A thriving network: spotlight on CIVINET Czech and Slovak Republics
Image by CIVINET Czech and Slovak Republics
A core part of the CIVITAS Community are the CIVITAS National Networks (CIVINETs) that promote the CIVITAS approach at the local level. These networks have been operating for years, providing local authorities and leaders with key tools and capacity-building opportunities to advance sustainable urban mobility across Europe.
Today, we put the spotlight on one such CIVINET, namely: CIVINET Czech and Slovak Republics.
CIVINET Czech and Slovak Republics is the Czech-speaking local CIVITAS network, led by the Transport Research Centre in Brno. The network includes 16 municipalities as members, and is supported by two NGOs, two transport operators, one university and a smart city cluster.
Since it started in 2014, the CIVINET has organised events and capacity-building activities – including conferences, seminars, trainings, workshops, site visits, and international study tours – to support local and regional authorities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia to push forward sustainable local mobility. Members have also taken part in internships abroad, offered by the CIVINET to foster cross-border learning.
The CIVINET has intensified its activity over the last four years, in terms of both learning opportunities and international cooperation.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of events organised by this CIVINET continues to grow. In fact, six CIVINET activities are planned in the first half of 2022 alone! These include:
- 15 March | Seminar: “Current topics and issues: what is currently being addressed in the field of promoting sustainable mobility” | Olomouc (CZ) + online
- 11–13 April | Study visit: hosting and learning with members of the CIVINET Slovenia-Croatia-Southeast Europe | Prague (CZ)
- 20–21 April | Study visit: hosting and learning with members of Magyar CIVINET | Brno (CZ)
- 12–13 May | Conference: Third CIVITAS Regional Exchange Workshop | Brno (CZ)
- 14 June | Conference: CIVINET Czech and Slovak Republics annual conference | Bratislava (SK)
- 15–17 June | Study tour | Budapest (HU)
The network has also intensified its international cooperations, arranging study tours and exchange opportunities for its members with other CIVINETs, and organising European-level events with the CIVITAS Initiative, Eltis, and EIT Urban Mobility.
A particular point of pride is the CIVINET Czech and Slovak Republics’ website. Thanks to the network secretariat’s leadership, for the past year this website was the only place in Czechia with up-to-date data regarding the development of clean mobility in the country and abroad!
What's the future for this thriving network? The network currently has disproportionately more members in the Czech Republic. Moving forward, it aims to expand its engagement in Slovakia. The CIVINET has already taken steps to move in this direction, including building closer cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Construction in Slovakia to support information exchange, and presenting the network at relevant events. These efforts have already paid off: the Slovak Smart City Cluster is the CIVINET’s newest associated member!
For more information about the CIVINET Czech and Slovak Republics, visit their page on the CIVITAS website (in English and Czech), as well as the CIVINET’s own website (in Czech).
Author: CIVINET Czech and Slovak Republics
