Innovative Concepts in the Regional Policy of the Czech Republic

The new paradigm of regional policy is based more on competitiveness, innovation and internal potential of regions than on balancing regional disparities by public aid only. Innovation policies are being established and implemented at national and regional levels covering relatively a broad range of public initiatives directed towards supporting the innovation activities and stimulating the creation of pro-innovation environment. This is underlined in key EU strategic documents for new planning period 2007-2013 including Community Strategic Guidelines, Competitiveness and Innovation Programme and national development programmes of member countries as well. The paper describes the contemporary approach to regional policy developed in the key strategic documents in the Czech Republic with special focus to regional innovation strategies and innovative clusters and the possible ways of financing from EU Structural funds. The approach is documented in the case study of Moravia Silesia region, former steal heart of the country, which passes through huge structural transformation in the last decade.