The U.S. Congress early today certified the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to be the next president and vice president of the United States. The events of yesterday, in which a mob entered the Capitol and delayed for a few hours the work of the Congress, represent a disturbing moment in American history that will be impossible to forget, but the institutions of American democracy have weathered the test.

In 2019, companies and public administration invested almost CZK 245 bn in ICT equipment and software. Investment in software and databases has been growing at a significantly faster pace, accounting for two-thirds of the total investment in ICT, than investment in ICT equipment. More than 18% of the total R&D expenditures in the country were spent in the ICT industry.

Total expenditure on research and development in the Czech Republic in 2019 reached 1.94% of GDP, nominally CZK 111.6 bn, which is an increase by almost CZK 9 bn year-on-year. Business sector invested the total of CZK 64.7bn in 2019. National public investment into R&D reached CZK 37.6bn. Resources from EU funds reached CZK 8bn.

After being returned by the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic approved on December  1, 2020 an amendment to Act No. 134/2016 Coll., On Public Procurement, as amended, which de facto introduces the obligation of socially and environmentally responsible public procurement from 1 January 2021.