A new chip factory being built in Dresden could create new business opportunities for companies in the Czech Republic as well. The Liberec Region is therefore already preparing to become part of the emerging European semiconductor ecosystem by mapping technologies developed by local companies and the Technical University of Liberec and connecting them with international partners. In September, it will head directly to one of the world’s key semiconductor hubs: at SEMICON Taiwan, the region plans to showcase what it has to offer.

Instria, a company based in Liberec, shows how traditional technical know-how can gradually be transformed into a business capable of responding to the current needs of industry and the energy sector. What path led the company into the field of printed sensors? And why does this technology have the potential to transform how machinery and structures are monitored in industrial environments?

When it first appeared in social services in Jablonec nad Nisou last year, it sparked curiosity. Today, this successful cross-border cooperation with Spanish partners from Madrid has reached another important milestone. The project involving Robic, an AI-based social robot that helps clients with autism spectrum disorders in the Liberec Region, has received the prestigious EDIH Community Award in Brussels. In a vote by the European community of digital innovation hubs, the project succeeded among more than 70 entries from across Europe and ranked among the most successful examples of artificial intelligence being used in public services.

One of today’s most significant semiconductor projects in Europe is taking shape in Dresden. The new ESMC plant, backed by Taiwan’s TSMC together with Bosch, Infineon and NXP, is intended to strengthen European chip production for the automotive sector, industrial technologies and other strategic industries. For the Liberec Region, it represents an opportunity that could influence the shape of local industry for years to come.

A nursery school for children with physical disabilities had long been looking for suitable aids for children who struggle with fine motor skills. It eventually found help at the Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation, CXI TUL. The 3D printing team designed and produced special colourful aids tailored precisely to the children’s needs.

Demographic trends show that modern assistive technologies will become an increasingly important part of care for the ageing Czech population in the years ahead. That is why the Liberec Region is already testing how these tools can work in real-life settings. In cooperation with its Regional Development Agency (ARR) and the organisation Dohled na dosah, the region has equipped a pilot apartment at RoSa Residence with smart devices. The aim is to find out whether assistive technologies can help seniors remain safely at home for longer. According to regional estimates, the number of residents aged over 65 in the Liberec Region is expected to rise from 94,000 in 2025 to more than 102,000 as early as 2035.