The Innovation Center of the Ústí nad Labem Region (ICUK) officially opened a new contact point in Krásná Lípa on Wednesday, October 29. It is located in the city center in the premises of the House of Bohemian Switzerland. It will serve to support business and regional development throughout the Šluknov Slope.
In addition to ICUK representatives, the opening ceremony was attended by Jan Kolář, mayor of Krásná Lípa, Ing. Zbyněk Linhart, senator for the Děčín region, Radim Burkoň for the city of Krásná Lípa, Václav Doleček, director of České Švýcarsk, ops, Ing. Jana Švecová, Ph.D. and Ing. Václav Švec, Ph.D, ambassadors of the Tiimiakatemia® brand, who promote a new educational model in the Czech Republic, and doc. Ing. Lenka Slavíková, Ph.D. from the Faculty of Social Economics of the JE Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem (FSE UJEP).
The new contact point expands the scope of ICUK towards the north of the region and will offer advice, support and networking for entrepreneurs, local governments, non-profit organizations and academia. From today, it is possible to arrange a personal meeting with Mgr. Ing. Mariana Krásnolipská, ICUK consultant, who will help with the development of business, innovation and regional projects in Krásná Lípa.
"Opening a contact point in Krásná Lípa is another step for us in fulfilling the vision of ICUK – to be close to people, companies and institutions throughout the Ústí nad Labem Region. Our goal is to support not only business, but also the overall development of the region. We believe that the north of the region has enormous potential in the areas of innovation, tourism and cooperation," stated Director of ICUK Ing. Martin Mata, MBA, LL.M.
According to the city management and regional representatives, the new presence of ICUK in Krásná Lípa is of great importance not only for entrepreneurs, but also for the residents of the entire Šluknov promontory.
"We are glad that we have managed to create a space in Krásná Lípa where people with ideas, courage and a desire to change something will meet. ICUK brings new opportunities to support business and cooperation, which is a great benefit for the city," stated Mayor of Krásná Lípa Jan Kolář.
"A big thank you to České Švýcarsk, ops, for providing space in the House of Českého Švýcarská and for the friendly cooperation. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to operate here - in a place that symbolizes the connection of people, nature and regional identity. We believe that our joint activities will bring concrete benefits to local entrepreneurs and the community," stated Ing. Martin Mata, MBA, LL.M., Director of ICUK.
The development of the region and its transformation require the connection of various spheres – business, academic and public. It was this cooperation that was one of the main topics of today's meeting.
"The development of the Šluknov Promontory depends on people who are not afraid to think differently and bring new approaches. ICUK's approach helps to strengthen this courage - and that is precisely why it makes sense for it to have a presence in the region," emphasized Senator for the Děčín Region, Zbyněk Linhart.
The importance of the opening was also appreciated by the academic sphere, which sees ICUK as a partner not only for innovation but also for the development of education in the region.
"I appreciate that ICUK connects the business and academic spheres even outside the regional center. I greatly appreciate that it wants to actively support the development of education and bring new forms of cooperation with schools and universities. Such an initiative is of fundamental importance for the sustainable development of the region," stated Assoc. Prof. Lenka Slavíková, Ph.D., FSE UJEP.
A branch of UJEP is being planned in Lípa, which will offer the Finnish model of entrepreneurial education.
The cooperation of Krásná Lípa with ICUK, UJEP is followed by the upcoming Tiimiakatemia® Krásná Lípa (TAKL) project, which will bring a completely new approach to higher education to the region. The goal is to create a branch of JE Purkyně University that will offer a professionally focused bachelor's degree program based on the Finnish Tiimiakatemia® model - an innovative method of learning through practice, teamwork and personal development.
Students will create their own business projects, work in teams, and learn directly from real-world experiences – without traditional lectures and exams. Instead of teachers, they will be guided by team coaches and mentors from among entrepreneurs and practitioners.
"In Krásná Lípa, we want to build a school that will not just be an institution, but a vibrant community of enterprising people. We believe that Tiimiakatemia® will help retain talented young people in the region and attract new ones who will change the world around them," he says Mgr. Ing. Mariana Krásnolipská, certified Team Coach Tiimiakatemia® and one of the initiators of the establishment of TAKL.
The premises of the new ICUK contact point were provided by Public benefit company Czech Switzerland, which cooperates with the center on joint activities aimed at the development of the region.
"The House of Bohemian Switzerland has always been a place of meeting and cooperation. We are pleased that it can now also serve as a space for supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, and we are pleased that ICUK has chosen Krásná Lípa for its new location," added Václav Doleček, director of Czech Switzerland, ops
ICUK is thus strengthening its presence in the northern part of the region, with the aim of being closer to local entrepreneurs, municipalities and initiatives.The contact point at the House of Bohemian Switzerland will serve not only as a consultation space, but also as a place for workshops, meetings and joint projects focused on innovation, education, community development and cooperation between the public and academic sectors.
