The Czech Republic has taken a major step toward joining Europe’s growing artificial intelligence infrastructure network after the government approved support for a bid to host a European AI Gigafactory. At its meeting on Monday, the cabinet authorized the Ministry of Industry and Trade to sign a joint procurement agreement with the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, opening the door for Czech partners to compete for one of the EU’s flagship AI projects. The planned AI Gigafactories are intended to provide Europe with powerful computing infrastructure capable of developing, training and operating advanced artificial intelligence models. The facilities would serve as large-scale AI data centers, helping reduce Europe’s dependence on technology and computing resources from outside the continent. Under the proposed model, construction of the Czech facility would be financed by private investors. The state would not directly fund the project but would commit to using part of the computing capacity if the Czech bid is selected. According to the government, this would give public institutions and domestic organizations access to advanced computing resources under favorable financial conditions. Officials argue that hosting an AI Gigafactory could bring benefits beyond technology development. The project could attract substantial private investment, create opportunities for research...
Coca-Cola is marking a major milestone in Czechia this year. The company has been producing its beverages locally for 55 years, growing from a niche product available only to a select few during the communist era into one of the country’s most widely consumed drinks. According to company figures, Coca-Cola’s Czech facilities produced 415.9 million liters of beverages in 2025 alone. When licensed production first began in the country in 1971, annual output stood at around 18.4 million liters. The story of Coca-Cola in Czechia began before local manufacturing existed. Many Czechs first encountered the drink at the end of World War II through American soldiers stationed in Europe. During the communist period, however, access remained limited. Bottles were mainly sold through Tuzex stores, which specialized in foreign goods, or in hotels catering to foreign visitors. A turning point came in 1971, when licensed production using the original Coca-Cola concentrate was launched in Modřice, near Brno. That move established the foundations for what would eventually become one of the company’s key operations in Central Europe. Another important chapter followed after the fall of communism. In 1993, Coca-Cola opened a production facility in Prague’s Kyje district, which has since become the...
A new report has named Prague one of the world’s most welcoming cities for expats, placing the Czech capital ahead of major cities such as London and Paris. The study, conducted by expat and remote worker insurance company William Russell, ranked Prague sixth globally, with a score of 7.86 out of 10. Researchers assessed cities using data from the Happy City Index and Numbeo, focusing on factors such as happiness, safety and public friendliness. According to the report, larger cities may struggle to foster a sense of community, making it harder for newcomers to build connections. The world’s 10 most welcoming cities for expats are: Zürich – 9.06 2=. Singapore – 8.97 2=. Tokyo – 8.97 Copenhagen – 8.72 Munich – 8.63 Prague – 7.86 Dubai – 7.61 Warsaw – 7.52 Seoul – 7.44 Hong Kong – 7.26 The report also ranked the most welcoming countries for expats, taking into account expat experience, migrant population size, employment opportunities for foreign-born residents, public attitudes towards immigrants, safety and visa openness. Iceland topped the list with a score of 8.94, followed by Luxembourg (8.69) and New Zealand (8.57). Australia, Switzerland, Ireland, Colombia, Czechia, Portugal and Austria rounded out the top 10. The...
Long before women in Central Europe could choose a profession, attend university, or even take the same final exams as men, one woman in Prague was fighting to change the system. Today, Eliška Krásnohorská is remembered as a writer, poet, translator and librettist. Yet her most lasting achievement may have been something far more revolutionary: helping establish the first academic girls’ grammar school in Central Europe, giving young women a path to higher education for the first time. Born in Prague in 1847 as Elisabeth Dorothea Pechová, Krásnohorská grew up in an educated but modest household. From an early age, she was determined to learn as much as possible. However, opportunities for girls were limited. While boys could continue their studies through formal institutions, women had few options beyond basic schooling. As a result, Krásnohorská educated herself. Through relentless reading and self-study, she developed extensive knowledge of literature, music and languages. Her talent emerged early. At just twelve years old, she wrote her first opera libretto for composer Karel Bendl. By the age of sixteen, she had translated Robert Schumann’s songs for Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. But writing alone was not enough for her. In the 1870s, Krásnohorská became increasingly...
