of companies do not intend to limit their growth and have the ambition to expand their businesses within global markets.
The evaluation of companies in terms of innovation capacity is one of the key indicators that indicates the further possible growth of regional economy. 87% of respondents stated that they are carrying out their own research and development activities, which is a positive result. Almost half of all respondents (48.4%) stated that they conduct research and development only within customer orders. The most interesting group are companies that conduct their own research and development beyond the scope of orders. This group of companies makes up 38.7% of the questionnaire survey sample. Corporate aspirations for innovation are also associated with the company's ambition to be a leader in the industry. Based on information from interviews, the following types of companies were identified in terms of their innovative aspirations: Leader - a company that sets trends and makes changes in the world market that are followed by its competition. Follower - a company that tries to respond quickly to the leader's steps, to be at the forefront of trends and changes in the market. Optimizer - a company that focuses its innovative efforts on maximum efficiency and cost reduction, often by purchasing foreign technology. Pioneer - a company that looks for brand new solutions to customer needs/problems; it has no or very little competition on the market. Almost half of the companies surveyed (45.2%) see themselves as an optimizer and have no ambition to be at the forefront of changes in world markets. On the contrary, the most interesting group are companies that have this ambition and clearly declare their interest in being a driver of change in their field of business. 16% of the surveyed companies see themselves as a leader. Another 16% see themselves as a follower of leaders. Almost 10% of companies see themselves as pioneers. Roughly 13% of companies do not decide on their own research and development activities and are subordinate to another entity in this area.
The recommendations of the questioned companies towards the Hradec Králové Region were most often associated with education and transport infrastructure. 45% of respondents stated that the Hradec Králové Region should deal with activities related to better preparation of students for future occupations. They particularly consider the optimization of regional education based on well-prepared analyses of labor market needs to be crucial; they also believe the region should better support technical education and information technology education, as well as introduce motivating elements into education (within school financing). The area of transport infrastructure was the second most frequent (35% of responses). Respondents would like to see improvements in the regional transport infrastructure as a whole, but they also pointed out specific problems, such as the unsustainable state of transport around large manufacturing companies employing thousands of workers. 3% of respondents mentioned the need for an overview of research organizations willing to participate in the development of new products. Healthcare logistics in the region were mentioned.
Another questionnaire survey focused on human resources. Companies have the most problems with a lack of workers in all positions (as stated by 48% of respondents). Only a minority of companies lack exclusively manual professions (6%) and technically educated people (3%). A relatively significant proportion of companies (42%) said they had no problems in the area of human resources.
The last output of the questionnaire survey presents the problems that companies deal with in innovation processes. The first two aspects mentioned were the lack of human resources (45%) and the lack of finances for innovation (19%). Other problems include the reluctance of research organizations to cooperate with companies on innovation projects, or the degree of autonomy in deciding on innovation in the company (both aspects indicated by 6% of respondents). To a lesser extent (3% of companies), problems related to competitive pressure, discontinuity of subsidy titles, subsidy bureaucracy or uncertainties regarding the application of tax deductions to research and development were reported.
1.3 Public administration and its role in the regional innovation system
The area of research and innovation is thematized in several key national policy documents (National Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization of the Czech Republic, National Research, Development and Innovation Policy 2016-2020, National Priorities of Oriented Research, Experimental Development and Innovation). Below is a list of key current analyses, studies and strategic documents relevant to the area of research, development and innovation of organizations in the Hradec Králové Region:
Development Strategy of the Hradec Králové Region 2014-2020 (RDS)
This is a basic regional strategy document that broadly defines the strategic areas and objectives of the region's development. This is followed by the three-year Regional Development Program, which elaborates objectives on the level of measures. The area of research, development and innovation is included in the strategic area Competitiveness and Innovation. The strategy is fulfilled through projects of a wide range of regional key players. Regular annual monitoring and subsequent evaluation is carried out in 2-3-year cycles. Work is currently ongoing to update this document.
Strategic development plan of Hradec Králové until 2030
This basic conceptual document of the regional metropolis contains relevant key areas for RIS3 no. 3 - Enterprise, Science, Research and Innovation, and no. 4 - Education and Schooling. The aim is to increase the attractiveness of the city for industrial investors (development sites and their promotion, client-oriented public administration), to create new and retain existing business entities in the city (infrastructure, consulting services), to develop Hradec Králové as a renowned university city, to support cooperation between schools and companies, as well as between schools and a generally effective, accessible and balanced system of all levels/types of education within the city.
