Pardubice Region

Pardubice carries the genetic imprint of Czechoslovak industrial policy—deliberate placement of strategic manufacturing created an economy that still reflects Cold War priorities. Chemical production (Synthesia), explosives, and aviation (Pardubice airport served military functions) concentrated here for reasons of central planning rather than natural advantage. This path dependence persists: today's chemical industry faces decarbonization pressures, but the sunk costs of specialized infrastructure and trained workforce create switching costs that discourage relocation. The region has pivoted toward precision manufacturing and electrical equipment, building on existing metallurgical skills. University of Pardubice trains chemists and engineers who often remain regionally. The flat terrain of the Elbe-Labe basin enables efficient agriculture that supplements industrial employment. Pardubice represents the challenge of industrial regions worldwide: specialized assets that were optimal for one economic era become constraints in the next, requiring managed transition rather than market-driven restructuring.