The projects are planned for Temelín, Dětmarovice and Tušimice as Prague looks to secure a role in the Rolls-Royce SMR supply chain. Czechia is preparing to build three small modular reactors as part of a wider strategy to expand nuclear power and position domestic industry inside a growing European supply chain. The planned sites are Temelín, Dětmarovice and Tušimice, while officials are also examining other possible locations, Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček said after visiting Škoda JS in Pilsen with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. Havlíček said the program should not be viewed only as a domestic energy project, but as part of a broader European nuclear effort in which Czech companies could play a major manufacturing role. “At the moment, we have three locations, and we are looking for other possible locations, but this is already a fairly decent number. Not to mention that our ambition is to be in the supply chain. This means that for us this is not just a Czech project, but at least a pan-European one,” Havlíček said. The minister said the government wants Czech industry, including Škoda JS, to capture a significant share of future SMR production, adding that components made in the...
If you’re looking for a family-friendly day trip from Prague, Mirakulum in Milovice is one of the Czech Republic’s largest outdoor amusement parks for children. Rather than focusing on rides, the park is built around active play. Children can explore a large wooden castle, underground tunnels, climbing structures, rope courses, slides, trampolines, water features, and a range of playgrounds spread across a large outdoor area. The park, located just 40 kilometers from Prague, is designed for families to spend an entire day outdoors, with picnic areas, restaurants, shaded spots, and plenty of open space. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mirakulum (@park_mirakulum) A single admission ticket covers all attractions inside the park, so there are no additional charges once you’re in. Mirakulum is also preparing a major expansion. A new wooden roller coaster is expected to open in 2027, adding the park’s first large-scale ride attraction. More information, including opening hours and ticket prices, is available on Mirakulum’s website. Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more
Marriage numbers in the Czech Republic have fallen to their lowest level this century, continuing a trend that shows no sign of reversing. In 2025, 42,548 couples got married, according to the Czech Statistical Office. The figure marks a new low and follows several years of gradual decline. The trend is not new, but its direction is becoming more pronounced. In 2013, 43,499 marriages were recorded, a long-time low at the time. A decade later, 2024 saw around 44,500 weddings, briefly interrupting expectations of a steady recovery. The question increasingly raised in Czech society is why fewer people are choosing marriage. One factor is the changing role of marriage in society. Living together without marriage has become standard, and having children outside marriage no longer carries social stigma. Same-sex couples are openly accepted, and long-term relationships are increasingly viewed as valid without formal registration. This shift has reduced the pressure to marry, according to life coach Aleš Kalina, who says that fewer weddings do not automatically mean weaker relationships, but rather different forms of partnership. Practical considerations also play a role. Marriage still offers legal advantages, including inheritance rights, tax benefits, and clearer arrangements regarding children, but many couples see...
Czech law enforcement has opened a criminal investigation into four individuals and one company suspected of human trafficking and the exploitation of young women through social media platforms, including OnlyFans. The case is being handled by the National Centre against Organized Crime. Investigators say the group is believed to have targeted young women, many of them newly adults and in difficult financial or social situations, and to have used coordinated manipulation tactics to recruit them into producing erotic content. According to the police, the suspects approached victims and persuaded them to create explicit photos and videos. The women were then asked to sign contracts under the guise of artistic representation. In many cases, the victims did not have access to the accounts that were created in their name, nor control over the content or personal data used on those profiles. Authorities say the material was subsequently monetised through paid subscriptions. Investigators also found that pressure was applied on the women to produce increasingly explicit content over time. According to the findings, threats involving financial penalties and contractual fines were used as a form of coercion. Police estimate that the group generated at least 3.6 million Czech crowns from the activity....