Comprehensive study of progressive branches of the Hradec Králové Region in terms of research, development and innovation
The aim of this document is to explore research and innovation entrepreneurship within the region with regard to fields. Its conclusions are one of the inputs in the RIS3 implementation process. A typical characteristic of the region is the identified sectoral structure of excellence in research (life sciences/biomedicine, agricultural sciences, ICT) and innovative business (automotive, mechanical engineering, textiles, rubber, electronics, electrical engineering). The proposed cross-cutting measures, which will serve as a reservoir for the action plan of the updated regional RIS, focus primarily on human resources in research, development and innovation (quality, mobility, entrepreneurship), technology transfer, internationalization and services for businesses and research organizations.
Integrated Territorial Investment Strategy of the Hradec Králové - Pardubice Agglomeration 2014–2020
Integrated territorial investments are one of the tools for the implementation of key integrated projects in the Czech metropolitan areas from European structural and investment funds. The implementation of the ITI Strategy fulfills the "urban dimension". The RIS3 strategy of the Hradec Králové Region was one of the analytical inputs for the elaboration of this conceptual document. A link to the RIS3 can be found primarily in specific objective 2.2. To develop and interconnect the research and application base of the agglomeration, which focuses on the development of R&D and innovation capacities and on supporting R&D and innovation institutions.
Marketing strategy and communication plan of the Regional Innovation Brand of the Hradec Králové Region
This document was created on the basis of the need for systematic visibility of RDI activities in the Hradec Králové Region. It focuses on creating a strong, shared marketing brand (Regional Innovation Brand - RIB) and fulfills the specific objective of the RIS3 strategy: D.1.3. To strengthen shared marketing, promotion and mutual cooperation of the regional RDI system. The strategy itself is based on the methodological document of the Smart Accelerator project of the Hradec Králové Region: Methodology of managing marketing and communication activities, which is based on the application of the actor-network theory. RDI stakeholders in the HKR, both academic and commercial, as well as public sector staff, were also involved in the active development of the strategy (note: this is an informal grouping: Regional Innovation Brand Platform). The final version of the strategy was approved by the Council for Research, Development and Innovation of the Hradec Králové Region (RDI Council).
1.4 Main actors in the innovation system - stakeholder analysis results
1.4.1 Application sphere
If we look at the CZ-NACE sectors of economic activity that are the most involved in regional corporate R&D expenditure, activities in the fields of IT/electronics/electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, textile and clothing, rubber/plastics industry and science are prevalent. IT/electronics/electrical engineering and mechanical engineering sectors showed a positive upward trend throughout 2012–2016.
Research and development activities of companies are realized in the area of information technologies/engineering activities (e.g. software development, big data processing, development and construction of components for automotive/mechanical engineering and development/design/supply of technological units for chemistry, energy, coking and the food industry), in the field of (opto)electronic, electrical engineering components and equipment, development of special-purpose machines (printing machines, mining and construction machines, agricultural machines, units for the pharmaceutical, food and energy industries), ultralight aircraft development and composite material research and development, development of parts for motor vehicles, research and development of textile materials, research and development of medical devices, development of rubber and plastic materials, research in the field of pomology.
The identified issue is a small number of innovating businesses. According to the CIS2012 and CIS2014 surveys, the share of innovating enterprises in the total number of enterprises in the region increased to 43% in the Hradec Králové Region, which is the 8th position in an interregional comparison. The share of enterprises with technical innovation increased to 38.3% (4th interregional position). The share of enterprises coperating with the EU or EFTA also increased, and it was the highest of all regions of the Czech Republic (23.3%). The internationalization of the private sector is illustrated by the share of enterprises that have received public support from the R&D Framework Program. This share increased to 2.3 % (8th interregional position).
The conclusions of CzechInvest's analysis of investment incentive projects implemented in the Hradec Králové region in the period of 1993-2017 show that, in terms of the volume of incentives, their largest share was directed towards the RIS3 domain of transport equipment (66.2%), mechanical engineering (9.3 %) and advanced agriculture (8.2%). The largest share of incentive projects in newly created jobs was also in the manufacture of transport equipment (71.6%) and mechanical engineering (9.3%).
1.4.2 Clusters
The Omnipack Cluster brings together over 52 members in the development, production and testing of both standardized industrial packaging and fixation elements (pallets, crates, containers, boxes, etc.), and packaging that is developed according to specific customer requirements. Both companies and research organizations are members. The cluster has its own shared development and testing center and training center. Emphasis is placed on the economic growth of cluster members, the transfer of R&D knowledge into the environment of cluster members and systematic education of members. It geographically extends to several regions of the Czech Republic.
CZECH STONE CLUSTER is a regional sectoral grouping of enterprises, educational and scientific research institutions founded in 2006. The cluster's activity is focused on support and development of education and industry in stone processing by strengthening competitiveness and innovative activities. Since its inception, CZECH STONE CLUSTER has been implementing projects with high added value, focusing on promoting economic growth and increasing competitiveness in the stonemasonry industry, particularly in the East Bohemia region, although it also participates in international European projects. Through a strong community of cooperating and competing stone processing companies, support infrastructure organizations and research and education institutions, CZECH STONE CLUSTER supports and coordinates the cooperation of natural stone manufacturers from the Czech Republic, while also involving companies from different fields of production, suppliers, design, engineering, manufacturing and assembly companies. In recent years, CZECH STONE CLUSTER has been actively strengthening its activities in the field of new technologies and waste material processing, which are directly related to the mining and processing of natural stone.
