Summary Under the proposed Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA), Czechia is required to establish Experience and Acceleration Centres for AI (Centres for AI) as mandated by Article 5. These centres are not new physical entities but must be built upon existing European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) already operating in the Czech Republic. Their primary role is to accelerate the adoption of cloud and AI technologies among SMEs, small mid-caps (SMCs), and public sector bodies. They serve as the official "entry points" to the European AI innovation ecosystem, connecting local organisations with European cloud and AI providers. This establishment is legally tied to the national cloud and AI strategy required under Article 7, ensuring these centres are integrated into Czechia's broader digital sovereignty and competitiveness goals.

Detail

The proposed Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA), COM(2026) 502 final, introduces a coordinated framework to strengthen the EU's cloud and AI ecosystem. A critical component of this framework is the deployment of Experience and Acceleration Centres for AI. For Czechia, as for all Member States, Article 5 of the proposal sets out the specific legal obligations, operational objectives, and structural requirements for these centres.

Legal Basis and Establishment: Building on Existing Hubs

Article 5(1) of the proposal states unequivocally: "Each Member State shall establish Experience and Acceleration Centres for AI ('Centres for AI')." However, the regulation is explicit about the method of establishment to avoid redundancy and ensure immediate operational capacity. The text mandates that these centres "shall build on the European digital innovation hubs established under Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2021/694 and, where applicable, any successor entities established under Union law."

For Czechia, this means the existing network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) currently active within the Czech Republic will be refocused and repurposed to function as Centres for AI. The proposal does not require the construction of new physical infrastructure or the creation of entirely new legal entities from scratch. Instead, it leverages the established infrastructure, expertise, and regional presence of the EDIH network. This approach ensures continuity, minimises administrative disruption, and allows for the rapid upgrading of capabilities to meet the specific demands of the AI and cloud computing sectors as defined by CADA.

Core Objectives: Accelerating Adoption and Scaling Use Cases

The primary strategic goal of the Centres for AI is to accelerate the broad adoption of cloud and AI technologies across the Union. Article 5(2) outlines three specific objectives that Czechia's centres must pursue:

  1. Supporting Integration and Scaling: They must support the integration and scaling-up of AI use cases in strategic industrial and public sectors.
  2. Regional and Local Adoption: They must accelerate the broad adoption of cloud and AI technologies at regional and local levels, notably for SMEs, small mid-caps (SMCs), and public sector bodies, in line with the 'AI first' principle.
  3. Infrastructure Leverage: They must leverage relevant infrastructure to accelerate the development and fine-tuning of AI models and systems.

These objectives align with the broader CADA goal of reducing dependencies on non-European providers while fostering a competitive, innovative, and autonomous European cloud and AI ecosystem.

Specific Tasks for Czechia's Centres

Article 5(3) details the specific tasks these centres must undertake, which are highly relevant for public-sector procurement officers, local businesses, and research institutions in Czechia:

  • Digital Transformation Support: The centres are tasked with helping organisations accelerate their digital transformation through access to and use of AI technologies. Crucially, this includes a specific mandate to connect organisations with European providers of cloud and AI technologies. This function directly supports CADA's sovereignty framework by fostering relationships with EU-based vendors and reducing reliance on third-country providers.
  • Upskilling and Reskilling: They must ensure or provide access to relevant upskilling and reskilling schemes. This is to be done in close collaboration with the AI Skills Academy, ensuring that the workforce in Czechia possesses the necessary competencies to deploy and manage AI systems effectively.
  • Expertise Transfer: The centres will facilitate the transfer of expertise across regions, ensuring that knowledge gained in one part of the country or the EU can be shared more broadly to address local skill gaps.
  • Support for Start-ups and Spin-offs: They will support the scaling-up of spin-offs and start-ups emerging from universities, incubators, and other accelerators by facilitating access to clients, companies, and organisations seeking specialised AI services.

