Czech Republic

The centre hosts 3D printing technology and will support SMEs to modernise their systems and processes and to develop and test new products

The south-eastern Czech region and the city of Brno have spent the past 20 years building an innovation ecosystem and now hope to take this recognition of success further

A recent conference brought together representatives of both countries’ research communities and government officials, leading to talks of building closer ties

Economic development means the country could soon find it is no longer eligible for EU funding designed to address regional disparities in income, wealth and opportunities. This could leave research and innovation €3B worse off

On joining the EU in 2004, the country had a vision of using EU structural funds to build R&D facilities that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in Europe. Fifteen years later, Czech science is reaping the benefits