Ústí nad Labem Region

Bohemian Switzerland

The Ústí nad Labem Region, one of the Czech Republic’s most industrialised areas, has been the country’s main energy supplier for years. After the phasing out of intensive coal mining in the 1990s and the revitalisation of the countryside, the Region is regaining its reputation as an area of European significance with unique natural resources. Its efforts to improve the environment still further and to revitalise vast new areas are continuing.

The city of Ústí nad Labem, a transport junction of national and international significance, where important European roads, railway lines and waterways cross, is the centre of the Region. The Ústí nad Labem Region is divided into seven districts (Děčín, Chomutov, Litoměřice, Louny, Most, Teplice, and Ústí nad Labem). In addition, there are four areas in the Region which differ from each other significantly. One of these is the area in the foothills of the Krušné hory Mountains with strongly developed industry, comprising the Districts of Chomutov, Most, Teplice, and a part of Ústí nad Labem. The dominant industries here are power generation, coal mining, engineering, the chemical industry, and glassmaking. The Ústí nad Labem Region has a number of attractive localities for tourists. The development of tourism is one of the Region’s priorities. The best-known natural attractions of the Region include the Bohemian Switzerland National Park, covering an area of 7 900 ha, established in 2000, the Bohemian Highlands, and the Labe Sandstones protected landscape areas, a part of the Kokořín area, and the Lužické hory Mountains, the lovely pathway along the Labe River with Porta Bohemica, the Tiská Walls rock formations, and many others. ECONOMIC POTENTIAL

An important role in the economy of the Region is played by brown coal mining and related power generation. The largest coal power plants in the Czech Republic (Prunéřov, Tušimice, Ledvice, and Počerady) are to be found in the vicinity of the opencast mines in the Most coal basin (formerly North Bohemia Brown Coal Basin). An equally important role is played by the chemical industry, with UNIPETROL refinery located in nearby Záluží u Mostu. Unipetrol Group is the largest refinery and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. Its focus is on oil processing and the production, distribution, and sale of fuels and petrochemical products, mainly plastics and fertilisers. In all these areas it ranks alongside important players on the Czech and Central European markets. Unipetrol Group comprises refineries and manufacturing plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo Company with its brand name Mogul in Pardubice and Kolín, Spolana in Neratovice and two research centres, in Litvínov and Brno. Unipetrol, which also has its own network of filling stations across the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Benzina with 418 filling stations, form the largest gas filling chain in the Czech Republic. Unipetrol is also

one of the largest firms in terms of turnover. Mondi Štětí, located in the vicinity of Roudnice nad Labem, is the largest Czech manufacturer of paper for the production of packing materials. Mondi is also a majority exporter of Czech paper and a leading manufacturer among other factories of Mondi global group. The daily output of the Štětí compound is between 1900 and 2000 tonnes of final products – paper and pulp – a day. SPOLCHEMIE, a well-known manufacturer of epoxy resins and polyesters, based in the Ústí nad Labem regional centre, has been one of the key players within the European chemical industry for more than 160 years. It is the world´s first company to obtain the internationally recognised environmental certificate EPO for epoxy resins. The firm´s success rests in the innovation and development of new materials and chemicals. Two research teams based directly in SPOLCHEMIE in Ústí nad Labem are directly linked with the company´s production and business divisions. The teams concerned with the research and development of resins and inorganic substances are developing systems for composites, building materials, paints, and chlorine derivatives. The Synpo, .a.s. research institute, in turn, is a top research workplace, which in 2020 developed a special face mask using the photoactive dye principle, whereby it is protected against undesirable pollutants. Another successful firm in the Region is Glencore Agriculture Czech, focusing on the manufacture of food oils. Lovosice, in turn, is the seat of Lovochemie, a company which is the largest manufacturer of fertilisers in the Czech Republic. Currently its core programme is the production and sale of nitrogen and compound fertilisers in solid and liquid form. Another important traditional sector, which has passed or has been passing through a process of modernisation oriented on new products is the glass industry. The largest exporter of flat glass is AGC Akutomotive Czech. The firm Czech Porcelain in Dubí is known for its manufacture of blue onion porcelain. This firm, with its ROYAL DUX works in Duchcov, oriented on figural and decorative porcelain, has been on the domestic market for more than a century. A new feature in the Region´s industrial efforts in recent years has been the development of the engineering industry and metalworking under the influence of foreign investors. The companies in this line of production include the manufacture of motor vehicle components (KS Kolbenschmidt Czech Republic, Pierburg, Benteler Automotive Rumburk) with follow-up sectors, such as the manufacture of plastics and non-metal products (SSI Technologies, RAI MOST, TRCZ). Another progressive firm is PARDAM NANO4FIBERS s.r.o. in Roudnice, which has developed, produced and certified a nanofiber respirator meeting the criteria of

