Respect for the Past
Cérka grows from the DNA of the region and learns from its history. We are inspired by figures such as Dušan Jurkovič and Albín Polášek, who managed to combine the courage to create something new with a deep respect for tradition. We do not condemn what was; instead, we give it new meaning. For us, mining towers are not symbols of decline, but proud beacons of identity that remind us where we come from and the strength we carry within.
Courage to Transform
We believe that true art lies not in destruction, but in transformation. Much like the figure in Polášek’s statue The Man Carving His Own Destiny, our region must carve out its own future through its own labour. We transform industrial heritage into new opportunities and give old sites unexpected functions. We show the world that even a landscape marked by industry can become a source of new energy and inspiration.
Co-creation
Real change is not born from “top-down” decisions, but from the synergy of people who want to take their fate into their own hands. Cérka is an open system where worlds that previously stood apart now meet. We connect scientists with entrepreneurs, students with artists, and public administration with innovation leaders. We believe the best solutions are born at the round table, where every voice carries weight.
Local Potential
Our ancestors managed to build brands like Pustevny and Radhošť from nothing — brands that are now admired worldwide. Cérka continues this tradition by betting on our most valuable asset: human capital. We build the future on the creativity of local people, supporting and providing space for talent and entrepreneurship. Our goal is a region that exports its own ideas and products, not just cheap labour.
Responsibility for the Future
Every decision we make today shapes the world for the generations that will come after us. We see responsibility as a commitment to create a resilient and sustainable economy that can withstand global competition. We are building Cérka as a place where our children will want to live, work and create. It is our investment in stability and prosperity — a place we want to pass on in better condition than we received it.
Vision in Three Horizons
Impuls | horizont 2030
This initial phase is about transforming a burden into an opportunity. Following the successful filling of the mine and land reclamation, we are focusing on building the core “backbone” of the whole area and of the Cérka innovation ecosystem. The key is the creation of essential infrastructure — not just technical networks in the ground, but also the first service buildings, the Innovation Tower and a field office of the University of Ostrava. It is a period of forging strategic partnerships with the state, the region and the academic sphere, which bring the first wave of know-how to the site.
How will we know we’ve started successfully?
The brownfield is cleared and ready for construction; the first innovators and students are settled within prototyping spaces. The public perceives the site as a safe, attractive place for future life — not as a closed industrial area. Technology transfer is under way, and funding from transformation funds is secured.
“We are reimagining the brownfield as an innovation hub and breathing new life into the place.”
A Living Organism | Horizon 2050
In this phase, Cérka becomes a fully integrated whole where housing, education and work form a single organic system of short distances. Business development shifts decisively from mere “settling” to “creating” — thanks to acceleration programmes and close ties between companies and schools, the first globally successful technology startups and strong supra-regional brands emerge here. Leisure activities and tourism provide economic stability for services that serve locals and visitors in perfect symbiosis.
Cérka as the “brain” of the (super)region
The goal is not a closed island, but a pulsating centre that uplifts the entire surrounding area. Cérka functions as an innovation brain, concentrating top ideas, research and prototyping. We cooperate closely with surrounding towns in a clear rhythm: in Cérka, innovations are born and mature, then settle as growing companies and production, bringing prosperity to neighbouring municipalities.
How will we know we have reached the goal?
The site is permanently inhabited by people who study and work here, and public space is barrier-free and seamlessly integrated with the surrounding landscape and water reservoir. Cérka has become a European inspiration for brownfield revitalization — proof that an abandoned mine can be transformed into a confident and economically strong (super)region that sets trends across the EU.
“We are connecting housing, education and work into one living, sustainable organism.”
Continuity and Lasting Legacy | Horizon 2050+
The long-term vision lies in protecting the area from uncoordinated development and preserving its capacity for future generations. In this horizon, Cérka functions as an autonomous, stable hub of the region, capable of regenerating in cycles (internal reconstruction instead of expansion into the open landscape). The goal of “protecting the pastoral character of the municipality” is fulfilled, with Trojanovice’s construction development concentrated only within this defined area.
How will we know we have fulfilled the mission?
The Cérka project has become a natural part of the region’s DNA. The area maintains a high aesthetic standard, is energy-efficient, and even after decades continues to offer space for new ideas without exhausting its spatial or natural resources.