ZRIA Deepens Cooperation in Austin and Prepares for SXSW Conference

Another round of meetings with partner agency Opportunity Austin awaits representatives of the Zlín regional development agency ZRIA in the last week of January, when they will visit Austin and San Antonio, meeting with specific industry and technology-focused companies as well as representatives of the university environment. The trip will also serve as preparation for the world-renowned SXSW conference focused on technological progress, which will be held in Austin in March. The Zlín Region and ZRIA successfully presented themselves there last year and are this year significantly involved in preparing and organising the national delegation and Czech House, which will represent the entire Czech Republic.

“We will continue searching for specific partners and investors for our companies. We want to open further cooperation opportunities. We will visit interesting technology and educational venues, such as universities and campuses, which can also serve as inspiration for us. We will also focus on preparations for SXSW so that, with the help of Czech House, we can present the best of the Czech Republic and the Zlín Region,” said Petr Kubíček, Director of Strategic Development at ZRIA.

Czech House will be a space for promoting Czech startups, technology, art, music, film, and other areas capable of reaching a global audience. The main goal is to showcase the potential of the Czech Republic — and thus of the Zlín Region — in areas such as technology and innovation, creative industries, semiconductors, and cybersecurity. It will be a place where Czech representatives can meet global leaders, investors, journalists, and other key market players. The programme includes various events such as workshops and panel discussions, lectures by Czech experts and entrepreneurs, demonstrations of technology products and innovations, and cultural activities.

ZRIA concluded a memorandum of cooperation with Opportunity Austin last year. The Austin agency is currently ranked as the best American development agency and played a key role in transforming Austin into a technology hub. It typically concludes similar agreements at state level, which makes the cooperation with the Zlín Region all the more valuable and prestigious. The memorandum, in which specific companies from the Zlín Region also participated, creates conditions for connecting businesses, student exchange programmes, and joint projects in research, the creative industries, innovation, cybersecurity, and semiconductors.