JIC — South Moravian Innovation Centre (Brno)

JIC (South Moravian Innovation Centre) was founded in Brno in 2003 to reverse South Moravia's post-industrial decline, co-owned by the South Moravian Region, the City of Brno, and five universities (Masaryk University, Brno University of Technology, Mendel University, Veterinary University and the Czech Academy). An early ERDF grant of EUR 9 million established the first physical incubator at the Technologický park Brno campus.

What it does: JIC operates multiple incubators and acceleration programmes for early-stage tech startups, and a dedicated SME-scaling service (Platinn) for established companies seeking international expansion. A venture capital instrument co-invests alongside private funds.

Results: Over 1,300 companies have completed JIC's incubation or acceleration programmes since 2003. By 2018, combined revenues of JIC-supported companies exceeded CZK 30 billion and employment surpassed 6,500. An independent RIS evaluative study found Platinn clients' revenues grew nine times faster than comparable non-enrolled companies. JIC placed in the top 50 European startup hubs in the Financial Times / Statista / Sifted 'Europe's Leading Start-Up Hubs 2026' report — 6th in Europe for infrastructure. In 2024, South Moravia became the first Czech region named European Entrepreneurial Region by the European Commission.

Why it works: JIC's quadruple-helix governance — city, region, five universities and EU structural funds within one legal entity — enables blended finance, a shared talent pipeline and long-term continuity, independently verified over more than two decades.

Source: https://www.jic.cz/en/ | https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/projects/projects-database/jic-innovation-park-a-catalyst-for-innovation-and-growth-in-south-moravia_en | https://czechstartups.gov.cz/en/novinky/innovation-agency-jic-ranks-among-the-top-50-startup-hubs-in-europe/

Read the full analysis: https://www.jic.cz/en/