- The spojujemecesko.cz website (Czech network website) was created in cooperation with CzechInvest, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Health and the Confederation of Industry
- The platform is responding to the new situation, which is giving rise to completely new needs and capacities on the part of the state as well as on the part of the market and is endeavouring to contribute to the fight against the spread of the coronavirus
- The first success is the connection of the Czech Technical University with Sigma Lutín in the production of protective masks for healthcare workers
In cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Health and the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, CzechInvest has launched the platform at www.spojujemecesko.cz, where companies can besides other things offer their products and services to the state and to other companies in the CoVpoint section. At the same time, they can request assistance from other companies. The purpose of the platform is to help in the fight against Covid-19, primarily in the economic and business area. Any products, services and technologies that can significantly contribute to controlling the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 are welcome.
The platform was created in response to the new situation, which is giving rise to completely new needs and capacities on the part of both the state and the market. Its mission is to bring together as many companies as possible that are willing to help the state and the relevant authorities. At the same time, the specialised team behind the operation of the platform is striving to combine current demand and supply of companies in order to ensure that mutual cooperation is as effective as possible and can thus help to mitigate the impact of this situation. At present, the most common items are masks, respirators and disinfectants. However, other needs, such as pressure cylinders and bedding, are arising.
“Since we launched the platform last week, more than 800 companies have registered in or joined the platform and this number is growing every day. There is tremendous interest in it. Our team works in such a way that we connect individual entities with each other on a case-by-case basis. This is currently a more efficient method than an open marketplace, which we would also like to launch in the near future. However, the individual approach enables us to detect potential duplicate or fraudulent offers, which unfortunately are also appearing here,” says Patrik Reichl, CEO of CzechInvest.
The initial impetus for creating the platform was to help the state resolve the shortage of protective equipment. However, the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, like other state entities, has registered both strong supply and demand among companies, so the service was expanded and helps to mediate direct contacts within the new supply chains that are appearing in response to the current situation. It thus also functions as a B2B platform. The specialised team is also in contact with various associations, such as the Pomahame2020 platform, which was established by the Association of Manufacturers and Suppliers of Medical Devices.
To date, the greatest success of the newly established team and the platform as a whole is CzechInvest’s assistance with accelerating the certification of an advanced respirator introduced this week by the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics at the Czech Technical University in Prague (CIIRC CTU) and establishment of contact with a manufacturer of external filters, namely the traditional Czech company Sigma Research and Development Institute Lutín, which fulfilled strict requirements for certification of the CIIRC RP95-3D protective mask with the highest FFP3 level of safety. Another example of good practice is the connection of the United Organisation of the Blind and Visually Impaired of the Czech Republic with a company that supplied 300 pairs of disposable gloves free of charge to organisations whose dog handlers did not have gloves.
An English version of the website www.spojujemecesko.cz and possible intergovernmental cooperation with other countries are also anticipated.
About CzechInvest
CzechInvest plays a key role in the area of comprehensive support for business and investments. The agency’s unique combination of regional, central and international operations ensures the integrity of its services and its ability to connect global trends with the regional conditions in the Czech Republic. One of CzechInvest’s primary objectives is the transformation of the Czech Republic into an innovation leader of Europe. CzechInvest is a state contributory organisation subordinate to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. The agency was established in 1992.
Contact to CzechInvest
Jana Kohoutová
Spokesperson
+420 720 965 969
jana.kohoutova@zechinvest.org