The Innovation Center of the Ústí nad Labem Region (ICUK) and the Innovation Center of the Olomouc Region (ICOK) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on October 16, 2025. This is a significant step that officially confirms the bilateral connection and the commitment of both organizations to intensive inter-regional cooperation. The goal is the mutual development of regional innovation ecosystems, as defined by the National RIS3 Authority and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.
From digital health to international projects
The cooperation will focus on sharing know-how and joint activities in key areas. The main topics include innovations in healthcare and digital health (e.g. eHealth, telemedicine and the use of AI), supporting participation in international consortia and project networks, and sharing experiences with the development of economically and socially disadvantaged areas (HSOÚ).
“This memorandum officially connects two strong innovation agencies from two important regions. Mutual cooperation will allow us to share best practices more effectively, especially in areas that are key for the Ústí nad Labem Region, such as supporting the HSOÚ and digital transformation in healthcare. We see this as a huge synergy and an opportunity to move our inter-regional cooperation to a higher level, thereby fulfilling the requirements of the National RIS3 Strategy. This is a concrete expression of the will to connect and enrich each other for the good of our regions,” ICUK director Martin Mata comments on the signing of the memorandum.
ICUK and ICOK as leaders of regional development
Both centers, which represent key innovation players in their regions, declare that the memorandum is based on the principle of equality and mutual benefit. This agreement underlines the ambition of both regions to actively seek opportunities for growth and increase the attractiveness of the regions.
“Partnerství s ICUKem je pro náš region strategické. Olomoucký kraj má silné zázemí zejména v life science odvětvích a to jednak díky vědecko-výzkumným pracovištím na Univerzitě Palackého v Olomouci, Fakultní nemocnici Olomouc, ale i firemním partnerům v našem inovačním ekosystému. Spojením našich sil můžeme společně efektivněji vstupovat do mezinárodních projektů a budovat silnější a odolnější regiony,” describes the reason for the memorandum, Tomáš Dostál, director of ICOK.
