The Fraunhofer Innovation Platform organised another Czech-German workshop

The main goal of the event was to present current research challenges in the field and to establish contacts with potential partners for joint projects.

"The Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Applied Artificial Intelligence for Materials & Manufacturing at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava (FIP-AI@VSB-TUO)[KA1]  represents one of the most important and ambitious scientific collaborations between Czech and German research institutes. Within this cross-border initiative, each of the three participating institutions contribute expertise, and together they research technologies for energy systems, artificial intelligence, and intelligent manufacturing in industry. It goes without saying that this research focus is more relevant than ever - all countries in the world and individual companies are now looking for solutions for energy-efficient industrial production," said Anne Glumm, Head of the Economic Department at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague, welcoming the workshop participants. 

At the workshop, the partners involved in FIP-AI@VSB-TUO, VSB – Technical University of Ostrava (VSB-TUO), the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, which offers expertise in energetic systems and materials development, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in the field of production and processing technologies, presented possibilities for cooperation.

"The main aim was to connect people who are interested in our research topics and with whom it would be possible to develop joint projects in the future. We came up with the research and innovation workshops to make our platform and the research we do more visible to a specific audience. I think the event brought together some very exciting contacts and interested participants," said Vladislav Kolarik, senior scientist at Fraunhofer ICT.

The first workshop took place last year, but due to the pandemic it was held online. "We are very pleased that this time we could meet in person. Once again it was confirmed how crucial such meetings are for establishing scientific collaboration. We will certainly continue with the workshops," confirmed Jana Kukutschová, Director of FIP-AI@VSB-TUO and Vice-Rector for Science and Research at VSB-TUO.

Topics discussed included the use and storage of geothermal energy, automation and production technologies for energy storage, and system solutions for the energy industry. Representatives of CzechInvest and the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic also presented their institutions.

"The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is undoubtedly a very respected institution, so any cooperation with it on an equal basis is very welcome. It is excellent that VSB-TUO is a pioneer in this direction, and I believe that other universities will soon join it in fields that are relevant to them. The event was particularly interesting in that it really went into the substance of cooperation within several different presentations," said one of the participants, Jiří Krechl from CzechInvest.  

Participants from the industrial sector also left satisfied. "I found the workshop beneficial because an important topic was the Fraunhofer Institute and its activities. I was particularly interested in the topic of artificial intelligence together with the possibilities of its application in the energy sector and applied research, where I see the potential for new solutions applicable to our company. I am also pleased that the Fraunhofer Institutes are cooperating with academia in the Czech Republic, with whom ČEPS (Czech Transmission System Operator) is also defining a number of innovative topics in the energy sector," said Martin Kult, Head of the Digitalisation Department at ČEPS.

Text: Martina Šaradínová, PR specialist for R&D
Photo – source: German Embassy Prague