Technology parks are an essential element in the development of cities throughout the world. Ostrava’s T-Park is also evolving rapidly.

In today’s world, technology parks are much more than just places for offices and labs. They are living ecosystems, points of contact between scientists ????and businesspeople, research and practical application, innovation and the market. They are a platform where the latest developments and technological progress have the space to grow, and the opportunity to change the world??. Whether in the biotech sector, AI ?? or sustainable technologies, these parks not only support new projects; they also help cities to become forward-looking hubs for progress. Ostrava’s T-Park is no exception: at its heart is the idea that innovation should have positive practical impacts, helping to improve people’s lives – from creating jobs to supporting eco-friendly solutions.

The T-Park in Ostrava is a multifunctional complex owned partly by the city and partly by private investors. It works closely alongside the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre (MSIC), the successor organization to the former Ostrava Science and Technology Park. MSIC puts science in touch with business, helps transform ideas into reality, and creates an important ecosystem for innovation.

??MSIC Director Adela Hradilova talked about the possibilities of innovative technologies, and outlined the main services and opportunities that MSIC offers.

Our task is to nurture the region’s innovation ecosystem and help it to develop through a range of activities aimed at businesses, startups, students, and other target groups. The key pillars are high-quality education, research and development, and collaboration in the field of new technologies. We also focus on sustainability, MedTech, AI and quantum technologies. We’re planning to further enhance our cooperation with the region, the city and local universities – including the management and development of the Trident, Viva and T5 buildings, plus the creation of a platform bringing together the owners of the T-Park’s infrastructure.

??How do you see Ostrava and its region from the perspective of innovation, compared with other Czech cities?

Our region has very strong potential: it is home to many high-quality education providers and clusters, as well as a growing number of tech companies. Our approach to innovation is not driven by a desire for quick wins. It’s essential to create solid, sustainable foundations for our innovation ecosystem, which we can continue to build on and which will guarantee the continuity of all processes regardless of (for example) changes in the political situation. Naturally, that’s a process that takes time.

??What advantages do businesses in the Moravian-Silesian Region have compared with other regions?

Business can use a highly developed network of support services that help them grow faster and more effectively. MSIC experts can help businesses with commercial and marketing strategies, company management, expansion into foreign markets, compliance with principles of sustainability, and other aspects of business that they frequently have to deal with. MSIC coordinates the activities of various organizations providing support to both startups and established businesses via the Regional Innovation Strategy.

Another major advantage is the presence of the national supercomputing centre in Ostrava, which offers commercial services in high-performance computing and data analysis. The region also has a very active business community, an emerging network of coworking centres, and plenty of opportunities for networking. Compared to a larger market such as Prague, we have the advantage that business plans can be tested more quickly.

The region is also an ideal location for companies that want to expand into other markets. With our strategic location close to the Polish and Slovak borders, we offer easy access to those countries and beyond. Our excellent transport infrastructure boosts the efficiency of logistics processes and other business activities.

??What is MSIC planning to do in the near future?

We’re currently planning our autumn conference InnoVerse, which will bring together key players and key topics relevant to business, research and the region’s wider future. The conference will take place at Ostrava’s Technical University on 28 November, and we invite anybody with an interest in entrepreneurship and innovation to attend.

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Adéla Hradilová

is the CEO of the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre ( MSIC - Moravskoslezské inova?ní centrum ). Her role involves coordinating the planning and implementation of activities, services and programmes to support SMEs and startups as part of the Moravian-Silesian Regional Innovation Strategy. Thanks to her wide-ranging experience in the Czech Republic and abroad (including positions at the South Moravian Innovation Centre and the European Commission), she has a detailed knowledge of the business environment and is keenly aware of the needs and potential of the Moravian-Silesian Region. Her specialist area is grant consultancy, particularly with regard to international grants in the Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, EIC Accelerator and Eurostars programmes. Her work is firmly anchored in the expertise she has gained while studying political science and European studies at the universities in Olomouc and Athens.

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The T-Park:?Ostrava’s epicentre of innovation

??The T-Park’s predecessor was the Science and Technology Park, established by the City of Ostrava in 1997 at a site in the Pustkovec district. Covering around 10 hectares, the park was the region’s largest complex of physical infrastructure for science and technology research??, innovation and high-tech solutions, with close contacts to the academic sphere.

The site currently has four multifunctional buildings: T1 (Piano), T2 (Tandem), T3 (Trident) and T4 (Viva), which also contain technical facilities and offices. Additionally there are buildings belonging to private investors – currently Elcom , Ingeteam CZ , VAE Prosys and ElektroMar. The T-Park is located directly next to the campus of Ostrava’s Technical University and the IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Center , and it also offers residential facilities which have been built specifically for people working at the site.

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And what are the T-Park’s plans for growth?

The T-Park is constantly expanding to meet growing demand for available capacity, and there are plans for a number of new buildings that will focus on high added-value activities??.

The new multifunctional ?? building T6 will offer state-of-the-art office spaces, labs and testing facilities accompanied by a range of other services – such as a coworking area, a café, a creche, sports facilities, and fully furnished rental apartments. The city has signed a contract with the developer CTP which has built and continues to operate a network of business parks in Ostrava. CTP has acquired almost 14?500 m2 of land for just under 72 million CZK, and construction work is scheduled for completion by ?? the end of 2027. The building will have two underground levels with parking spaces.

Another new development at the T-Park will be ?? building T5, which is scheduled to open at the end of 2027. It will help to replace the capacity of two existing buildings – Piano (T1) and Tandem (T2). These will be demolished, as they no longer offer up-to-date facilities for research and development.

The third new development will be ?? building T8, which is contracted to be built by a private investor 4SC AG .

In addition to this construction work, the courtyard area between the Trident and Viva buildings will also be revitalized to create a more attractive public space ?? that will be conducive to community interaction.

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Work-life-balance. ?? Slow life. You can do it. And you can study too. In Ostrava. Teach at a bilingual primary school????. Study medicine or engineering. Great facilities for scientists. ???? Research. Innovation. #MSIC. #IT4Innovations =>quantum computer??. #ceet #V?B #OSU. And then on #Friday #Saturday and #Sunday cook with Jamie, go to the Mashup with Michal, or do yoga ?? with Magdalena. Walk in the ???park and play ? chess in the city centre garden. Down by the River Ostravice, the wind will be getting ?? cold. So why not enjoy some riverside ??punch or hot wine.