The state, the Karlovy Vary region and the city of Cheb have agreed on the development of a strategic business park

The goal is to develop an industry with high added value and help the region adapt to the ongoing transformation. In this direction, it is possible to build on the ongoing negotiations on the development of infrastructure for the development of autonomous mobility in the Karlovy Vary region.

The memorandum on the preparation of the area for a strategic business park was concluded by the city of Cheb, the Karlovy Vary Region, the CzechInvest agency and the State Investiční a rozvojová společnost as (SIRS). MPO, as the sole shareholder of SIRS and the founder of the CzechInvest agency, will coordinate the development of the park and the subsequent selection of a suitable investor through these organizations.

“The transformation of the world economy presents a great challenge in the form of the development of new industries with high added value, such as those offered by chips, electromobility, artificial intelligence and others. The basis for us to survive in it is the production of modern technologies, which requires sufficiently large areas, as best prepared as possible for their development,” explains Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela, adding: “The preparation of suitable locations is a task for our newly established State Investment and a development company that will take charge of the preparation of a strategic business park near Cheb as its pilot project. The goal of the memorandum is a joint approach between the city, the region and the state to the development of the park, when everyone is aiming for the same goal.”

The basis of the development of the strategic park will be cooperation between the city of Cheb, the Karlovy Vary region and the state joint-stock company SIRS. This will ensure the preparation of the area in terms of transport connections, property consolidation or, for example, technical infrastructure. Furthermore, the preparation will include an analysis of the capacities of the city’s civic amenities, the needs of the region and its strengths, and possible opportunities for future subsequent development. The basis of the preparation will be cooperation with the city and the region in determining the rules for its use – a suitable typology of the investor or how many employees should work here.

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The Cheb locality has significant development potential thanks to its convenient location, good transport connections, almost uniform property rights and the level of the terrain. Within the area of ​​the 140-hectare park, up to 110 hectares can be created that can be used directly for industry.

“The signing of the memorandum is the first, perhaps small, but significant step for the city of Cheb and the Karlovy Vary region. It creates the prerequisites for the area, which we call Industrial Park II, to become a real strategic business park. Above all, we want to use this industrial park in a meaningful way. That is why we want to attract investors who will ensure the economic development of not only the city, but the entire region, and create job opportunities for educated and qualified workers. And thanks to this memorandum, everything will be possible with direct state support with the aim of achieving business investments with high added value,” says Cheb mayor Jan Vrba.

One of the sectors that could develop in the future business park is smart mobility. In this direction, it is possible to build on the ongoing negotiations on the development of infrastructure for autonomous mobility research in the Karlovy Vary region.

“For the Karlovy Vary region, the existence of the largest BMW test center in the world is a great asset. A center for testing autonomous cars was established in the region, which is unique in Central Europe. I appreciate the relations we have managed to establish with BMW and we will continue to support the further development of the development center, because its presence also gives the region a certain uniqueness and is also inherently linked to the expansion of the job offer and the influx of brains to the region. We will also be happy to support investors with innovation potential and jobs with high added value in the future,” explains Karlovy Vary Region Governor Petr Kulhánek.

The future strategic park could help precisely with activities aimed at developing a technological infrastructure suitable for the development of autonomous mobility. The entire Karlovy Vary Region will benefit from this. “In cooperation with the government, with German partners and the T-Mobile company, we strive for our entire region to gradually become a European center for the development of autonomous mobility. This infrastructure should significantly help the development of the strategic business park near Cheb and other industrial zones in the region,” explains Karlovy Vary Region MP Jan Kuchař.

In the following months, SIRS will prepare a feasibility study for the implementation of the park. As part of the study, the maximum possible capacity of the infrastructure in the locality will be assessed in detail, taking into account the current demand of strategic investors. The goal is to create a sustainable concept, which will then be developed in cooperation with the city and the region in such a way as to shorten the implementation time on the part of a specific investor as much as possible.

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The concept of business parks that will be prepared by SIRS is highly sustainable. Responsible water management, minimization of individual car traffic and the use of renewable energy sources are expected. Emphasis will also be placed on open communication with local citizens. Part of the SIRS activity will also be the task of evaluating the park’s potential impact on the employment market, population mobility, housing capacity and civic amenities. The goal is to maximize positive synergies as much as possible with the preparation of such a project, which can bring further subsequent investments in the infrastructure of the city and the region.

“It will be a completely new practice of preparing strategic business parks in our country. The basis is sustainability and cooperation with the city and the region. We are convinced that only compliance with these principles will enable the smooth progress of the preparation of new industrial areas in such a way that it brings positives for everyone – the city, the region and the entire Czech economy. The basic preparation of the area will significantly increase the chances of locating a suitable investor from the modern industry,” presents David Petr, member of the board of directors and director of the development department from SIRS.

Subsequently, the CzechInvest agency will have the task of bringing in a suitable investor or investors following the park preparation process and the agreed parameters. “The CzechInvest agency will actively promote industrial zones to investors at a number of events such as fairs, investment seminars, contacts with foreign chambers or so-called incoming missions. One of the important events will be, for example, the ExpoReal fair in Munich at the beginning of October. It is one of the largest real estate fairs in Europe, which attracts important European and global investors”, said Jan Michal, CEO of CzechInvest.