TL;DR: AI training grants do exist in 2026, but their conditions have tightened significantly compared to previous years. From the second half of 2026, individuals can use the Jsem v kurzu programme, offering a contribution of up to CZK 35,000 with a co-payment of 23.27%. Companies have the POVEZ programme available, which reimburses up to 85% of employee education costs. The DIGI pro firmu programme has ended, and its successor is awaited; be wary of offers still quoting the old 82% grant figure.
Why this guide was created
As a business owner or manager, you Google „AI training grants" wanting to finally move your team from playing around with ChatGPT to real-world deployment. Within minutes, you find ten different figures – an 82% grant, CZK 50,000, free training, DIGI pro firmu, POVEZ, Jsem v kurzu. Which information is valid right now? This article is an honest guide with data verified as of 2nd July 2026. We promise nothing, we embellish nothing. We simply summarise the current situation so you can decide on your next steps.
Overview: three grant pathways in 2026
| Pathway | For whom | How much | Status as of 7/2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jsem v kurzu | Individuals (including employed) | Up to CZK 35,000, 23.27% co-payment | Accepting applications from 2nd half of 2026 |
| POVEZ | Employers | Up to 85% of costs + wage contribution | Ongoing, conditions per call |
| DIGI successor (OPZ+) | Companies, self-employed | Not yet known | Announced, details unpublished |
Jsem v kurzu: up to CZK 35,000 for individuals
The Jsem v kurzu programme is administered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and operates under stricter rules in 2026. Applications will be launched in the second half of 2026. It is a contribution towards digital education for individuals, including those currently employed.
Key figures:
- Maximum contribution: CZK 35,000 towards a selected and approved course.
- Co-payment: 23.27% of the course price.
- Personal account: CZK 50,000 for 3 years (the co-payment is not counted towards the account).
Who can apply: The applicant must be registered in the records of the Labour Office of the Czech Republic as a job seeker or an interested party. The distinction is crucial – an „interested party„ can also be an employed person. Moreover, registration is handled in a single step directly during the application process via the „Database of Retraining and Further Education Courses" e-shop.
Important notice for 2026: The approval process is stricter this year. The graduate’s realistic labour market applicability is assessed, and the percentage of approved applications is lower than in the past. Approval of the grant is not an entitlement – no one can guarantee it to you.
Beware of outdated offers
You will still encounter websites on the market that entice with an „82% grant„ and „co-payment of only 18%". These figures are no longer valid. They are remnants of older conditions. The current co-payment is 23.27%. If you see an offer with old percentages, don’t buy a pig in a poke – always verify the current status on the official website mpsv.gov.cz/jsem-v-kurzu.
How to apply step by step:
- Select a course in the „Database of Retraining and Further Education Courses" e-shop.
- During the application, you register as an „interested party" (one step, even if you are employed).
- You submit an application for the contribution.
- You await assessment – the office evaluates the course’s applicability.
- If approved, you complete the course and pay the 23.27% co-payment.
POVEZ: up to 85% for employers
The POVEZ (Support for Employee Education) programme runs under the Labour Office of the Czech Republic and is designed directly for employers. If you want to train your team in AI, this is currently the main grant pathway for companies.
What POVEZ offers:
- Contribution of up to 85% of costs for the educational activity.
- Wage contribution for the hours employees spend in training (the amount is governed by the current call).
- Both accredited and non-accredited courses can be funded, including on-site training at the employer’s premises.
What to watch out for: Conditions and deadlines change with each individual call. What was true yesterday may not be true tomorrow. Always check the current call at uradprace.cz/povez before planning. Treat the figures in this article as indicative – specific parameters depend on the currently open call.
DIGI pro firmu has ended – what comes next
The DIGI pro firmu programme from the National Recovery Plan is history. Applications could only be submitted until 15th October 2025, and the teaching had to be conducted by 30th November 2025. If you come across an offer for „free training via DIGI pro firmu", it is an outdated page that hasn’t been updated.
A replacement is on the horizon: the Operational Programme Employment Plus (OPZ+) should launch a new contribution for digital education courses during 2026. However, as of 2nd July 2026, no specific parameters, conditions, or deadlines have been published.
Is it worth waiting for a grant, or should you train now?
This is a managerial decision we can’t make for you. However, we will give you an honest consideration of what to examine.
The case for the grant: You save tens of thousands of crowns. Training five people in AI easily reaches amounts where an 85% contribution from POVEZ means significant savings.
The case against waiting: Every month your team doesn’t know how to work with AI has its own costs. Manual tasks that could be automated. Slower data evaluation. Competition already using AI. For a smaller company, it might be faster to pay for the training directly and start profiting from efficiency immediately. A simple calculation: if AI saves one person 10 hours a month, the ROI on training investment is counted in weeks, not months.
And one more thing – grant approval is not guaranteed. Scrutiny is stricter in 2026, and the percentage of approved applications has fallen. Anyone betting everything on a grant might end up without training and without money.
How ITHOPE can help you
We deliver AI training for companies so it’s not a lecture, but a practical job skill. Prompts, safe usage, automation, GDPR – we teach what we ourselves deploy daily in real projects. We are based in Brno but train throughout the Czech Republic – on-site at the client’s location and online.
What we can do for you:
- Help you select suitable content and scope of training according to your needs.
- Point you towards official grant sources so you know where you stand.
- We are not grant consultants. We won’t submit the application for you or guarantee its approval. We are IT professionals, not civil servants – and we honestly stand by that.
We also have articles to orient you further in the topic: AI training for businesses, how much does AI cost for a business, IT for businesses.
Frequently asked questions
Can I, as an employee, use Jsem v kurzu if I am working? Yes. You just need to register as an „interested party" – this is not the same as a job seeker. Registration can be handled in one step during the application process via the Database of Retraining e-shop.
Does everyone who applies get the grant? No. Approval is stricter in 2026. The office assesses the realistic applicability of the course, and fewer applications are approved. No one can guarantee you approval in advance.
Does the „82% grant" still apply? It does not apply. Those are old conditions. The current co-payment in the Jsem v kurzu programme is 23.27%. Always verify the status on the official MPSV website.
Will you help us submit the grant application? We will point you to official sources and explain where to find what. We are not grant consultants and do not process applications. What we will prepare is training content tailored exactly to your needs.
Arrange a consultation
Unsure what kind of AI training would make the most sense for your team? Get in touch. We’ll discuss what your people need to know and design content without any unnecessary fluff. The training content consultation is free of charge.
ITHOPE – AI training that makes sense
📧 info@ithope.cz
📞 +420 774 777 774
Sources (verified as of 2 July 2026):
- mpsv.gov.cz/jsem-v-kurzu – current conditions of the Jsem v kurzu programme (status as of 1 July 2026)
- uradprace.cz/povez – POVEZ programme for employers
- uradprace.cz/npo-digi-pro-firmu – the terminated DIGI pro firmu programme