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Spotlight issue

25th February 2016 / Competitiveness / Digital Agenda


How digital is Czech Republic? New DESI figures by European Commission

Today the European Commission published the results of the 2016 edition of the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). The Czech Republic ranks 17th among EU 28, down two places compared with the 2015 progress report. 

 

25th February 2016 / Competitiveness / Digital Agenda


Apple vs. FBI: Start of major debate on technology, technology companies' role in society?

The U.S. Justice Department is demanding Apple’s help in unlocking at least nine iPhones nationwide in addition to the phone used by one of the San Bernardino, Calif., attackers. The disclosure appears to buttress the company’s concerns that the dispute could pose a threat to encryption safeguards that goes well beyond the single California case, NY times write. Read more opinions on the dispute.

25th February 2016 / Competitiveness / Business and Industry


Eurostat: Czech Republic records high-tech products trade surplus, high-tech manufacturing growth

In value terms, Germany was the EU's leading exporter of high-tech products to the rest of the world in 2014, followed by France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Eight countries — Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary , Ireland and the Netherlands — recorded high-tech products trade surpluses. Overall, however, the EU recorded a high-tech Extra-EU trade deficit in 2014, with imports around EUR 7 billion higher than exports, Eurostat data show.

24th February 2016 / Competitiveness / Digital Agenda


Aspen Institute Prague: State of the Digital Economy in Central and Eastern Europe - study | Czech Republic, Poland: similarities and differences in digital development

The current state of digital economy development in the CEE lies closely behind the EU 28 average in most of the relevant indicators. The promotion of digital economy is moving up the ladder of political priorities in many CEE states, particularly the V4 countries. The focus is mainly on building a robust Internet infrastructure, particularly the NGA-fiber networks, which constitutes a necessary basis for the development of more advanced online business and government services, the study Digital Heart of Europe: Low pressure or hypertension? State of the Digital Economy in Central and Eastern Europe published by the Aspen Institute Prague says.

 

 

24th February 2016 / Competitiveness / Transport, Infrastructure and Tourism


Prague Post: Prague tops CEE in quality of living

Ranking by Mercer puts Czech capital at 69th place worldwide, next to Detroit, out of 230 evaluated cities.That was good enough to be the best in Central and Eastern Europe, but far behind nearby Vienna, which was number one worldwide and in Europe, Prague Post writes. Last year, Prague ranked 68th. 

 

 

 

Strategic Directions for Czech Economic Policy

  1. Transition to High-Tech Manufacturing and Exports
  2. The City Campus as Idea Factory
  3. Government Programs and Processes That Drive Innovation
  4. 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.

Members of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic