81% of Czech Companies Plan More Investment as AI and Robotisation Move Up the Agenda

Czech companies are not responding to geopolitical and economic uncertainty by freezing investment. AFI's 2026 business environment survey finds that 81% of respondents intend to invest further in the Czech Republic, compared with 79% a year earlier.

The survey covered more than 200 companies, chambers, business associations and other organisations. Its strongest signal is where that capital is expected to go: digitalisation, robotisation and artificial intelligence sit near the top of corporate priorities.

AI is becoming a mainstream investment category

Fifty-seven percent of respondents plan to develop digitalisation and robotisation, while 54% highlighted implementation of AI tools. Another 48% identified development of new products or processes as a priority.

Those figures suggest that the Czech technology story is moving beyond startup formation. Established manufacturers and service businesses are increasingly treating software, automation and AI as operating investments rather than experimental projects.

Our view: the investment intention is positive, but execution is the real test

Czech Business Review's view is that an 81% investment intention is a strong confidence signal, but survey plans should not be confused with completed capital expenditure. Labour availability, energy costs, German industrial weakness and financing conditions can still delay projects.

The useful follow-up will be actual fixed investment, automation orders, AI deployment and FDI project announcements over the next 12 months. The survey gives CBR a baseline against which those outcomes can be measured.