News
Professor Spotlight: we talk to Jakub Lepš
For this month’s Professor Spotlight feature, we talked to Mr. Jakub Lepš. Mr. Lepš is a true polymath: a politician, editorial director and manager (internet news, media monitoring), an experienced analyst (U.S. politics, U.S. foreign policy, U.S.-Chinese relations, modern China), and a UNYP lecturer. Mr. Lepš kindly agreed to give us some time from his busy schedule to talk about his career, his views on democracy in the Czech Republic, and a brief overview of the current presidential elections in the United States of America.
Some categories of electrical appliances changing energy labels in March 2021
The labels indicating the energy efficiency of certain categories of electrical appliances are changing as of March 1, 2021. The new labelling will apply to refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, televisions, and dishwashers. Starting on September 1, 2021 the changes will also apply to light sources.
Record-breaking spam penalty
In August of this year, the Office for Personal Data Protection (the Office) imposed the highest fine to date for the repeated unsolicited sending of commercial communications (spam). The company selling second hand cars paid CZK 6 million.
Czech Supreme Court confirms that the protection of the family household enjoys the highest priority
The protection of the family household takes precedence over the protection of the good faith of third parties in the disposal of real property in which such a household is located.
Sustainable transformation is gaining strength: What changes will greening the economy bring?
There is probably no need to emphasise what exceptional times we live in. Society is changing at a dizzying pace and is able to adapt to pandemic conditions with unprecedented flexibility. The newly acquired capabilities resulting from rapid and complex changes are an opportunity for us to open a number of social topics that we have not been comfortable discussing thus far. Greening the economy is one of them. Part of society will naturally perceive it as a forced mantra but let us take a different look and consider it as an opportunity for improvement.
Strategic Directions for Czech Economic Policy
- Transition to High-Tech Manufacturing and Exports
- The City Campus as Idea Factory
- Government Programs and Processes That Drive Innovation
- Government as a Competitive Advantage, including Digitization
Advocacy Priorities for 2023
Technology, People, Infrastructure
Actions Recommended in Areas:
1. Establishing Policy Objectives for Research.
2. Research Investment and Cooperation. Big Bets (Key Technology Projects).
3. Establishing Databases for Tracking Public Policy Outcomes.
4. Public Procurement as an Innovation Tool.
5. Immigration of STEM Talents.
6. Digitization of Immigration.
7. Adult Reskilling and Upskilling.
8. Digitization of Land Use.
9. Infrastructure Development, including Technology Parks.
Read the documents in English and Czech.
Policy pipeline
In Policy Pipeline policy developments in the Czech Republic and abroad are monitored to bring better understanding of current topics and trends.