Newsletter Insider | April 2024

Newsletter

04.04. 2024

WELCOME…

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What topics can you expect in this issue?

Topic of the month: New project call!
Introducing: Winner of the Creative Business Cup
We invite you: Machine Learning 2024

NUMBER OF THE MONTH: 90

Is the total number of startups we are currently incubating. The first call brought 37 startups, while the second call brought another 53 startups.

THEME OF THE MONTH

We have another project call coming up in the spring! We plan to launch the first call of this year and the fourth call of Technology Incubation in April. Startups from all of the areas we support – mobility, artificial intelligence, creative industries, eco-innovation, aerospace, advanced technology and materials (Advanced Tech & Materials) and life, health and safety (Tech4Life) – will be able to apply again.

And that’s not all! The ESA BIC Czech Republic is now linked to the Technology Incubation (see more in the article below), but continues to operate through separate project calls. The first call of this year is over, but we are already unveiling the deadline for the second one, which will be open to 5. September.

We also remind you that you can apply for pre-incubation at any time without having to wait for the opening of the call for projects. This is a preparatory phase that allows startups to evaluate the suitability of their own project for a given type of support and at the same time increase their chances of success. We have prepared an article on our website on how to take full advantage of pre-incubation and successfully apply for the project.

INTRODUCING THE WINNERS OF THE CREATIVE BUSINESS CUP 2024

The winner of the national final of the competition for the most creative startup was E-CAFE BIKE with its innovative cargo trucks, which have their own electric drive and are fully energy self-sufficient thanks to solar panels. Second place went to puppet startup Kenka puppetgame and third place to bullying prevention platform Younglink. Read more on our website.

WE ARE A PARTNER OF URBIS THE SMART CITIES MEETUP

At the beginning of June, an international trade fair and conference will take place in Brno, which will connect companies, startups and municipalities working on smart solutions projects in their municipalities. CzechInvest is a proud partner of this event and Technology Incubation will be represented by specialists in the fields of mobility, ecology and artificial intelligence. For the first time this year, MeetUp will also include the Urbis Hackathon, where you can submit your innovative ideas until 26 April. In addition, institutions and startups can take advantage of special offers if they would like to exhibit at the exposition.

BATTERY VALUE CHAIN AS AN OPPORTUNITY

Already 3. The Battery Value Chain seminar will take place on 9 April in Hradec Kralove. The main topic will be the value chain associated with the production and recycling of batteries and their individual parts, including the technologies used to produce them. Don’t forget to register 👈

WE INVITE YOU TO THE CZECH AND SLOVAK SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT

On 24 April, an event will take place where the worlds of business and science will meet to discuss how to find synergies and improve collaboration between companies and scientific teams and how to make our society more sustainable. At the same time, the best projects that have a positive impact on the environment will be presented as part of the Sustainability Star competition. Registration is still open.

LAST CALL: ENTER THE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS COMPETITION

This year, Generali Česká pojišt’ovna will again organise the SME EnterPRIZE competition, which will reward start-ups, sole traders, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) that are doing business in a sustainable way in the Czech Republic. As last year, the sponsor of the startup category is CzechInvest and EcoTech Hub. Registration has been extended until 9 April.

WE INVITE YOU TO AI WORKSHOP

Technology Incubation in cooperation with other partners organizes an online workshop on Entrepreneurship in Artificial Intelligence, which is intended for both new and existing entrepreneurs or startups. Our meeting will be on April 4, and we still have spots available, so be sure to register 👉

WE ARE A MACHINE LEARNING 2024 PARTNER

At the international conference Machine Learning Prague 2024 you can look forward to workshops and interactive lectures by world experts on the topics of machine learning, AI or Deep Learning. Technology Incubation is a partner of this event and representatives from the AI Hub as well as some incubated startups will be present.

WE PARTICIPATE IN IEC & DIGITAL SUMMIT

A key event to discuss the big changes in the digital world, innovations and solutions to the challenges that digitalisation brings. Technology Incubation will be there and you can join us and become part of this exclusive tech and digital community!

INTRODUCING THE NEW HUB DIRECTOR

Marie Němečková started her space career at the Ministry of Transport, then worked at the Peace Research Centre Prague and at the European Commission (DG DEFIS). Since 2022, she has worked at CzechInvest as incubation manager for ESA BIC Czech Republic and will now be the director of Space Hub.

ESA BIC COMBINES WITH TECHNOLOGICAL INCUBATION

This year, new opportunities are opening up for start-ups in the Czech Republic thanks to the linking of the European Space Agency ESA BIC with the Technology Incubation project. This collaboration will not only allow selected startups to receive up to €200,000 in funding, which is four times the original amount, but also to gain access to a large startup network and connect with other nearby industries such as mobility or Tech4Life. More information can be found in the press release.

WE WERE THERE: GLOBAL QUANTUM SYMPOSIUM

The largest European event dealing with trends and applications of quantum technologies took place in Basel, Switzerland, and we at CzechInvest were not missing there! The event was attended by more than three hundred participants and more than five dozen speakers from academia, government and industry. You can read the full report from the event, including information about the Quantum Basel project, which sponsored it, here.

CERN AND CZECHINVEST LAUNCH THE CERN VENTURE CONNECT PROGRAMME

CzechInvest, as the first state organisation in the country, has established cooperation with the CERN Venture Connect programme, which is part of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The main objective of the programme is to support deep-tech start-ups using CERN’s technology and know-how. In connection with the launch of the programme, we are also launching a microsite on the CzechInvest website, which contains all relevant information for those interested in the programme. More information can also be found in the press release.

IMPORTANT EVENTS THAT AWAIT US

April 4 – Entrepreneurship in Artificial Intelligence – An online meeting suitable for budding entrepreneurs or startups with the aim of starting an AI business.

April 5 – SME EntePrize – Deadline for entries to the competition, which recognises companies whose business has a positive impact on the environment.

April 9 – Battery Value Chain as an opportunity – A workshop to learn more about the value chain associated with battery production and recycling, with consultants from the pre-incubation team present to discuss questions about project readiness for support.

22.-24. April – Machine Learning Prague – Europe’s largest conference on machine learning, artificial intelligence and various applications.

April 25 – Czech & Slovak Sustainability Summit – An event showcasing the best sustainable projects and discussing ways to make their companies more sustainable and how to leverage synergies and improve collaboration between the business and scientific communities.25.-26. April – Innovations United – an event that addresses topics related to the development of artificial intelligence, sustainability challenges, energy transformation or developments in the financial sector and changes in geopolitics.

INTERESTING FACT AT THE END

Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) and CzechInvest will support startups in the field of financial innovation and technology. A Digital Regulatory Sandbox will be created to support fast-growing companies such as start-ups and spin-offs in financial innovation and decentralised technologies.

This project was implemented with financial support from the state budget through the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the programme The Country for the Future.

Czech startup conquers America and expands further. Makes drone tracking devices

Dronetag from our Mobility Innovation Hub is developing drone tracking devices. Read an interview with its founder about the expansion into the US market and future plans.

Press release

The topic of startups is already resonating in the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic. A House subcommittee on startups has been established

At the beginning of this year, a parliamentary subcommittee was established to focus on startups. The initial meeting was attended by politicians, entrepreneurs and representatives of ministries.