NUPHARO – THE PARTNER OF ÚSTECKÝ REGION’S BUSINESS FORUM
September 21-22: Under the auspices of the Ústecký region and the Economic and Social Council of the Ústí Region, the first annual international conference “The Ústecký Region Business Forum” was held in the Ústecký region. The event’s agenda included entrepreneurship and investment and the support of research, development and innovations.
Nearly 150 participants could catch up with the newest information and opinions targeted at financial support of investment, the introduction of scientific-research infrastructure and sector opportunities of the region. In their presentations and workshops, the presenters focused on entrepreneurship and investment potential of the region, its specifics and needs for its successful growth. In addition to representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the government agency ‘CzechInvest’ and the Association for Foreign Investment – AFI, specific companies that conduct business within the region had presented themselves and their opinions. All have agreed that the region offers a large potential, which needs to be consistently and intensely developed further and that opportunities must be actively sought out. The region offers a sufficient amount of attractive space, both in the current industrial zones, such as Triangle or Joseph, and also in those that are currently being built, such as the Nupharo Technological and Innovative park, which focuses mainly on supporting new technologies and innovation.
“Our decision to invest in the Ústecký region was not primary,“ Kurt Kaltenegger, the Group Vice President and the Head of Technology ABB Technology Ventures, mentioned, “but after we realized the great potential and the various benefits of the location, whether the strategic location, infrastructure, current industry or the high level of education, our decision was quick and unanimous.” The Swiss company, ABB, which is the general investor of the Nupharo Technological and Innovative park, sees the investment opportunities very positively within the Czech Republic. Stable environment, government support of investments, superb connection to European markets and very high level of education – those are just a few of the many points Kurt mentioned with regards to the Czech Republic. “The innovation within the sphere of modern technologies is no longer the niche of just a narrow group of countries, such as the USA or Germany. Nowadays, innovations come from even the most remote corners of the world and it is important to deliberately search for those great ideas all over the world,” Kurt addressed with regards to the importance of an active search, the so-called ‘scouting’.
The question of brownfields revitalization did not stay in the background of the discussions, especially with regards to the investment to the chemical industry and the support of agriculture, especially in terms of the hops agricultural industry. The second block of presentations brought to light the opinions and experience of individuals from the sphere of the support of research, development and innovations. The question of a national support, and the overall potential of the innovations research for the region, was especially brought to attention. The topic of qualified and skilled workforce within the region, the level and support of education, and the important point of investment to the sphere of strategies, preparation and realization of concrete projects were also greatly discussed.
The second day, the visitors could visit selected projects and have a look at the industrial zones (Triangle and Joseph), the research and educational center (UniCRE), and also the Nupharo Technological and Innovative park that is currently being built and will soon see its grand opening this fall.
More information: www.forumusteckykraj.cz
