Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation of Innovation Programs in the EU : Creating Ecosystems for Innovation in a Post-Coal Region Evidence from an RCT in the Czech Republic (English)
Stephen Anderson, Leonardo Iacovone, Andreas Menzel, Florian Munch, Mariana Pereira-Lopez and Rahul Suhag
The Usti nad Labem and Karlovy Vary regions face persistent structural challenges as they transition away from coal-based industries. In response to these challenges, national and EU institutions have launched a coordinated strategy to promote innovation-led restructuring. This strategy, developed through multilevel governance, emphasizes SME development, workforce reskilling, and the deployment of low-carbon and digital technologies. Regional agencies such as The Innovation Center of the Usti Region (ICUK) and The Karlovy Vary Agency for Business Development (KARP) serve as central implementation partners, leveraging long-standing relationships with municipalities, universities, and business associations.
However, significant obstacles to SME innovation remain. SMEs in Usti and Karlovy Vary face a challenging environment for innovation, shaped by low technological awareness, limited capabilities, and weak collaboration networks. To address these challenges, the AI Klub was launched as a series of highly accessible, hands-on workshops on AI use for SMEs. Short-term results of the AI Klub program indicate that, compared to the control group, treatment firms achieved higher returns on multiple outcomes.
18 June 2025
World Bank
Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation of Innovation Programs in the EU : Creating Ecosystems for Innovation in a Post-Coal Region Evidence from an RCT in the Czech Republic (English)
This External report is part of the centre's Growth programme.
This publication comes under the following theme: Innovation drivers, Technology adoption and diffusion