The Technological Innovation Centre is one of the partners of the CERADA project, which was entered into the 7^th Framework programme.

The objective of the project CERADA (Central European Research And Development Area) is a global analysis of the current situation in the field of research and development and the creation of an effective strategy and the integration of research and development into the regional action plan. The project plan is to create a creative area for the expansion of research and development in the geographical area on the borders of three countries - the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. The implementation of this project in this area should positively affect the conditions for potential development of R&D through the support of all partners, who have influence in this area, by their effective interconnection, by taking advantage of synergies and support.

Within the framework of this project a team of experts will be trained and educated and they will be capable of identifying projects and partnerships for R&D, they will be capable of managing cooperation of companies and researchers, and to manage R&D projects financed from EU programmes in the international environment. In June 2008 an assessment of the project was carried out, where the project gained the required number of points necessary for further negotiations with the European Commission. Whether the project will finally receive financing will be decided by the European Commission.


Another project is CLUSTERPLAST Inter-cluster initiative to target the future challenges for the European polymer converting industry. The CLUSTERPLAST project was submitted in March 2008 into the 7th Framework programme. The main objective of the CLUSTERPLAST project is to aid plastics companies in the European region to improve their competitiveness in the global economy. The result of the project will be the creation of an Action plan, which should be focused on the application of the latest technology, support of an innovative environment through cooperation between research institutes and institutes supporting the creation of new companies and working in the area of gaining finances from public sources or from the private sector.

Specific objectives of the project:

• Analysis of the research potential of the cluster
• Identification of instruments simplifying access to financial resources (public and private) in regions, where the project partners are located.
• The creation of a uniform Action plan focused on the support of joint activities of the participating regions and the creation of mutual bonds between the regions.
• Development and implementation of training activities
• Dissemination of information

The project partners come from France, Italy, Portugal, Austria and Spain. From the Czech Republic the project participants will be the TIC and the Plastics Cluster.

This project also attained the number of points necessary for further negotiations with the European Commission.