The Innovation Center of the Ústí nad Labem Region (ICUK) actively participated in the Young Farmer competition on February 5, 2025, which took place at the Technical and Gardening Secondary School in Lovosice. As the main regional partner, we not only supported this prestigious event, but also participated in the jury that evaluated the performances of young talents in the field of agriculture. The competition showed that the connection of education, entrepreneurship and creativity is key to the development of the future generation of experts not only in the field of agriculture, but also in other sectors.

ICUK supports education connected with practice, offers activities aimed at talented pupils and students, and emphasizes the development of entrepreneurship and creative thinking. The Young Farmer competition is a great example of how theoretical knowledge can be combined with practical skills. The competition participants demonstrated their skills in disciplines such as milking a simulator, learning about soil, animal tracks, crops, tools and techniques. It was not just about knowledge, but also the ability to make quick decisions, which are key competencies not only for successful business.

In this year's first regional semi-final, first place went to Jan Kašpar from Česká Lípa, took second place Ondřej Berka from Kralupy, both advance to the national final, which will take place at Mendel University in Brno. Third place went to Lukáš Bažant from Mělník. The contestants first had to pass a 30-question knowledge test with a time limit of 45 minutes, with the winner losing only three points. In the event of a tie, the speed of completing the test was the deciding factor.

Agriculture today is not just about traditional farming, but also about innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurial thinking. ICUK is actively involved in educational programs focused on connecting technical sectors with business and modern technologies. Students must acquire not only agrarian knowledge, but also the ability to work with digital technologies, economic models, and innovations in the field of organic farming.

Thanks to the Regional Innovation Strategy of the Ústí nad Labem Region (RIS3) we support the development of creative and entrepreneurial competencies across disciplines, from technical and scientific fields to agriculture. Our goal is to provide young people with enough tools to succeed in the labor market and in business.

Our activities go far beyond one-off competitions – we organize professional lectures, mentoring programs, internships for students, pre-incubation educational programs and other motivational and competitive activitiesWe also create a vibrant and active network of entrepreneurship ambassadors, and we collaborate with schools to develop entrepreneurial thinking in pupils and students, whether they are primary schools, business academies, grammar schools or vocational schools.

Supporting education and entrepreneurship is key to the region's prosperity. The Young Farmer competition is proof that even traditional industries can be innovative and attract young enthusiasts who will shape the future of Czech agriculture.

The event was funded by the RUR project – Region to University, University of the Region, registration number CZ.10.02.01/00/22_002/0000210