The BETA2 programme of public tenders in applied research and innovation to meet the needs of government authorities (hereinafter referred to as the “Programme”) was approved by Czech Government Resolution No. 278 on the 30th of March 2016.
FOCUS OF THE PROGRAMME
The focus of the programme is to support applied research and innovation to meet the needs of government authorities, especially the needs of those institutions that are not providers of support for research, development and innovation. The programme will also be open to other government authorities, whose direct competence is to exercise the state administration and are established or controlled by central government authorities, for which this programme provides solutions to research needs.
Due to the cross-cutting nature of the programme, thematic areas of research and development are structured according to the needs of the relevant government authorities. The needs of the government authorities should reflect their priorities, which are anchored in e.g. strategic and policy documents. The objectives of the individual projects are clearly defined in the tender documentation.
AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME
The aim of the programme is to support the performance of research activities in order to develop new or improve existing processes, regulatory mechanisms, supervisory activities, skills, services, information and control products and procedures for better quality and more effective performance of government authorities.
The programme supports, in particular, the creation and innovation of models, novel legal standards and strategies for the current state policy in a national and European context (i.e. economic or social). The expected results should also include a proposal for methods of assessing the effectiveness of these policies and strategies for obtaining feedback and forming the basis for the future direction of policies in the context of improving the performance of the government authorities and the efficient allocation of public funds. The programme will consequently fulfil the national priorities of targeted research, experimental development and innovation, particularly systemic measure 5.1.2 Improve the efficiency and quality of public services, public administration and public policy.
Specifically, the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (hereinafter TACR) will administer projects for the needs of the following government authorities (expert guarantors):
- Ministry of Transport (incl. The Civil Aviation Authority);
- Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs;
- Ministry for Regional Development;
- Ministry of the Interior;
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Ministry of Industry and Trade;
- Ministry of the Environment;
- Czech Mining Authority;
- Czech Statistical Office;
- Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre;
- Energy Regulatory Authority;
- State Material Reserves Administration;
- State Office for Nuclear Safety;
- Office of the Government;
- other central government authorities and other providers of targeted support pursuant to Article 4 of the Act on the support of research, development and innovation.
DURATION AND ANNOUNCEMENT DATE OF THE PROGRAMME
The duration of the programme is expected to be 5 years, from 2017 to 2021. Identification and collection of the research needs of the selected government authorities will take place during each calendar year between 2016 and 2020, with the support beginning in 2017. The minimum and maximum implementation period of approved projects will be determined with respect to the focus on applied research and the different character of the various needs. The project implementation period shall not exceed the duration of the programme.
For the purpose of achieving the aims, the programme is divided into eight sub-programmes.
TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON THE PROGRAMME
Total expenditure on the programme to the amount of 1,635,062,000 CZK will be allocated for the duration of the programme according to the expected gradual financing of projects and in relation to their expected average duration. The share of expenditure from the state budget in the total expenditure will reflect the character of the programme implemented through public procurement projects, whose eligible costs will be reimbursed in full. The gradual increase in expenditure will also reflect the need to fund projects from the current and previous years in the coming years.
The funds will be spread over the whole period in proportion to the expected research needs and costs of the public tenders, with the majority of the funds being used in 2019 and 2020, when most of the projects are expected to be in the implementation phase. The smallest amount of funding is planned for the beginning of the programme, when the current research needs of the selected government authorities will first be identified. The allocation of funds between the government authorities will correspond to their expected needs in the field of applied research and innovation. The proposed allocation will also come from the individual governmental authorities and the relevant funds of the state budget, which have to-date supported the necessary research and development.
ELIGIBILITY OF CANDIDATES
Only candidates who demonstrates fulfilment of the eligibility conditions pursuant to Article 18 of the Act on the support of research, development and innovation may participate in the performance of a project. In the event that several applicants apply for a single project, then all of the applicants shall need to demonstrate their eligibility. Applicants shall prove their eligibility by submitting the mandatory documents with their project proposals. The selected applicant shall demonstrate its ownership structure pursuant to Article 14(3) of Act 218/2000 Coll.