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The proposed Klatovy innovation hub

Bavaria runs a decentralised network of Technology Campuses; the Czech side has nothing comparable. The pilot's answer is a hub model for Klatovy, still at the proposal stage.

What is the Klatovy innovation hub, what model is it adapted from, and what is its status?

It is a proposed cross-border rural innovation hub in Klatovy, inspired by the decentralised Technology Campus model of Deggendorf Institute of Technology. It would support farmers, SMEs and rural innovators through training, demonstration, advisory services and networking. Its status is proposed: it is anchored in the Czech-Bavarian RAP, with a Memorandum of Understanding and a cross-border Steering Committee planned to continue it after 2026.

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Klatovy: Connect, Experiment, Institutionalise, ContinueClick-through of the proposed cross-border innovation hub in Klatovy. Bavaria has a decentralised network of Technology Campuses run by Deggendorf Institute of Technology; the Czech side lacks comparable structures. Farmers asked for AI help with subsidies, shared technologies and data-driven advice. The pilot's logic: connect Czech and Bavarian stakeholders, experiment through open-call projects, institutionalise through the RAP, the hub model, a planned Steering Committee and Memorandum of Understanding, and continue after 2026. Klatovy: Connect, Experiment, Institutionalise, Continue Czech-Bavarian border pilot · the hub is proposed, not running Bavaria Klatovy and Šumava a decentralised network of TechnologyCampuses (Deggendorf Institute ofTechnology): application-oriented researchwith the local economy Freyung: start-up hub GREGplaced next to the campus "lacks comparable support structures"; farmers findit harder to innovate and adapt proposed hub border model transferred FARMERS ASKED FOR AI help with subsidiesshared technologiesdata-driven advice, with JackDaw as the AI part consultation with a small farmers' association in Klatovy, March 2026 (prp-051) Connect Experiment Institutionalise Continue Czech and Bavarianstakeholders joined acommon ecosystem click to reveal open-call projectsFarmTourist, DIPS andLocalLinks.AI turnedneeds into activitiesand tools click to reveal the Regional ActionPlan and the hubmodel; a SteeringCommittee and anMoUSteering Committeeand MoU: planned click to reveal the hub and apost-2026 roadmap;2040 goal: "across-borderinnovation hubenhancingconnectivity, socialcapital, and territorialidentity"long-term goal (D7.4) click to reveal DESIGN The 2026 website text describes, "rather than a single physical hub", a rural innovation supportmodel: local networks, digital tools, advisory capacity and cross-border collaboration. Source: D7.3 Policy Brief No. 1, Annex 6; Czech-Bavarian pilot website (2026 text); D7.4; D2.2; Atlas of best practices prp-051, prp-052,prp-056
Click-through of the proposed cross-border innovation hub in Klatovy. Bavaria has a decentralised network of Technology Campuses run by Deggendorf Institute of Technology; the Czech side lacks comparable structures. Farmers asked for AI help with subsidies, shared technologies and data-driven advice. The pilot's logic: connect Czech and Bavarian stakeholders, experiment through open-call projects, institutionalise through the RAP, the hub model, a planned Steering Committee and Memorandum of Understanding, and continue after 2026.

From campus to Klatovy: the proposed Czech-Bavarian innovation hub

main tellingexample world: czech-bavariadepth: standard2 min markdown

The Czech-Bavarian policy brief describes the starting point: “While Bavaria has a decentralised network of Technology Campuses, the Czech side, especially in Klatovy and the Šumava region, lacks comparable support structures.” Without innovation hubs and services tailored to rural sectors, farmers find it harder to innovate and adapt. (The pilot itself is described in the Czech-Bavarian pilot.)

The model being transferred

A Technology Campus of Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT, a project partner) is a specialised campus outside the main university. Through application-oriented research with the local economy it develops practical solutions in rural districts. One example from the Atlas: at Freyung, the start-up hub GREG was placed right next to the Technology Campus to encourage research-based start-ups (Atlas of best practices, prp-056).

What the hub would do

The brief’s first recommendation is to establish a cross-border innovation hub in Klatovy, “inspired by the Bavarian Technology Campus model”. It would support local farmers, SMEs and rural innovators through training, demonstration and networking, with a focus on applied digital tools, sustainable agriculture and market access.

The pilot’s 2026 website text makes the design more modest and concrete. It describes “rather than a single physical hub” a rural innovation support model that combines local stakeholder networks, digital tools, advisory capacity and cross-border collaboration. In March 2026 a consultation in Klatovy with a small farmers’ association co-designed a Czech-Bavarian Agricultural Innovation Hub. Farmers named specific needs: AI help with subsidies, shared technologies and data-driven advice, with JackDaw as the AI component (prp-051).

Status: proposed, with a path to continuity

The pilot summarises its logic as Connect → Experiment → Institutionalise → Continue:

The website calls it “the proposed Innovation Hub in Klatovy”, and the MoU and cross-border Steering Committee are planned. The D7.4 roadmap sets the long-term goal for 2040: “a cross-border innovation hub enhancing connectivity, social capital, and territorial identity”. A pilot video, “From border to bridge”, presents the hub vision to the region (prp-052). D2.2 suggested cheap first steps: a “reverse” incubator that brings urban start-ups to pitch for rural needs, a small border-area grant fund, and rural–urban job-shadowing swaps.

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