Supporting key investments in clean technologies, increasing attractiveness for foreign investors, transforming Czech industry and increasing its competitiveness. This is the aim of the new programme from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which was approved by the Government today. The programme focuses on innovation and production in areas such as batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps or electrolysers and more. Investment through this programme is expected to amount to at least CZK 100 billion in the period from 2025 to 2033.

"In order to remain competitive, we need to actively create opportunities and be an attractive country with favourable conditions for investors. This programme will attract investment in key areas such as renewables, electro-mobility and decarbonisation technologies, which are essential for the transition to a climate-neutral economy. Attracting this investment will also bring new opportunities for Czech industry. Investors will need local suppliers and components, which will support other Czech companies and their involvement in globalised production chains” says Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček.

The programme responds to the growing need to prepare the Czech economy for the challenges of global climate transformation. It will support production and innovation in the areas that are crucial for the decarbonisation of the economy. It will therefore be targeted at projects focused on the production of batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, electrolysers or carbon capture equipment, including key components and critical raw materials necessary for their production. Projects must meet strict environmental conditions and their implementation must guarantee high efficiency and sustainability.

The total volume of investments supported by this programme is estimated to be at least CZK 100 billion by 2033. Around CZK 24 billion of this amount is to be financed from public funds, while the rest is to be covered by private investors.

"This is an ideal complement to the existing system of investment incentives. The programme will allow a more flexible response to new opportunities and support will depend primarily on the focus of the investment, not just on the degree of development of the given region. While really large investments will be supported, there will be no need for individual approval by the European Commission as the programme should be notified as a whole. We expect to receive this notification within a few months" says Petr Očko, Senior Director of the Digitalisation and Innovation Section.

The call for applications is expected to be launched in early 2025. Applications for support will be open until September 2025. The minimum investment per project is CZK 2.8 billion. This threshold corresponds to an amount of EUR 110 million, from which individual notification for investment incentives is required.

The programme will support investments by private entrepreneurs, which can also be made in areas prepared by the State Investment and Development Corporation (SIRS). The latter focuses on developing sites for strategic investments across the Czech Republic and prepares modern industrial estates with the necessary infrastructure to attract foreign investors and high value-added projects.

Source: www.mpo.gov.cz

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