1.4.3 Research organizations
The Faculty of Pharmacy at Charles University in Hradec Králové (FaF) focuses primarily on research and development of new drugs, pharmaceutical forms, drug delivery systems, drug and medical preparation analysis, biomedicine, clinical pharmacy and pharmacoepidemiology. More than 150 academic workers and researchers assigned to 18 research groups and 120 doctoral students participate in the research. Many academic workers are members of the world's leading professional organizations and support research projects at FaF UK to increase the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, or advanced research in separation science. For companies and research organizations, contractual research and development of new drugs, pharmaceutical forms or methods of medicinal product analysis is carried out. In cooperation with companies and research organizations, FaF UK also conducts more advanced research and has filed several patents. In cooperation with companies, it also implements diploma and particularly doctoral theses. Practitioners are involved in teaching industrial pharmacy, social and clinical pharmacy, biomedical disciplines, etc. FaF UK provides education/placement of foreign students/workers in doctoral studies and postdoctoral positions. FaF UK has a wide network of international ties not only in EU countries, but also worldwide for both internships of staff/students and for international research cooperation. The strategic partners of FaF UK include the Portuguese University of Porto, the Australian University of Melbourne and the Spanish University of the Balearic Islands.
The Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, as a part of Charles University, implements a wide range of research activities from basic research to practically focused research in three basic areas: lifestyle diseases, oncology and aging, including regeneration at all levels. The faculty's research capacity includes 300 academic employees and 250 doctoral students. Most of the faculty's research activities are carried out jointly with the application sphere, which is mainly represented by its closest partner, the University Hospital Hradec Králové. The faculty also cooperates with other actors of the regional innovation sphere in recently launched ITI projects; its main partners include the Faculty of Pharmacy, University Hospital and University of Pardubice. In TACR and MIT projects, it cooperates with the Research Institute of Organic Syntheses in Rybitví and the Cotton Industry Research Institute in Ústí nad Orlicí. The faculty also has several patents and utility models in its portfolio, filed jointly with the University Hospital Hradec Králové and other partners.
The faculty enables young application scientists to study doctoral programs, and it also supports exchange internships of employees and students in research organizations as well as in application at a national and international level. In the Cepin project, the faculty has created and is developing a network of cooperating biomedical research organizations at regional, national and international levels, and it supports the involvement of scientific teams in these research projects, including cooperation with application scientists. In terms of international collaboration, the faculty utilizes Charles University's prestigious strategic partnership network and has its own scientific cooperation with the British University of Hull, Ireland's Trinity College Dublin and, last but not least, it runs an exchange program of scientific internships for students and staff with the prestigious Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
The University Hospital Hradec Kralove (FN HK) focuses on the following areas: surgical trauma and new surgical procedures, drug development and evaluation, age-related diseases, neuroscience, clinical and experimental gastroenterology, modern trends in oncology and development of new diagnostic procedures. FN HK is very active in the field of contractual research, particularly the type of clinical drug evaluation and laboratory evaluation for both domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies (more than 230 clinical trials and laboratory studies are generally carried out every year). Other areas of contractual research include the synthesis of potential personalized drugs, proteomic analysis, optimization of materials for medical applications, medical devices and instruments, etc. Technology transfer at FN HK is provided by the specialized department called the Center for Transfer of Biomedical Technologies. FN HK owns 7 patents, another 9 patent applications and 6 utility models, and it annually submits 3-4 prospective research results for industrial law protection. FN HK employs a total of 53.5 FTE purely for research, but most employed doctors also conduct research in their work. Several dozen doctoral students from all Hradec Králové faculties work at FN HK. FN HK cooperates with a number of important foreign research workplaces, and its employees are members of the world's leading professional organizations.
The University of Defense, Faculty of Military Health Sciences Hradec Králové derives its focus from the needs of the Army of the Czech Republic, focusing primarily on protection against the effects of biological and chemical weapons. Biological research projects are aimed at methods of detecting highly dangerous biological agents and the development of preventive and therapeutic vaccines. In the field of toxicology and protection against chemical weapons, the priorities are the development of antidotes, modern methods of their application, analyses of the effect of chemical agents on living organisms and detection of poisonous substances in water. Another research pillar is the focus on protection against nuclear weapons, especially biodosimetry. In addition to the protection against weapons of mass destruction, the faculty participates in clinical activities and clinical research (hygiene, emergency medicine, surgery and internal medicine) conceived with the aim of use in domestic and foreign missions. The faculty cooperates with several domestic companies in the field of CBRN research and with a number of both domestic and foreign academic and military institutions. Accredited doctoral (PhD) study programs are conducted in 8 fields of study primarily focused in accordance with the research directions.
