Just transition, inclusive, Moravian Silesian, transformation, old industrial regions

The presentation focuses on the debates within the economic geography literature regarding inclusive, just and green industrial path development and raises questions regarding its implementation in the context of peripheral old industrial regions that have faced structural disadvantages when compared to the metropolitan regions. The presentation outlines the ongoing transformation process in the Moravian Silesian region, located in the Northeastern part of Czechia, which has faced considerable challenges due to poor air quality, large brownfields, toxic waste deposits, and adverse effects on the health and well-being of its citizens. The region has also faced structural challenges, including the fragmentation of the regional innovation system, low R&D activity compared to metropolitan regions, an ageing population, social exclusion of vulnerable communities, population shrinkage, and the outflow of skilled labour and youth from the region. Despite facing considerable challenges, the Moravian region has focussed on gradually shifting away from traditional heavy industries, coal mining and coke production, the coal-based energy production sector, iron and steel production, and heavy machinery and chemistry to developing new competencies in ICT, digitalisation, supercomputing, creative and cultural industries, tourism and development of an emerging cleantech ecosystem with specialization in smart and sustainable manufacturing processes, thermal energy storage systems in industry, modular concepts for energy storage, heat recovery systems etc. The Moravian-Silesian region has also benefited from EU Cohesion funding for structural transformation, implemented a just transition, and participated in the RE: START program. The region has also initiated the POHO 2030 program. The program aims to support regional development by emphasising industrial heritage in the region, creating new jobs and income generation opportunities and increasing the residents' purchasing power (POHO 2030). The Operational Programme for the Just Transition (OPST), supported by the European Union, aims to improve the living conditions of residents in the region by reducing the negative impact of the transition away from coal mining, promoting sustainable development, and enhancing resilience to better adapt to climate change. The presentation provides an overview of the ongoing transformation process and highlights the challenges associated with achieving an inclusive, just, and green industrial path development.