In the 2014-2020 programming period, the Prague Operational Programme – Growth Pole of the Czech Republic (OPP PR) played a crucial role in the development of the city by directing investments towards strategic sectors.
The main objective of the programme was to ensure the effective implementation of investments in key areas of the city, including research and development, energy saving, support for social inclusion, and investments in education. The programme had a total allocation of just under 11 billion kronor, which enabled the implementation of approximately 1,600 projects. Currently, all allocated funds have been exhausted, marking the completion of the planned initiatives.
The approval of the Prague – Czech Republic Growth Pole Operational Programme dates back to June 2015. On that occasion, the first final calls were also announced, which totalled more than 60 in 2022. The calls were divided into four priority axes: Strengthening Research, Technological Development and Innovation; Sustainable Mobility and Energy Saving; Supporting Social Inclusion and Poverty Alleviation; and Education, Training and Employment Support. The programme’s first projects were launched already in 2016.
The multi-fund programme in Prague had 10.78 billion kroons available, 50 % of which was financed by the European Union. This entailed funding from the European Social Fund (ESF), which aims to improve employment and education opportunities and help the physically, mentally or socially disadvantaged, and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which aims to alleviate economic and social disparities in individual areas through investments in production, transport, education, construction of health and social centres, research and development and the environment.
The course of the Prague Operational Programme was varied. Initially, the interest of Prague’s applicants had been rather limited, due to the narrower focus of the programme and the different parameters imposed. However, thanks to efforts to simplify the rules and conditions for project implementation, the initial shyness of applicants was overcome. Over time, there was an excess of demand in most of the calls, thus enabling the selection of high quality projects.
In addition, Karel Andrle, Director of the European Funds Department of the Municipality of Prague, explained that within the programme, they were able to respond to unforeseen situations and direct financial resources to where they were most urgently needed by Prague applicants. One example was the Covid-Prague programme, which helped entrepreneurs through the pandemic period by providing loans to 300 entrepreneurs totalling over 1.25 billion crowns.
In the smallest Czech programme in terms of volume of funds, several projects were implemented, spread across the four priority axes. In the area of research, technological development and innovation, the programme supported 830 companies, strengthening cooperation between the research and business sectors through 104 innovation vouchers and 163 proof-of-concept activities.
Priority Axis 2, dedicated to sustainable mobility and energy saving, represented a significant part of the operational programme. This axis aimed not only to generate economic savings but also to improve air and environmental quality in the capital. The final amount earmarked for complex projects requiring lengthy preparation and effective implementation amounted to 2,940,670,100 crowns. Nearly 900 parking spaces were created in the P+R system, allowing motorists to park their vehicles and continue their journey by public transport, thus reducing city traffic and pollution. In addition, four intelligent zero-energy buildings were constructed and 29 electric buses and trolleybuses were purchased for the population of Prague.
The programme also supported the creation of 47 social flats and 25 community centres. The largest number of projects was in the field of education, with the construction of 141 new classrooms, increasing the capacity by 18,000 pupils. This has led to an improvement in the quality of the school environment, including the availability of aids and the removal of barriers, facilitating the inclusion of more pupils with special educational needs in the ordinary environment. In addition, groups of children have been formed which, thanks to the support received, offer 1,000 more places.
The conclusion of the programme can also be positively assessed by the comments of the representatives of the European Commission, who praised the effective use of the allocated funds, making the OPP PR the first among all ongoing operational programmes in the Czech Republic to complete the allocation of resources.
Zdeněk Kovářík, head of the Prague Municipality for the area of finance, budget, funds, and business support, said that the capital city of Prague started the OPP PR in a disadvantaged position, but managed to finish the programme as the winner among all operational programmes in the Czech Republic.
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