Czech Republic - National AI Strategy (2019)

Overview

The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS) of the Czech Republic, approved by the Government on 6 May 2019, sets out a national framework to strengthen research concentration, stimulate industrial uptake and ensure responsible, human-centred AI deployment. NAIS is structured around seven vertical chapters covering science and R&D, financing and ecosystem development, AI adoption in industry and public administration, human capital and education, labour-market impacts and social system adjustments, legal and ethical aspects, and international cooperation. The Strategy seeks to position the Czech Republic as a European centre of excellence and to attract research centres, innovators and foreign talent. The full official English version of the 2019 Strategy is available in PDF form from the Ministry of Industry and Trade: National Artificial Intelligence Strategy of the Czech Republic (English PDF).

Definitions

NAIS adopts operational definitions consistent with EU-coordinated documents. "Artificial Intelligence (AI)" is used broadly to refer to machine learning, rule-based systems, robotics, and related automated decision-making tools. "Centre of Excellence" denotes a research and innovation hub of European significance. "Digital Innovation Hub (DIH)" denotes public-private institutions facilitating SME adoption of advanced digital technologies. NAIS also distinguishes between short-, medium- and long-term objectives (up to 2021; to 2027; to 2035). The Strategy uses "human-centred AI" to emphasize rights, safety and ethical constraints in system design and deployment.

Governance and Institutional Framework

NAIS identifies the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Industry and Trade as the primary political sponsors and designates the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) as the main coordinator for implementation. Implementation architecture includes an AI Committee (a subcommittee under the Committee for the Digital Economy and Society) and an Executive Committee responsible for operational management and cross-ministerial coordination. The document lists responsible coordinators and co-coordinators (ministries and agencies) for each priority area and envisages periodic review of objectives and tools. The Strategy recommends establishing linkages to EU mechanisms and national programmes (e.g., the Innovation Strategy 2019–2030 and the Digital Czech Republic programme). Key implementation partners include research institutions, industry associations, start-up incubators and regional DIHs; see MPO's announcement and files at MPO press release which links to the Strategy PDF.

Key Focus Areas

The NAIS is organized by seven priority chapters. Chapter 1 promotes concentration of science, research and R&D excellence and the creation of an EU-scale Centre of Excellence and testbeds. Chapter 2 addresses financing R&D, investment support and building an AI ecosystem for startups and SMEs. Chapter 3 focuses on AI adoption in industry, services and public administration, including data sharing and digital infrastructure. Chapter 4 tackles human capital: education, lifelong learning and retraining. Chapter 5 addresses labour-market impacts and social system measures. Chapter 6 outlines legal, ethical, consumer protection and security aspects (privacy, non-discrimination, algorithmic transparency and cybersecurity). Chapter 7 addresses international cooperation, EU coordination and the Czech Republic's role in European AI initiatives. Across these chapters NAIS recommends concrete tools: grant programmes, procurement-based demand signals, DIHs, tax and fiscal incentives, regulatory reviews and public sector pilots to scale trustworthy AI across sectors such as mobility, defence, manufacturing, health and public services.

Implementation Framework

NAIS proposes concrete implementation instruments and timelines. Instruments include creation of a national AI governance forum (AI Committee), mapping of stakeholders, targeted research funding to concentrate excellence, establishment of test centres and DIHs, public procurement for innovation, support for startups, and creation of incentives for data sharing while respecting privacy laws. Each chapter identifies a coordinating ministry and co-coordinators, and tasks are to be aligned with EU funding cycles. The Strategy recommends periodic reviews after each defined time period and integration of measures into existing national programmes (e.g., Digital Czech Republic and the Innovation Strategy 2019–2030). Funding pathways include national budgets, EU structural and research funds, and public-private partnerships.

Monitoring and Evaluation

NAIS requires monitoring via the AI Committee and Executive Committee, with objectives set in short-, medium- and long-term horizons and review checkpoints at the end of each period. Evaluation metrics recommended include numbers of AI research centres, R&D funding volumes, DIH and test centre establishment, startup formation and scale-ups, workforce retraining statistics, public procurement projects using AI, and indicators for rights and safety (e.g., incidents, breaches, discrimination complaints). The Strategy emphasizes alignment with EU reporting and benchmarking (e.g., DESI) and suggests public reporting to ensure transparency and stakeholder accountability.

Penalties, Liability, and Appeals

As a strategic policy document, NAIS itself does not create new penal sanctions; rather it calls for regulatory clarity and the application of existing legal frameworks where misconduct occurs. Liability and enforcement for harms linked to AI remain within the remit of existing Czech laws and EU rules — for instance, data protection enforcement under the Office for Personal Data Protection (Úřad pro ochranu osobních údajů) and liability claims under civil law. NAIS calls for legislative reviews to ensure clarity on liability, consumer protection and safety in high-risk AI applications, and recommends designing administrative and judicial appeal pathways consistent with national law and EU principles.

Relationship to Other Instruments

NAIS is explicitly linked to the Government Innovation Strategy 2019–2030 and the Digital Czech Republic programme and follows the EU Coordinated Plan for Artificial Intelligence. The Strategy was informed by the Government study "Research of AI potential in the Czech Republic" and by stakeholder consultations. NAIS functions as a cross-sectoral coordinating framework and does not supersede sectoral strategies; instead, it complements and connects existing sectoral and regulatory instruments. It provided the basis for later updates culminating in the revised National AI Strategy 2030 (approved by the government in July 2024).

International Alignment

The Strategy emphasizes alignment with EU-level initiatives including the EC Coordinated Plan and European research infrastructures. NAIS aims to host one of the planned European Centres of Excellence and to cooperate with other EU Member States and international partners on standards, ethics, research and testbeds. International engagement is presented as essential to attract talent, investment and to ensure interoperability with European and global AI governance norms. MPO has run consultations and roundtables and has iteratively aligned NAIS with EU developments; see the Ministry pages describing the revision and 2030 update at MPO - AI.

Implementation Timeline

Sources and References