ICUK has been a full member of the Steering Committee since March 18, 2024 ITI ÚchA, tools for the development of metropolitan areas, where the Ústecko-Chomutovská agglomeration (ITI ÚChA) also ranks according to the Regional Development Strategy of the Czech Republic. In addition to the territory of the statutory towns of the Ústí Region (Děčín, Chomutov, Most, Teplice and Ústí nad Labem), this is also defined by their functional background (2014+, 2021+).
The greatest advantage of this instrument is the possibility of drawing funds from EU operational programs for significant and integrated projects having a significant impact on the Ústí-Chomutov agglomeration. Specifically, it is the Integrated Regional Operational Program (IROP), the National Recovery Plan program, the Modernization Fund and the Just Transformation, operational programs related to the Environment; Research, development and education; Transportation; Employment+ and Technology and applications for competitiveness. Applicants can be cities, municipalities and other entities with a significant role in the area in which they operate.
In the past, ITI ÚChA supported, for example, projects related to the renewal and expansion of the vehicle fleet of cities in the Ústí Region; modernization of vocational classrooms and vocational training in primary and secondary schools; construction of social housing; crime prevention and UJEP research and development projects. Among other things, the projects Connecting the Labská and Ploučnické cycle paths are now in the state of implementation; MEDITECH, DIGITECH and MATBIOMED UJEP projects; projects of social agencies and revitalization of the territory.
The Innovation Center of the Ústí Region, thanks to its membership in the Steering Committee of the ITI ÚChA, will be able, together with other members, to participate, among other things, in issuing advice regarding the approval, changes and implementation of an integrated strategy and recommending/not recommending statements about a set of projects discussed in working groups due to their compliance with integrated strategy and challenge parameters. The next meeting of the ITI ÚChA Steering Committee, in which the ICUK will also participate, will take place on April 2, 2024 at the City Hall of Ústí nad Labem.