the highest protection class FFP3. It is the first reusable valveless respirator, protection class FFP3. Thanks to the support from the RISE-UP project, the company has significantly increased its production capacity and efficiency. Currently its production capacity is 800 000 pieces a month. The BreaSAFE(R) CLASSIC FFP3 is unique not only because the nanofiber it uses is produced by the spinning technology, which Pardam has been developing for more than ten years and which lends it unique properties as regards the seizure rate, but also that thanks to the exceptionally breathable material used, the respirator does not need an expiration valve, which is typical for FFP3 respirators. The absence of the exhalation valve means that the respirator protects not only the person wearing it, but also the environment, because its user exhales no potential viruses or bacteria into the ambient air. In addition, the nanomembrane increases resistance to humidity, and if properly used and taken care of, the respirator can be used for several days as protection against viruses and bacteria. In 2020, the company VDED in Ústí nad Labem placed in the market its disinfection gates, which serve firms, shopping centres, health institutions and other facilities in combating Coronavirus. The gates are mobile cells disinfecting incoming persons and animals to the premises. Its components are made in Europe and their suppliers include firms in Ústí nad Labem. Their assembly is provided by VDED. There are several research institutes based in the Region, for example UniCRE, which concerns itself with research and development in the area of industrial chemicals and environmental technologies, and the Brown Coal Research Institute and the Balneological Research Institute. The Ústí nad Labem Region holds great allure to foreign investors as a region with a lot to offer to investors, including strategic industrial parks (SIP). One of these is Joseph SIP, located in Havraň, Most District, some 8 km from the town of Most with a population of 67 500. It covers an area of 196 ha. The companies located in Joseph SIP and pursuing business activities there are, for example, Nemak Czech Republic, s.r.o. and AFSI Europe, s.r.o. The Triangle Strategic Industrial Park is located in an area whose boundaries overlap three Districts – Chomutov, Most, and Louny. CTPark Teplice consists of three industrial halls. The total utility area of all the buildings taken together is 35 400 sq. m. The space is suitable for warehousing, logistics, light manufacturing, and assembly.

THE REGION AND THE EU

The Ústí nad Labem Region participates actively in EU programmes. One of them is the RECAPTURE THE FORTRESS CITIES (RFC) project, financed from the Interreg EUROPE regional development programme. The RFC project aims at sustainable revitalisation of heritage buildings by improving the coexistence of fortified cities and neighbouring forts within urban regions and their use at minimum cost. The Ústí nad Labem Region, which is the leading partner in the project, will share its experience gained in the reconstruction and revitalisation of the historical fortress of Terezín and the use of new forms of cooperation with local and regional institutions, and its experience in managing the site in harmony with other projects realised in the Region. The project focuses on the employment of innovative ways of using the fortress with the aim to facilitate its maintenance and include it in the life of the city. Currently the project finds itself in the middle of its implementation. So far, four international meetings have taken place, at which the partners, with their stakeholders, have presented their intentions, giving examples of good practice, followed by discussions concerning the action plans, with emphasis on issues as regards the actual existence of fortresses, which are often viewed as detached structures and mere historic objects needing maintenance. Other RFC partners are the cities of Komotini, Greece, the North-West Regional Development Agency, Romania, the Self-Governing Region of Prešov, Slovakia, Teruel Province, Spain, and the city of Magdeburg, Germany. Another project, financed from the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE fund, is ECOSAN4IN (Cross-border Ecosystem for Industry 4.0). The current situation in the labour market has intensified the firms´ interest in advanced industrial automation, in particular digitalisation, termed “Industry 4.0”. This will have an impact on the regional economy, both positive and negative. In this respect, the Ústí nad Labem Region is one of the most endangered, according to an analysis of the Czech Government Office. One of the risks is that unlike other regions its economy will not be able to take full advantage of this opportunity. That is why the Ustí nad Labem Region has initiated an international project intended to seek solutions in advance. Thanks to the possibility of communication with advanced regions, the Ústí Region can get a better idea and understanding of the expected impacts of the automation of industry. The aim of the project is to prepare the business and public environment (especially education and public administration) for the advent of advanced automation and digitalisation of industry. The Ústí nad Labem Region, the leading partner in the project, cooperates on the ECOS4IN project with Ca Foscari University in Venice, Italy, the Pannonian Regional Innovation Agency, Hungary, the Upper Austria Innovation and Invstment Agency, Enter Koprivnica d.o.o., the Business Incubator, Croatia, FONDAZIONE GIACOMO BRODOLINI –National Italian Foundation focusing on industry, the labour market and incubator management (Milan, Torino), Italy, and the Lesser Poland Development Agency Krakow, Poland.

USEFUL CONTACTS: Ústí nad Labem Regional Authority – www.kr-ustecky.cz North Bohemian Association of Communities – www.seso.cz Regional Development Agency of the Ústí nad Labem Region – www.rra.cz Czech North – www.usteckonadlani.cz