The European Network and Cross-Border Cooperation

Article 5(6) establishes that a network of Centres for AI shall be created to support collaboration and the exchange of best practices among them. This network is designed to provide specialised services across regions where the required skills or compute capacity are not available locally. For Czechia, this implies that if a specific AI capability or expert resource is not available domestically, the Czech Centre for AI can tap into this EU-wide network to provide the necessary support to local public bodies or businesses.

Furthermore, Article 5(7) requires Member States and the Commission to cooperate with existing networks established under other Union initiatives, including those in the field of semiconductors and data. This ensures that the Centres for AI in Czechia are well-integrated into the broader European digital infrastructure landscape, avoiding silos and promoting a cohesive approach to technological sovereignty.

Connection to the National Cloud and AI Strategy

The establishment of these centres is not an isolated measure; it is intrinsically linked to the national strategies required under Article 7 of CADA. Article 7(1) requires Member States to establish national cloud and AI strategies within one year of the regulation's entry into force. These strategies must include measures to accelerate the development and adoption of cloud and AI at national, regional, and local levels, particularly among public sector bodies, SMEs, and SMCs.

Specifically, Article 7(2)(b) mandates that national strategies include measures "by supporting the Centres for AI referred to in Article 5 as entry points to the European AI innovation ecosystem." Therefore, the Czech national strategy must explicitly outline how these Centres for AI will be funded, governed, and utilised to achieve the country's AI adoption targets. The centres act as the operational arm of the national strategy, translating high-level policy goals into concrete support for local actors.

What this means for you

For public-sector procurement officers, administrators, and business leaders in Czechia, the Centres for AI represent a new, mandated resource for sourcing, understanding, and implementing AI and cloud solutions.

  • Sourcing European Providers: When procuring cloud or AI services, you are encouraged to use these centres to identify and connect with European providers. This aligns with CADA's sovereignty framework and helps meet the requirements for Union assurance levels, particularly for public-order-relevant activities.
  • Capacity Building: If your organisation lacks internal AI expertise, the Centres for AI can provide upskilling and reskilling schemes. You should engage with your local Centre to assess training needs for your staff, leveraging the collaboration with the AI Skills Academy.
  • Strategic Alignment: Ensure that your department's use of AI and cloud services is aligned with the national strategy. The Centres for AI are designated as the official "entry points" to the European AI innovation ecosystem, making them the primary contact for technical and strategic guidance.
  • Access to Compute and Innovation: For organisations looking to develop or fine-tune AI models, the centres can help leverage relevant infrastructure, potentially providing access to shared compute resources or guiding you to appropriate facilities for testing and validation.
  • Support for SMEs and Start-ups: If you are an SME or a start-up, the centres are specifically tasked with facilitating your access to clients and specialised AI services, helping you scale up and integrate into the European market.

Common misconceptions

  • Misconception: "Czechia must build entirely new physical buildings for these centres."
    • Reality: Article 5(1) explicitly states that the Centres for AI "shall build on the European digital innovation hubs." This means the existing EDIH infrastructure in Czechia will be upgraded and refocused, not replaced by new, separate entities from the ground up.
  • Misconception: "These centres only serve large corporations or research institutes."
    • Reality: Article 5(2)(b) and 5(3) explicitly mention supporting SMEs, small mid-caps (SMCs), and public sector bodies. The centres are designed to lower barriers to entry for smaller organisations and public entities, ensuring broad adoption across the economy.
  • Misconception: "The centres are purely advisory and have no operational role."
    • Reality: While they provide advice, Article 5(2)(c) tasks them with leveraging infrastructure to accelerate the development and fine-tuning of AI models. They have an active role in facilitating access to technical resources, connecting users with providers, and supporting the scaling of spin-offs.
  • Misconception: "The Centres for AI operate independently of the national strategy."
    • Reality: Article 7(2)(b) explicitly links the centres to the national strategy, designating them as the "entry points" that the strategy must support. Their activities are a core component of Czechia's compliance with CADA.

Related

This is general information about a draft EU regulation, not legal advice.