From 31 December this year, companies, research institutions and universities in Prague can send applications for vouchers to support innovation. In the first phase, 12 million crowns are prepared for them. The subsidy program Vouchers was announced at the end of November by the capital city of Prague in cooperation with the Prague Innovation Institute (Pii). They have the support of the preparation of Czech and international projects in the field of research, development and innovation, which will be beneficial for Prague in the long run. At the same time, coronavirus crises are to help develop innovation and the Prague economy.

Next year, the City of Prague’s grant program in the amount of CZK 20 million will follow the Assistance Vouchers, which is to support the direct implementation of projects in the field of research, development and innovation.

Applications for the first wave of Assistance Vouchers will run from 31 December to the end of May next year.

It is possible to receive up to ninety percent support within one voucher. One project can receive from 100 thousand to 900 thousand crowns, while applicants must participate in ten percent funding. The money raised is intended to help complete the preparation of the project so that its authors can present it to potential investors who would be willing to invest in it, thus ensuring the future and putting it into practice.

“According to our findings, assistance vouchers are an effective way to help innovation teams that are preparing to prepare multi-million, multi-million projects financed by transnational funds. I believe that thanks to the vouchers, several such new projects will be launched by Prague teams next year. In addition, it is an extraordinary opportunity for academics and companies to show what projects they are currently preparing, and thus let potential investors know about themselves, ” he says councilor m of Prague for business support Vít Šimral.

Subsidy support is announced by the capital m Prague within the three-year project Prague Smart Accelerator (PSA), the Operational Program Research, Development and Education (OP RDE) and the City of Prague contribute financially to it. of the city of Prague. Assistance vouchers are 85 percent paid from the OP RDE and Prague has a 15% co-financing.

“We already have dozens of questions and requests for cooperation on vouchers. Any public or private entity that operates and is based in Prague can apply for them. However, it is not just a part of financial support, it is a continuous mapping of the innovation ecosystem of Prague. An important principle is to develop sectoral cooperation, in this case through consultation of applicants with a team of innovation developers, ” adds innovation manager of Prague Tomáš Lapáček.

Prague Innovation Institute (Pii) founded in the form of a registered institute, the capital city of Prague in 2020. This public benefit organization focuses on supporting the development of education, the city, business and the environment. It also wants to become a link between the business world and the public and academic spheres. Since July 2020, Pii has been led by Bohumil Kartous, an expert on innovation in education. of the City of Prague (PIC).

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