What is PMA?
PMA stands for Pilsen Metropolitan Area, as defined by Strategy of the Regional Development of the Czech Republic 2014-2020.
The metropolitan area is more than just a sum of all municipalities in vicinity of a bigger city with total number of inhabitants and typical characteristics, but rather a new form of a residential unit of its kind. There are different relations within the metropolitan area as opposed to the surrounding area. Surrounding municipalities merge with suburban areas of bigger cities thus creating coherent build-up areas. Also, inhabitants of the metropolitan area regularly commute to its centre for education, work and other services. As a result, there are extensive ties between the city and its surrounding areas, which altogether can be called the metropolitan area.
PMA, part of the Pilsen region
PMA belongs to the Pilsen region which lies in the southwest of the Czech Republic, bordering the Federal Republic of Germany. The area of 7,649 km2 is the third largest region among fourteen regions of the Czech Republic, while as for population - 391,500 inhabitants - it ranks 8th.
What is typical for the Pilsen region is a high number of small settlements that are scattered about the region. Since medium-sized towns are missing, the structure of centres is atypical in comparison to other parts of the Czech Republic. Due to this, characteristics of districts vary significantly from one district to another in terms of landscape character, population size and structure, economic potential, as well as the size and density of settlements. The city of Pilsen with its 172,441 population contrasts with small municipalities and it is the core city in this region.
A few facts about PMA
PMA consist of 117 municipalities of the Pilsen Region, that is nearly a quarter of all municipalities in the region. 309,395 inhabitants live in the PMA (as of 1/1/2013), which is 54 % of inhabitants in the entire Pilsen region. Density of population in the Pilsen metropolitan area is 224,2 inhabitants per km2.
More than 50 % of inhabitants of the region live in PMA, 60 % of all business entities and 65 % of all job positions are in PMA.
Territorial development instrument: integrated territorial investments (ITI) strategy of PMA
As stated in the strategy, the vision is for the PMA is “PMA - A STRONG AND COMPETITIVE REGION”. To fulfill this vision, it is necessary to encourage the greatest potential, which the metropolitan area has, i.e. outstanding fields, their products and necessary conditions and, at the same time, eliminate major issues preventing development of competitiveness.
Development of competitiveness through collaboration of research organizations, including universities, with the private sector, development of human resources, primarily, in technical areas and fields with high added value, migration of prospective workforce with high qualification and improvement of overall attractiveness of the PMA for life.
With respect to the traditional manufacturing and technical fields and many related organizations operating in them, two universities, many scientific-research organizations, including founded centre of excellence and numerous organizations with strong links with technical fields, a major territorial potential is development of technical fields.
Therefore, a strategic goal was defined: “PMA - EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE”, which sets the course and fundamental goal of the ITI strategy in order to meet the vision of a strong and competitive region.
To achieve this strategic goal and transform PMA into European technology centre, it is necessary to eliminate risks and barriers in the territory, which will make PMA more attractive. Therefore, a supportive strategic goal was defined: “PMA - REGION WITHOUT RISKS AND BARRIERS”.
These strategic goals are fulfilled in several priority areas. To meet the first strategic goal, it is necessary to focus, primarily, on the areas of applied research, technology and fields with high added value. The second strategic goal is met through areas of education and employment, social services, technology infrastructure and environment.
Mobility, which directly fulfills both strategic goals, plays a specific role in the PMA. Addressing this priority will eliminate transportation barriers and risks.
Future 2021+
In preparation of the Strategy of the Regional Development of the Czech Republic 21+, a new territory has been delimited: the Pilsen Agglomeration.
The Pilsen Agglomeration consists now of 108 municipalities, covers an area of 1,323 km2, and counts with 309,000 inhabitants (as of 01/01/2019). From the population point of view, more than 50% of the region's inhabitants live in the agglomeration with more than 50 % of the agglomeration's inhabitants living in the City of Pilsen.
Discover more in the EURE Regional Report Pilsen, prepared by the Czech partner of the project ÚKEP - European Projects Coordination Unit of the City of Pilsen.
