{"id":12630,"date":"2024-12-06T11:54:25","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T11:54:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/axevera.com\/?p=12630"},"modified":"2024-12-12T12:06:08","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T12:06:08","slug":"twist-program-a-game-changer-for-innovation-in-the-czech-republic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/axevera.com\/en\/2024\/12\/06\/twist-program-a-game-changer-for-innovation-in-the-czech-republic\/","title":{"rendered":"TWIST Program: A Game-Changer for Innovation in the Czech Republic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Czech Republic has launched the TWIST Program<\/strong> (Transfer, Research, Development, and Innovation for Strategic Technologies<\/em>) as a key part of its strategy to enhance technological innovation and economic growth. Approved by the government on June 5th, 2024, the program is scheduled to run from 2025 to 2031, with a significant budget of 5 billion CZK. TWIST is designed to promote development in innovative fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, semiconductors, and microelectronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The primary goal of the TWIST program is to transform research and development outputs into practical applications, ensuring that innovations contribute directly to the country\u2019s economic competitiveness and global technological standing.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Program Structure and Subprograms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The TWIST program is organized into three subprograms, each addressing a specific dimension of innovation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Applied Research in Strategic Areas<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sub-program supports projects that combine industrial research and experimental development, aiming to improve production efficiency and introduce new products or services. Eligible applicants include enterprises, with the possibility of partnering with research organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Innovation into Practice<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designed to integrate innovations into business operations, this subprogram emphasizes the practical application of research and development results. Eligible applicants are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Knowledge Transfer Vouchers<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sub-program aims to support projects that utilize existing scientific research results in business practice, facilitating the acquisition of necessary know-how through licenses or equity purchases from research organizations. Eligible applicants include small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, and spin-offs.<\/p>\n\n\n

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First Call for AI Projects<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On December 3rd, 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued the first public call for projects under Subprogram 1<\/em>, targeting proposals that incorporate artificial intelligence to develop advanced products or business processes. This initiative has earmarked 700 million CZK<\/em> for funding, with individual projects eligible for up to 30 million CZK, covering a maximum of 70% of eligible costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eligible applicants include businesses of all sizes across the Czech Republic. Each project must deliver at least one of the specified outcomes, such as a utility model, industrial design, prototype, functional sample, semi-operation, verified technology, software, or a digital solution as defined in the call documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key details for this call include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n