How do some of the most successful innovation ecosystems in Europe work? Our colleague Ing. Lucie Dohnalová from the Czech Republic sought the answer during a mission to innovation centers in Bavaria, which took place on June 9-11, 2026.

The aim of the trip was to get acquainted with the functioning of technology centers, startup hubs, clusters and institutions supporting innovation in Regensburg and Munich. The trip, organized by CzechInvest and the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Munich, offered a unique opportunity to gain insight into an environment that has long been among the European leaders in innovation.

Regensburg: connecting science, business and technology

On the first day, they visited TechBase Regensburg, an innovation and startup center focused on technology companies. Participants learned about the center's operations, which connects startups with universities, investors, and industry partners.

The next stop was BioPark Regensburg, a major biotechnology hub owned by the city of Regensburg. Dozens of companies focused on biotechnology, healthcare, and diagnostics operate in modern laboratories and research facilities.

Both institutions have shown the important role that long-term cooperation between the city, universities and the private sector plays in building a strong innovation environment.

Munich: European innovation hub

The second day was dedicated to the Munich ecosystem, which is among the most developed innovation centers in Europe.

At the Munich Technology Center (MTZ), participants learned about the support for technology startups and the functioning of the space, which is currently home to approximately 80 innovative companies.

The program also included a presentation by the BayStartUP organization, which supports start-up companies through mentoring, business plan competitions, and an extensive investor network.

Munich Urban Colab was also a great inspiration - a unique space where startups, researchers, creatives and public administration representatives collaborate under one roof on solutions for modern cities.

The visit to the Munich Innovation Ecosystem then offered a glimpse into how academia, companies, investors and the public sector can be effectively connected to support systemic innovations.

How Bavaria supports innovation

The final day focused on systemic support for innovation at the level of the entire region.

Lucie also visited the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, which is responsible for the strategic direction of Bavarian innovation policy. They discussed, for example, support for research and development and technology transfer.

This was followed by a visit to the Bayern Innovativ agency, which connects companies, research organizations and public institutions across technological fields and helps small and medium-sized enterprises in particular to transfer new knowledge into practice.

The last stop was LabCampus at Munich Airport – a modern campus designed as a space for collaboration between technology companies, research institutions and startups from all over the world.

Inspiration for further development of the region

The mission confirmed that Bavaria's success does not only depend on available capital or strong industry. A key role is played here by a long-standing network of innovation centers, clusters, universities and public institutions, which together create an environment that supports the emergence and growth of new ideas.

The acquired experience and contacts are also valuable inspiration for the further development of the innovation environment in the Ústí nad Labem Region.