The Research and Breeding Institute of Pomology Holovousy s.r.o. is engaged in research of fruit species with a focus on new varieties. It uses gene marker detection, an innovation in cultivation technologies with a focus on reducing the entry of foreign substances into the orchard ecosystem and the environment. New varieties as well as methods of integrated production and organic cultivation systems are being developed with regard to the use of gentle irrigation, healing biotechnological methods and the use of virus-free primary sources. The institute deals with tasks set by precision agriculture. Contract research deals with testing new products and the possibility of using nanotechnologies in fruit growing. The institute stores 2350 varieties of fruit species. Research on cryopreservation procedures for duplicate conservation of genetic resources has been initiated. The institute cooperates with research organizations in countries with advanced pomology. It is also involved in a number of international projects. At a national level, it is involved in MŠMT, MoA and TA CR projects. It provides education, advisory and publishing activities and tasks for state administration institutions. Certified methodologies and “Vědecké práce ovocnářské“ (Scientific Pomology Works) for pomology practice are published cyclically. The institute has licenses for the cultivation of cherries in countries of almost all continents. It has registered 34 apple and 23 cherry varieties, among other things. 21 varieties are currently in a registration procedure. There are 28 full-time university R&D researchers working in the institute. Researchers participate in internships abroad.
The University of Hradec Králové (UHK) profiles itself in research activities according to the specific focus of individual faculties. The Faculty of Informatics and Management focuses on economic models applied to biomedicine, ICT applications in industrial operations (distributed power management) or multi-agent systems; the Faculty of Science focuses on applied mathematics (mathematical physics), the development of sensors monitoring the human body (cooperation with LINET, IKEM), organic and analytical chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, ecology and pollinator research. The Faculty of Education focuses its basic research on pedagogical (didactic), literary - cultural, linguistic and historical (art history) fields. The Philosophical Faculty cooperates with the application sector in archaeological field research, sociological surveys, digitization and cultural heritage protection.
The Faculty of Science focuses on the research of new drugs (preparation of compounds affecting mitochondrial enzymes as potential drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease; research of modified cholinesterase reactivators for the treatment of organophosphorus insecticide poisoning), food supplements, toxicology research (e.g. analysis of toxins in food), and the development of diagnostic medical devices (physics applications, sensor testing, signal processing, non-traditional mathematical methods of data processing, non-invasive measurement of aortic pulse wave velocity) and the creation of various sensory technologies in the field of smart building control. It is also involved in the development of new certified methodologies in work with stem cells, the development of a tree conservation methodology in orchards and the application of basic botanical and zoological research in ecology. Several patents have been obtained in cooperation with companies and research institutes. The faculty also created the first technology spin-off of UHK, Grant Detection, s.r.o., which licensed technology for detecting hidden people in vehicles. The faculty cooperates with companies in the region in the area of applied research (e.g. Mercury, ROTOmotor).
The Faculty of Informatics and Management at UHK focuses on the processing of large data files, software solutions, applications of knowledge and mobile technologies in various fields, and smart sensors and their applications. Research and development in the area of interconnection of ICT and biomedicine has been recently launched, including the application of economic models, which is considered a direction of excellence and the task of the Center for Basic and Applied Research of FIM. The following technologies are used here: cloud solutions, parallel computing, artificial neural networks, medical image processing, medical device development, etc.). The faculty has submitted a number of applications for intellectual property protection to both the Industrial Property Office and the European Union Intellectual Property Office. Its cooperation with companies of the Hradec Králové IT cluster is also extensive. Where possible, research is carried out with research institutes and companies in the region, as well as other foreign entities based on an extensive portfolio of international agreements. The most successful include UTM Malaysia and IHMC Florida USA.
The cooperation between the Faculty of Education and external institutions corresponds to the focus of the basic research, see the areas mentioned above, and is thus aimed at schools, social facilities, memory institutions/PNP, SVK HK, Gallery of Modern Art HK, Czech Language Institute at the Czech Academy of Sciences, etc. Applied research at the faculty is currently focused primarily on the area of measuring and processing signals in electrical engineering.
