Optics and Precision Mechanics, Optoelectronics

Optics is among the traditional domains in our region, which is one of the most important in this regard. Production incorporates the majority of specialisations such as optomechatronics, photonics, optoelectronics, and fine mechanics. These companies are very significant employers in the region.

Learn more about the RIS3 strategy

Products worth mentioning are, for instance, observation telescopes and telescopic sights, sensors, optoelectronics, night vision devices, optical sets for industrial applications, systems for the inspection of semiconductor boards, projection systems, optomechanical systems for medical and laboratory use, and others.

Another strong industry is the manufacture and installation of headlamps for the automotive industry and endoscopic devices and tools.

The Czech Optical Cluster was established in Olomouc, associating and representing the representatives of science and industry in optics and related areas.

Research, Development, and Innovations

Research in optics is carried out, for instance, on academic grounds, specifically at the Department of Optics of Palacký University Olomouc. There is also the Joint Laboratory of Optics of Palacký University Olomouc and the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Research in photoelectrochemistry is conducted by the Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials (CATRIN – RCPTM).

Relationship with Schools

There are strong ties to the cooperation with secondary schools and universities within the domain due to the demand for and education of trained employees. UP’s Department of Optics is the only one in the Czech Republic that specialises in optics.

The second level is cooperation on projects financed from subsidies and on research activities subject to orders, demand, and current market trends. In addition to Palacký University Olomouc, this cooperation is also held with CTU Prague, the Czech Academy of Sciences, BUT Brno, VŠB–TU Ostrava, and universities abroad.

Explore other areas

TURNOVER IN AGRICULTURE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY IN BN CZK

Agriculture has a long history in the Olomouc region. Agricultural land makes up 54 percent of its total area, with arable land accounting for 76.5 percent (according to 2020 data). In 2021, agriculture generated a turnover of 0.492 billion CZK in total value. The export of this domain exceeded 0.215 billion CZK in the same year. The Olomouc region, with its 5 research organizations, is one of the leading regions in the Czech Republic in terms of research.

Get the data:

Download

PATENTS WITHIN SPECIALIZATION DOMAINS

Biomedicine, Life Science, and Well-being are among the domains that easily overshadow other fields in terms of the number of patents, despite being the third smallest domain in our region with only 1860 employees (as of the end of 2021). In 2021, the total turnover was 5.2 billion CZK. In the Olomouc region, we can find two crucial institutions - Catrin, the Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of Palacký University, and MedChemBio cluster, which aims to support the development of medicinal chemistry and chemical biology.

Get the data:

Download

PATENTS WITHIN SPECIALIZATION DOMAINS

Optics: The Olomouc region is unique in the field of optics, with both top companies and research teams concentrated here. In 2017, the Czech Optics Cluster was established here, which is very active in this domain of specialization. The quality and position of this domain in our region can be well illustrated by a total of 42 patents and trademarks obtained in optics in 2021. The annual turnover in this field in the same year amounted to 12.8 billion CZK, of which 2.1 billion CZK was turnover. In 2021, more than 4,500 employees were employed in this domain.

Get the data:

Download

EXPORT WITHIN SPECIALIZATION DOMAINS IN BN CZK

From an export perspective, Pumping and Water Management Technology is the second strongest domain in the Olomouc region. It also significantly contributes to employment in the region, with a total number of employees exceeding 4,000. The quality of this domain in our region is confirmed by the number of patents (39) and trademarks (41) obtained in this area. The Center for Hydraulic Research and the SIGMA Research and Development Institute have a large share of the credit. The total annual turnover in this domain stopped at CZK 10.6 million last year.

Get the data:

Download

EXPORT WITHIN THE SPECIALIZATION DOMAINS IN MLD. CZK

Advanced materials and technology are unequivocally the most significant domain of the Olomouc region. With an annual turnover of 117 billion CZK and exports worth 5.5 billion CZK, it ranks first. Its exports account for almost one-third of the total exports within all specialization domains. With 17,400 employees, it also holds a crucial position in the employment mix of the Olomouc region. In 2021, this industry sector managed to obtain 39 patents. Significant institutions in the field of research include Catrin - Regional Center for Advanced Technologies and Materials or the Bachelor Studies Center in Šumperk, VSB.

Get the data:

Download

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN THE CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRY

The creative and cultural industry has shown great potential in the past four years. Its annual turnover in 2021 reached 1.8 billion CZK, and exports within this domain have been steadily holding at 44 million CZK within the Olomouc region. An interesting fact is that 8 patents were obtained in the creative industries in 2021.

Get the data:

Download