CZK 1.3 billion to be invested in education

1 Sep. 2009 | CzechInvest | Construction and development of training centres will be supported with aid from the Training Centres Programme, and separate educationl courses from the Educa Global Grant Programme.

One billion crowns has been allocated for businesses within the Training Centres Programme. Today the Ministry of Industry and Trade announced the call for aid applications within this programme. Businesses can apply for an additional CZK 300 million from the Educa Global Grant (GG) Programme, for which applications are already being received. CzechInvest will begin collecting applications for aid from the Training Centres Programme in November.

The Training Centres Programme, which is part of the Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation, supports construction and modernisation of infrastructure for education. “Projects eligible to receive aid are those that involve construction, acquisition, renovation or modernisation of educational spaces and the equipment thereof, training aids and programmes or items that are necessary for the equipment and operation of a training centre (such as window blinds, kitchen equipment, etc.),” says Alexandra Rudyšarová, acting CEO of CzechInvest.

One billion crowns, to be provided from the Training Centres Programme for educational infrastructure, has been allocated within the second call for applications. Businesses can send aid applications to CzechInvest between 1 November 2009 and the end of May next year. The aid amount for one project ranges from CZK 200,000 to CZK 100 million. Aid is available only for projects implemented in the Czech Republic, outside the city of Prague.

Conversely, the Educa Global Grant Programme supports the individual education of employees. This involves specific, partial or general education. Specific education may refer to, for example, training connected with the introduction of new technologies into production (e.g. maintenance of new machines) or education with emphasis on a particular job. However, language education of a general character, general computer-skills training and soft-skills training (involving, for example, presentation and communication skills, stress management, etc.) cannot be supported.

The maximum amount of aid from Educa GG is CZK 8 million for one project. Again, projects must be implemented in the Czech Republic, outside the city of Prague. “Receipt of applications from the global grant is at its midpoint. Since the beginning of July we have received 46 project applications with a total value exceeding CZK 139 million, thus an average of CZK 3 million for each project,” says Rudyšarová. Receipt of applications for aid from the global grant is scheduled to end at noon on 30 October 2009.

The Training Centres Programme is part of the Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation (OPEI). Businesses can send their applications to CzechInvest online via the eAccount internet application, which is available at www.czechinvest.org/eaccount. Interested parties can find information about the Training Centres Programme and other OPEI programmes at www.czechinvest.org/podnikani-a-inovace. Queries regarding OPEI are answered via telephone every weekday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the aid-programme “green line” at 800 800 777. Consultations are provided by the employees of CzechInvest’s regional offices, which are located in every regional capital in the Czech Republic.

The EDUCA Global Grant Programme is part of the Operational Programme Human Resources and Employment. Businesses can register their aid applications in the Benefit electronic system and subsequently send the printed form together with the required appendices to CzechInvest. Information on possibilities of receiving aid from Educa GG is available on CzechInvest’s website at CzechInvest www.czechinvest.org/globalni-grant-educa, or queries can be sent by e-mail to educa@czechinvest.org.