The Philosophical Faculty focuses on performing basic and applied field research in archeology (currently archeological field survey on the D11 highway section HK - Jaroměř). Research techniques of non-destructive analysis of material composition of samples with respect to the possibilities of their application to other material bases are also being developed. The faculty's specialists carry out sociological surveys according to the demand of commercial entities or self-governing units (satisfaction of citizens, transport, etc.). The faculty is presently also focusing on the transfer of research into practice, ascertaining the impact of economic growth on the lives of inhabitants of the region (industrial zone Solnice-Kvasiny-Rychnov n/Kněžnou). The faculty combines the teaching of traditional historical science with modern information technology and the latest knowledge of other exact sciences. The basis of cooperation with the application sphere in this area is particularly the digitization and protection of cultural heritage, currently focused on protection, restoration, presentation and also on instruments of historical geography, virtual reality and cyberspace. The contacts of the Philosophical Faculty in Latin America and Africa, where some market surveys for commercial entities have already been carried out, are also important.
Research at the faculties of UHK is carried out on the basis of contractual cooperation and within selected scientific grants from various domestic providers such as GAČR, TACR, MIT, AZV, MŠMT etc., as well as foreign providers, e.g. COST Actions programs. Of course, master's students and especially PhD students at UHK are involved in research, and domestic and foreign experts are involved in teaching, research and the preparation of diploma theses/dissertations. ¾ of UHK employees are involved in research.
Institute of Microbiology of the CAS, v.v.i. has a separate branch office in Nový Hrádek in the Hradec Králové Region. It is the unique Laboratory of Gnotobiology, where basic research focuses on the importance of gut microbiota in the development of lifestyle diseases such as idiopathic bowel inflammation, allergies, atherosclerosis, cancer and diabetes. It achieves excellent results in the study of the development of T and B lymphocyte subpopulations in ontogenesis in pigs. The Laboratory of Gnotobiology is the only facility in Central Europe that keeps germ-free and gnotobiotic animals (animals populated with known species of bacteria), and it cooperates with top-class facilities in Europe and the USA. Students work on their bachelor's, master's and doctoral theses here. Projects supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic, MŠMT and MRD are executed in the laboratory. In cross-border cooperation with the Republic of Poland, the Probiotics project was implemented: joint research, education and raising awareness, and Pollen and Food Allergies Know no Bounds. The research organization also conducts contractual research.
National Radiation Protection Institute, v.v.i. - Hradec Králové Branch specializes in radiation protection, development of progressive detection methods of ionizing radiation, applied research for the needs of the state, especially security research and research for supervisory and administrative activities of the State Office for Nuclear Safety of the Czech Republic. In its research in this field, it cooperates with institutes and companies of similar focus, provides radiation protection education, organizes courses under the Atomic Act necessary for the continuous monitoring of compliance with RP requirements, and organizes internships for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The Research Institute of Animal Science, v.v.i - Kostelec nad Orlicí branch deals with applied research of the utilization of pig production potential in the direction of intensity and efficiency of reproductive and production properties. The department is involved in the program of genetic resource protection as a specialized workplace for cryopreservation of semen and other biological materials.
The Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, v. v. i. - Opočno Research Station (VS Opočno) is engaged in applied research, advisory and expert activities in the field of forest cultivation with a nationwide scope and for all forest users, administrators and owners. Research projects of national agencies (e.g. NAZV, TACR) are carried out in cooperation with public and private owners and other forestry entities. Another form of cooperation is contractual research and development, e.g. for VLS, s.p. or LČR, s.p. The main outputs of applied research conducted by VS Opočno, besides classic scientific and professional publications (articles, books), also include verified technologies, certified methodologies and maps, results reflected in legal standards, software and utility models. The transfer of research findings into practice in the form of expert and advisory activities, the organization of seminars, excursions and briefings, including the provision of professional materials on the website, are an important part of the activities of VS Opočno. The station's employees are involved in the activities of international forestry organizations IUFRO and EFI, and it participates in teaching students and leading PhD students at FLE ČZU in Prague and LDF MENDELU in Brno. Current research findings are also passed on during pedagogical work at ČLA in Trutnov. There are currently 14 R&D workers in VS Opočno, including 1 doctoral student.
The Museum of Eastern Bohemia in Hradec Králové is a contributory organization established by the Hradec Králové Region, whose nature fulfills Act no. 122/2000 Coll., on the protection of museum collections. The museum collects, manages, professionally uses and makes available archaeological, historical and natural science collections. In addition to its own research activities, it also organizes professional conferences and other cultural and social events. The museum currently has more than two million objects in its archaeological, natural science and historical subcollection. Since 1993, it has been administering the premises of the 1866 Battle of Chlum Memorial, including the War of 1866 Museum. The Museum of Eastern Bohemia in Hradec Králové cooperates with the University of Hradec Králové mainly through personal contacts of individual workplaces. The staff of the archaeological department and the staff of the natural science department at the university give lectures, and students of the Faculty of Education gain work experience in the museum. Cooperation between the historical workplace of the museum and the Institute of History of the Philosophical Faculty at the University of Hradec Králové is also intensive.
