Skip to content
Technologická Inkubace

Startups with innovative mobility solutions have a unique opportunity

Mobility
29.11. 2024
line-arrow Startups with innovative mobility solutions have a unique opportunity

Thanks to our high knowledge of the environment, we are able to offer companies effective support on the domestic and foreign markets, says Jan Bízik, Director of the Mobility Innovation Hub at CzechInvest.

The article was taken from zdopravy.cz.

The Mobility Innovation Hub (MIH) of the CzechInvest Agency for Entrepreneurship and Innovation supports the development of mobility startups and at the same time mediates Czech and foreign know-how, technology and capital. It connects not only the automotive and aerospace industries, but also focuses on freight, public or rail transport, drones, smart city issues and Industry 4.0. What successes has the Hub achieved since its inception in 2021? Jan Bízik, Director of the Mobility Innovation Hub, answers.

The Mobility Innovation Hub is part of the Technology Incubation project, which focuses on supporting start-ups in strategic areas for the Czech Republic. Can you give us an overview of its operation?

This is the largest programme of the CzechInvest agency, which supports the startup environment through seven specialised technology hubs, including mobility. This area is now covered by twenty startups and we can see very promising and successful companies among them.
Currently, we are working with almost 180 companies across the entire project out of the planned 250, so the project has already passed its symbolic half. As part of the incubation process, the selected startups will not only receive financial support of up to CZK 4.5 million, but more importantly, expert mentoring and the opportunity to meet the broad startup community we are trying to build within the project. All of this for up to two years, without losing a stake in the company.
A new challenge has now been opened until 29 November 2024, and we will open another one in spring 2025. I would like to appeal to all mobility projects to take advantage of the opportunity for a no-obligation consultation with our experts in the framework of the so-called pre-incubation and apply. All information on the terms and conditions of the current call can be found at technologickainkubace.org.

Who is the Mobility Innovation Hub for?

The Mobility Innovation Hub was created with the aim of connecting key players in this sector, including established companies, scientific and research institutes, innovation centres, secondary and higher education institutions, industry associations and clusters, investors, Czech state and local government organisations and international organisations.

What does the Mobility Innovation Hub focus on?

Thanks to our high knowledge of the market environment, we are able to effectively build on the services provided by the Technology Incubation and, in cooperation with other partners, provide effective support for the development of innovative companies not only on the domestic market, but also abroad.

These include identifying and breaking down sectoral barriers, initiating and amending legislation, preparing sectoral analyses and studies, establishing and supporting consortia and coalitions, including joint financing projects, searching for specific innovation solutions and their joint development and market positioning, supporting foreign expansion in cooperation with other partners at national and international level. We are also actively involved in piloting solutions in living labs. The hub also includes a BIC or business incubator.

We are also organizers or partners of important industry events such as the international Urbis Smart Cities Meetup, Smart City Expo and World Congress in Barcelona or the World Road Congress organized by the Czech Road Society, and initiatives in the field of e-mobility, autonomous mobility, urban and shared mobility.

Which institutions or companies cooperate with the hub?

Among the state institutions are the Ministry of Trade and Industry, CzechTrade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Regional Development. From the innovation infrastructure, for example, Ynovate or EIT Urban Mobility. The Association of the Automotive Industry, the Moravian-Silesian Automotive Cluster, ACRI, the Association of the Aerospace Industry of the Czech Republic, the Moravian Aviation Cluster, the Alliance for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the Chamber of Commerce, the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, the Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Tradesmen of the Czech Republic, ŠKODA AUTO, ŠKODA Group, Toyota, Hyundai, Valeo, Vitesco, Brano, Hella, JTEKT, ABB, ČEZ ESCO and many others.

Can you also introduce us to some of the startups that are currently undergoing incubation under the MIH banner?

Within the MIH business incubator, we are currently working with twenty startups. To illustrate the diversity, I would perhaps highlight at least the following: Dronetag, which focuses on drone flight control, Unitum IT, which deals with testing asphalt mixtures for roads, and thirdly, a completely different focus – Super2Stroke with a patented solution for a modern supercharged two-stroke engine with high unit power. For a complete list of supported projects and more information about the project, including the calls, visit technologickainkubace.org.