The Czech Republic has improved its position in the latest EU Prosperity Index 2025, ranking 14th out of 27 member states. This marks its strongest result since the index was first published in 2022, when the country placed slightly higher at 13th. At the top of the ranking are Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Greece remains in last place, followed by Bulgaria and Slovakia. The country’s overall improvement was driven mainly by the “State of the Economy” indicator, which rose five places year-on-year. With a ninth-place result in this category, the Czech Republic now ranks among the ten most economically stable EU countries. The development reflects easing inflationary pressure and a shift in income distribution. The share of gross national income in GDP increased from 95% to 99%, suggesting that a larger portion of wealth generated in the economy remains within the country. Despite these gains, the index highlights persistent structural weaknesses. Housing remains one of the main pressure points. The Czech Republic ranks 23rd in the EU in this area. The average price of an apartment equals 13.6 annual salaries, and around 10% of households spend more than 40% of their income on housing costs. Digitalisation also continues to lag...
The average salary in Czechia has climbed above the €2,000 mark, placing the country ahead of Slovakia and narrowing the gap with Poland in the race for higher wages across Central Europe. According to a new analysis by consulting firm Forvis Mazars, employees in the Czech private sector earn an average of €2,024 per month this year, equivalent to roughly CZK 48,967. That represents a year-on-year increase of 9 percent, making the Czech Republic one of the fastest-growing wage markets in the region. Among the countries of the Visegrad Group (V4), only Poland reports higher average earnings. Polish private-sector wages reached €2,156 this year, up 8 percent compared with the previous year. The Czech Republic’s performance places it ahead of Slovakia, where the average monthly salary stands at €1,569. Wage growth there has been considerably slower, rising by just 3 percent over the past year. Hungary recorded growth comparable to the Czech Republic. Average private-sector salaries increased by 9 percent to €1,948, according to the report. The findings come from Forvis Mazars’ annual review of tax systems and labor market indicators across 22 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The report highlights the continuing upward pressure on wages across the...
At first glance, the Czech labour market may look balanced. There are tens of thousands of job vacancies and hundreds of thousands of registered job seekers. But this picture is misleading. Employers are not looking for “available workers” in general, but for specific people with specific skills, shifts and locations. That is where the real shortage begins. The Czech labour market has been operating under this pressure for years, even if it is still often described as a temporary issue. In reality, it is becoming a structural feature of the economy, writes Tomáš Surka, managing partner of Orienta Czech. According to Labour Office data, there were more than 94,000 vacancies in the Czech Republic at the end of April 2026, alongside over 364,000 registered job seekers. On paper, this should be enough. In practice, it is not. Companies struggle to match candidates with the requirements of production, logistics, healthcare, construction and hospitality. The gap becomes clearer when looking at broader estimates. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has previously indicated that employers are searching for nearly 250,000 additional workers, with around one in five companies reporting that labour shortages limit their operations. The problem is not only recruitment. In...
Walk into any Czech pub and ordering a “desítka” (ten) or a “dvanáctka” (twelve) is as natural as asking for a coffee. But that could change. The European Union is advancing a proposal to standardize beer labeling across member states — a move that could make the Czech degree system, rooted in 19th-century chemistry, obsolete. Under the draft regulation, the traditional measurement based on degrees Plato (°P) — which indicates the richness of the original wort before fermentation — would be phased out in favor of a simpler label showing alcohol content. If the plan moves forward, implementation could begin around 2031. The Plato scale has deep roots in Czech brewing. It was developed in the mid-1800s by Karel Napoleon Balling, a chemist who went on to serve as rector of the Prague Polytechnic. For Czech producers, the system is not just a technical standard — it is a cultural inheritance. “This has been our traditional method of taxation for roughly two hundred years,” said Tomáš Maier, an economist at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague. “I see no reason to change it. It is certainly not in the interest of the Czech brewing industry.” The proposal raises...
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