1.4.4 Intermediate, support and roof organizations
TECHNOLOGY CENTRE Hradec Králové o.p.s. is a non-profit company founded by the Statutory City of Hradec Králové. It provides a basic infrastructure of services aimed at supporting business and increasing the competitiveness of the region, it acts as an incubator for start-up companies, and provides favorable rental and accompanying services, especially consultancy, coaching, mentoring and investor search. One of its important activities is the support of emerging talents and businesses by building a regional start-up community. It is also active in the field of digital technology popularization and education. It also has the status of the only Microsoft Innovation Center in the Czech Republic with an offer of follow up services, especially technological services. The aim of its activities is to make it easier for start-ups to enter the business, to help bridge the first years of existence, attract customers and become prosperous companies generating profits and more jobs. In addition to the development of the business environment in the city and the region, it also participates in the interconnection of tertiary education, the science-research base and business environment.
The Center of Textile Technologies and Education, operated as a subsidiary of INOTEX spol. s r.o. Dvůr Králové nad Labem, is a founding member of the Science and Technology Parks Association of the Czech Republic operating in the field of textile finishing. It focuses on technological research supported by specialized small-scale production (low-tonnage chemical products and small-scale textile finishing and coating) and technological transfer to the conditions of user textile companies. It deals with innovative plans both in direct cooperation with textile companies - producers of classic textiles, and producers of newly developing technical products. In order to achieve its innovation goals, it develops joint activities with partners from non-textile fields (chemistry, biotechnology, cultivation of industrial crops, electronics, etc.). The use of multidisciplinary links is also the basis of transferred new technologies and support for the development of added value products for B2B and B2C markets. It focuses on environmentally friendly technologies, creating conditions for sustainability of the textile industry by focusing on renewable resources and transition to a circular economy. It supports the link to innovation with an immediate impact on industrial partners by engaging in collective research and internationalization in the technical textile cluster CLUTEX. It works in expert groups of ETP FTC and co-creates strategic plans by joining the Czech Technology Platform for Textiles (ČTPT). It has many years of experience in participation and coordination of international and national RDI programs (FP 5-7, HORIZON 2020, Eureka, Eurostars, COST, CORNET, INTERREG). It is nvolved in TEXTRANET. In cooperation with CIRI, it participates in shaping the regional innovation strategy of one of the selected textile fields. It is working on the thematic involvement of RIS3 KHK in the European innovation network RegioTEX. Long-term cooperation with educational institutions - FT TU Liberec, CHTF Uni Pardubice).
The Center for Transfer of Biomedical Technologies (CTBT) is a joint workplace of the University Hospital in Hradec Králové, the University of Hradec Králové and the Faculty of Military Health Sciences of the University of Defense in Brno. It supports application-oriented research and development with the aim of accelerating and supporting the transfer of research results into practice. CTBT ensures the protection of new knowledge and solutions by obtaining formal protection of R&D results in the form of patents, utility models or classified know-how. In this area, it provides both administrative and legal support, as well as patentability searches. CTBT cooperates intensively with the independent advisory body of experts known as the Commercialization Council, whose experience contributes significantly to bringing the technologies developed into practice. The main objective of CTBT is commercialization, i.e. the valuation of intellectual property by selling a patent license or by establishing a spin-off company, for example. In this respect too, CTBT provides researchers with administrative, commercial and legal assistance, e.g. finding a suitable domestic or foreign investor, or a business partner interested in a technology license, negotiating license conditions, etc. CTBT is a contact point for companies looking for a research partner and who want to conduct contractual research. CTBT helps researchers build and negotiate appropriate contractual research terms with commercial partners. Given its extensive network of contacts, CTBT can also arrange cooperation with companies interested in participating in the research topic.
The Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer (CPPT) is a separate department of Charles University (UK). CPPT UK serves all faculties and independent workplaces of the university. CPPT UK is an advisory department for commercialization of research and development results of individual faculties and departments of the university. In this area, it cooperates with patent lawyers and marketing networks. CPPT UK also plays a key role in setting up spin-off companies. In this area, it cooperates with strategic partners, marketing companies, investors and economic and financial advisors. In the area of commercialization, CPPT UK ensures a high level of all procedures used, particularly by formulating and adopting standardized methods in the field of knowledge and technology transfer between the academic and commercial sphere. An integral part of CPPT UK's activities is the systematic education of members of the academic community of Charles University in the field of commercialization of research and development results. Another important part of CPPT UK's activities is building and developing contacts and cooperation with important representatives of the commercial sphere. Other development activities in the area of innovation and technology transfer include building an internal network of technology newsletters at individual faculties and workplaces of Charles University, building networks for marketing innovations at Charles University, creating pre-seed and seed funds to provide the necessary funding of innovation processes initiated at Charles University and similar activities.