One of MIH’s startups, namely E-CAFE BIKE with its electric cargo cart Komuter, won the Creative Business Cup 2024 competition. Is this a harbinger of new mobility in cities?

The Creative Business Cup awarded industrial, transport design – that is, functional solutions that contribute to the sustainability of transport and city life. These trolleys enable the fast and convenient transport of larger loads, developing the concept of “last mile delivery” and promoting a change in the understanding of cycling not only as a means of personal transport, but also for transporting loads in the urban environment. Yes such means are certainly a glimpse into the future, as well as completely new formats that we don’t see on the streets yet – such as URBAN Air Mobility.
Startups with creative mobility solutions have a unique opportunity to apply for the Creative Business Cup 2025 competition coming soon. The national round of this international competition, organised by CzechInvest, is open to all creative startups, including those focused on smart urban mobility.
Applications for the national round will open in November. The winner of the national round will have the opportunity to represent the Czech Republic at the global finals abroad and gain valuable contacts, feedback from experts and potential investors. Keep an eye on the official website of the CzechInvest agency or www.creativebusinesscup.cz for up-to-date information on deadlines and the application process.

What do we mean by Smart Urban Mobility?

Smart Urban Mobility is a key part of the Smart Cities concept, which aims to improve the quality of life of citizens, protect the environment and increase the competitiveness of cities through innovative technologies and solutions in the field of transport and transportation.
These are, for example, vehicles equipped with sensors and communicating with their surroundings and with each other, whether they are passenger cars or public transport. But smart urban mobility also includes shared means or micro-mobility as part of multimodal transport systems – where you use the most appropriate means for a given type of transport, and these naturally build on each other – for example, last mile in the form of shared bikes or scooters, demand-response transport, and so on.

How does the Czech Republic compare to Europe in the implementation of clean mobility?

The Czech Republic is successfully expanding its charging station network. Czech factories produce over 10% of the total number of electric vehicles at ŠKODA and Hyundai factories. We also produce electric buses.
The trolleybus and rail vehicle sector, which are naturally environmentally friendly, is traditionally strong. There is a lot of activity in the field of transport solutions using hydrogen (e.g. the experimental Tatra).
The subsidy programmes have started later than in other countries due to the budget possibilities, but on the other hand we are in the phase of introducing new model series of all leading automakers, increased activity of foreign and Asian competitors, so the time is approaching when EV will be an affordable option for ordinary households and thus the market will get a new impetus.

Who can we look to for inspiration in this area?

The transition to clean mobility is not only about vehicle availability and infrastructure or the presence of gigafactories, but also about the transformation of an industry that is gradually replacing production programmes for internal combustion engine cars. This is also linked to the scientific research base. The activity of major world markets such as the US or China and the promotion of new industry is putting pressure on European economies and governments to be active in this direction too.

Do we have any major players – companies, startups, universities, innovators – in the digital transport and autonomous driving sector?

For example, autonomous subways, trams, shuttle buses – for example at the airport – or taxis on pre-arranged routes are already quite common on the world market. In the near future, we will also see more urban applications of autonomous mobility in Europe. Passenger vehicles in regular traffic – outside motorways or reserved sections – are still the music of the future.
In the Czech Republic, we also have interesting projects and solutions in this field – for example, the ŠKODA Group with its autonomous tram, which it tested on a new polygon in Pilsen, or the logistics solution Bring Auto.

Can you give us an overview of what MIH is working on in terms of smart manufacturing and logistics?

The automotive industry, like transport technology in general, is largely based on engineering production. Therefore, it is natural that MIH is concerned with this topic. Smart manufacturing and logistics encompasses all technologies and processes that aim to digitalize, automate and robotize production. AI principles are also being applied to a significant extent in this area.

What do you want to focus on now as Hub Director?

MIH’s ambition is to further involve not only major international players operating on the Czech market, but also national champions, state, local government and scientific research organisations to a greater extent, to create added value with the potential for global growth.

Similar news

Article Year 2024 in a nutshell

Year 2024 in a nutshell

The third year of Technology Incubation brought a number of significant milestones. Let’s take a look at an overview of the most interesting key activities.