On yesterday´s meeting, the Czech government approved an increase in the state budget for the next year of 2017 for research, development and innovations, of 3.7 billion CZK. Total expenditures for this field are therefore 32.7 billion CZK, making it historically the highest budget for science. Deputy Prime Minister for Research, Development and Innovation Pavel Bělobrádek have said during the announcement he wants to strengthen applied research and development and ensure the stability of the new research centres.

Applied research will consume 700 mil. CZK from the announced increase. “We expect a positive impact on the business environment and competitiveness of the Czech Republic from the higher budget. We want to focus more on current and future needs of businesses and society and to promote the emergence of centers of applied research. Expenditure on research and development are our investment in the future, "said Deputy Prime Minister Bělobrádek.

Other sectors of the science budget will be increased as well as 500 mil. CZK from the increase is allocated for basic research and “…768 mil. CZK from the increase is for the strengthening of institutional funding to research centres and institutions, which will allow them stable operation and long-term planning,” added Bělobrádek. Moreover, for the co-financing the EU programs, 1.1 billion CZK will be added, and for further government research 330 mil. CZK will be distributed, and finally to improve international cooperation, 297 mil. CZK will be newly allocated.

Bigger budget will also help the agencies which are helping to nourish the business and science ecosystem in the Czech Republic. Technological Agency of the Czech Republic (TAČR), which will receive additional 600 mil. CZK, increasing the final agency´s budget to 3.5 billion CZK. Czech Science Foundation (GAČR) will also receive additional 400 mil. CZK.

Deputy Prime Minister Bělobrádek also commented the future plans of financing science in the Czech Republic, saying “Gradual increase in the budget for science is intentional and important since we want to prepare for the years 2020-2023, when funding from the EU will significantly decreases. The national and European spending on science should be around 1% of GDP in years 2017-2019, after 2020, the total national spending should decline to 0.6 % due to the decline of European funding. We cannot effort such decline, we must ensure the stability of the system of science and research for the future,”

We hope this increase will allow Czech companies and research facilities to grow and make our lives easier in the future. Moreover, Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Bělobrádek went to the USA two weeks ago together with delegation of entrepreneurs to deepen the relationships between the USA and the Czech Republic.