The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Trutnov z.s. (CIPTU) was founded in 2016. It focuses on several blocks of activities primarily for entrepreneurs in the Trutnov region. CIPTU operates a corporate incubator that offers the Start program designed for start-up entrepreneurs, and the Restart program designed for established companies dealing with business barriers or looking for additional growth impulses. It also provides the rental of presentation and training areas, organizes training on various topics and innovative work groups, where active entrepreneurs connect and seek solutions and create projects together (e.g. group of craftsmen and builders or small manufacturers). CIPTU also prepares various public projects for Trutnov entrepreneurs and individuals interested in entrepreneurship (e.g. start-up community, entrepreneur's day).
Since June 23, 1993, the Association of Innovative Entrepreneurship CR (AIP ČR, z.s.) has been fulfilling its role as a non-governmental organization for innovative entrepreneurship in the Czech Republic. It has representation in Czech regions within the System of Innovative Entrepreneurship in the CR. The main activity of AIE ČR, z.s. is research and development in the field of innovative entrepreneurship, i.e. research, development and innovation, technology transfer, new materials and technologies, science-technology parks, innovation companies, innovation processes, innovation infrastructures, innovation potential and conditions for a functioning innovation market. It publishes the magazine "Inovační podnikání a transfer technologií" (Innovative Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer, 26th volume); it has been organizing INNOVATION, A Week of Research, Development and Innovation in the Czech Republic since 1994 (this year December 4-7), and the Innovation of the Year Award competition since 1996. For more, visit www.aipcr.cz.
The Center for Investment, Development and Innovation (CIRI) is the regional investment and development agency of the Hradec Králové Region. It deals with both project management and strategic planning. It prepares regional strategic documents including RIS3, carries out monitoring and evaluation, initiates new RDI activities, co-manages the Regional Innovation Fund of the Hradec Králové Region, ensures the operation of the Council for Research, Development and Innovation of the Hradec Králové Region, it manages the implementation of RIS3 and tries to stimulate cooperation and awareness of key actors in the region, e.g. as an initiator of the Platform for Investment, Development and Innovation of the Hradec Králové Region (www.proinovace.cz), operator of the Regional Center for Support of Social Entrepreneurship (www.zamestnanyregion.cz), coordinator of the creation and management of the Regional Innovation Brand, and actor in the creation and implementation of the Smart Region concept (including operation of the website www.chytryregion.cz).
The regional office of the Business and Investment Development Agency CzechInvest supports companies through services and programs. Consultations on development plans are intended for start-ups, small and medium-sized companies. Consultancy is specifically aimed at investment, business real estate, qualified workforce, research, development and innovation, grant opportunities and support of export activities of companies. In the area of investment, CzechInvest focuses on domestic and foreign investments with higher added value in the area of production, strategic services and technology centers. Within investment incentives (IPO) in the Hradec Králové Region, a total of 46 investment projects were implemented in the period of 1993–2017. The projects promised to invest more than 39.7 billion CZK and created more than 9,400 jobs. These were most often investments in the production of vehicles and their components, as well as in the electronics and electrical engineering industry, chemical industry, pharmacy, mechanical engineering and textile industry. CzechInvest offers city representatives assistance in the harmonization of the business environment (support for business and social infrastructure and the interest of cities in entrepreneurs) and cooperation in creating a smart offer for investors. The regional office of the CzechInvest Agency for the Hradec Králové Region is also actively involved in the Investment, Development and Innovation Platform of the Hradec Králové Region, primarily in the area of investment environment support.
The Regional Chamber of Commerce of the Hradec Králové Region is a non-governmental, non-profit organization and also the largest representative of the business community in the Hradec Králové Region providing its services to companies regardless of size and focus through its offices in all former district towns of the Hradec Králové Region. The Regional Chamber of Commerce of the Hradec Králové Region carries out educational activities in the form of seminars, workshops or round tables, and it also provides consulting and support for export activities of regional companies. With regard to international cooperation, the Chamber cooperates with Polish partners. The Regional Chamber of Commerce of the Hradec Králové Region also closely cooperates with the Hradec Králové Region on projects supporting polytechnic education, vocational education, cooperation between schools and companies with an emphasis on the employability of secondary school graduates by these regional employers.
The Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic (SP ČR), regional representation for the Liberec, Hradec Králové and Pardubice regions, is a non-governmental, voluntary, non-political organization bringing together employers and entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic; it is also the largest employers' association representing a major part of Czech industry and transport. Its task is to influence the economic and social policy of the Government of the Czech Republic with the aim of creating optimal conditions for dynamic business development in the Czech Republic, and to defend the common interests of its members. The Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic defends and promotes the interests of Czech employers and entrepreneurs in European and international organizations.
