Innovation vouchers can be used for a wide range of construction services offered by UCEEB under the programme. Specifically, these include material and design innovations, carbon footprint reduction, environmental impacts across the life cycle, improving user experience, digitisation and automation in the construction sector and marketing of innovations. The amount of subsidies for individual companies ranges from CZK 50,000 to CZK 1 million. "The pressure on the competitiveness of SMEs in the construction and related industries has been enormous in recent years. Companies must constantly look for ways to convince investors that their solutions are not only innovative, but also technically and economically proven. Therefore, the possibility of cooperation with a renowned research organisation under very favourable conditions, where the company pays only 25% of the costs, is a significant advantage," summarises the benefits of the vouchers Robert Jára, Director of UCEEB.
Another example of the use of vouchers can be sensorics. It is able to significantly increase the self-sufficiency of people with special needs, such as the elderly, people with physical disabilities or nursing home clients. "A company that develops sensors can not only improve its products, but also work together to integrate them into the entire platform," adds Michal Kuzmič. Circularity in construction is a big opportunity that is still waiting to be fulfilled. Companies can also use vouchers in this area. "Thanks to UCEEB, a company can reach experts who can help them with the design and verification of the properties of new construction elements," says Michal Kuzmič, Head of Interdisciplinary Cooperation at UCEEB.
The vouchers are open to manufacturers of building systems and products, manufacturers of sensors and monitoring technologies, architects and designers, professional consultants in the field of construction, verifiers of technical properties of building products, structures and buildings, and developers and builders. Applications are scheduled to open in December. However, companies can already contact the UCEEB with suggestions for the content of the vouchers. In the first wave, contracts with firms should be in place by March 2025, with implementation to be complete by the end of the year. The second wave of collaborations will take place by the end of 2026. "We encourage you to review the terms and conditions on our website https://www.uceeb.cz/cz/uceeb-inovacni-vouchery/. First of all, it is about the company's operation outside Prague and its size, taking into account all connected organisations," Robert Jára specifies the conditions of the programme.
Innovation vouchers are a project to facilitate the transition of SMEs to green construction. It is supported by the European Union's Operational Programme Technology and Applications for Competitiveness.