The Observatory and Planetarium in Hradec Králové is a specialized cultural and educational natural science organization established by the Hradec Králové Region. Its task is to acquaint the general public, especially youth, with knowledge of astronomy and related natural and technical sciences, and to participate in scientific research, thus contributing to increasing the overall cultural and educational level of citizens. It has long been one of the four most visited observatories and planetariums in the Czech Republic. In addition to the public, its visitors are mostly pupils and students of various schools and grades from a wide catchment area exceeding NUTS II Northeast. In addition to close cooperation with primary and secondary school teachers, the observatory cooperates with PřF and PF UHK, and MFF UK Prague. It also participated in several international projects organized by ESA, ESO and IAU or announced by the European Commission, such as the annual European Researchers' Night. In 2015, a newly built digital planetarium building was completed and opened to the public. Its implementation was supported by the EU fund and the state budget as part of the OP RDI. The programs in the digital planetarium represent a significant qualitative leap. Projection on a spherical surface better fills peripheral vision and evokes the feeling of a spatial image; visitors become part of the projected image. The digital planetarium is an environment for presenting science and research results and provides an illustrative and attractive form of teaching and education in various scientific fields, especially science and technology.
The Gallery of Modern Art in Hradec Králové has only had the opportunity to participate in scientific and research projects starting this year; it received this opportunity with a new charter that came into effect on January 1, 2018. The gallery's task is to create, professionally manage and make collections of fine art accessible; the gallery also fulfills this important task by keeping records and documentation of individual works of art and their authors, preparing and making available permanent exhibitions and fixed-term exhibitions and publishing catalogs for exhibitions. It is the documentation of the collections, exhibitions and, above all, the catalogs of the exhibitions that have formed and form an important basis for monitoring the development and further research of Czech modern art from the turn of the 19th century to the work of contemporary artists. This year the Gallery of Modern Art will hold a one-day professional conference titled “On the Battlefields of the First World War…” (Wednesday, May 23, 2018), prepared in connection with the exhibition “Jindřich Vlček (1885–1968), Painter of Russian Legions / Siberian Anabasis of World War I and Hradec Králové ”. The gallery is also preparing an edition of the conference proceedings. The gallery will also organize professional conferences in the coming years, and they will be devoted to topics related to the gallery's specialized focus on Czech modern art and its exhibition program. The Gallery of Modern Art is also preparing a framework agreement on cooperation with the Faculty of Education of UHK, which will also regulate cooperation in the field of science and research.
1.4.5 Public administration
The Hradec Králové Region strives for comprehensive development of the regional research and innovation system. It is the bearer of the Regional Innovation Strategy, updating it and preparing studies and action plans for this concept document. Since 2007, the Council for Research, Development and Innovation of the Hradec Králové Region has been operating in the region, currently under the chairmanship of the Governor of the Hradec Králové Region. The Council is a coordinating, advisory and initiative authority of the regional self-government in the area of research, development and innovation, and it acts as an expert team bringing together the views of public administration, research organizations, major companies, intermediary and umbrella organizations, educational institutions and other partners. The Hradec Králové Region is the holder of the Smart Accelerator of the Hradec Králové Region project, where it carries out system activities to support the development of the region's innovative environment. Examples of such activities include building a shared regional innovation brand, educational activities or a regional grant program to support the preparation of key projects contributing to the fulfillment of the Regional RIS3 Strategy. The Hradec Králové Region also has a coordinating role in the field of secondary and education. The Hradec Králové Region, as the founder of secondary schools in the Hradec Králové Region, supports students by awarding scholarships in selected fields of education providing secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate, and in the Certified Nurse field of education in vocational colleges.
Through the Health Endowment Fund of the Hradec Králové Region, the region supports the fourteen most threatened medical disciplines. In 2017 and 2018, it will provide scholarships to students of the 6th year of medical faculties with a total allocation of 5.5 M. CZK through this fund. Students of defined fields who commit to work in medical facilities in the Hradec Králové Region for four years will be able to receive a one-time scholarship in the amount of up to 150,000 crowns. The scholarship program for students of the last years of medical education has been implemented by the Hradec Králové Region since 2015. So far, it has expended 7.5 M. CZK for its implementation.
The Statutory City of Hradec Králové focuses on creating conditions to support the development of the business environment and employment, offering diversified employment opportunities matching the structure and quality of the workforce. The city is an active, not impartial, intermediary, and is making a great effort to attract new investors. It also cooperates with owners of brownfields (land and real estate within an urbanized area that have lost their original function or are underutilized); its role is supportive and consists primarily in active marketing and providing free advisory and methodological services, including presentation to potential investors and other stakeholders. The city also responds to the needs of the labor market and is preparing to build an educational center, which should become the flagship of modern teaching and popularization of natural science and technology fields in the region. First and foremost, this educational center will serve primary and secondary school students. In the area of RDI, it has established and financially supports the Science and Technology Park (Technology Center), which works as a business incubator and technology transfer center (see above). The single contact point for business support is operated by the Trade License Office of Hradec Králové.