CLUSTER DAY IN BRNO WELCOMED 70 EXPERTS WHO DISCUSSED THE FUTURE OF INNOVATION AND COOPERATION

On October 16, 2024, the eleventh edition of Cluster Day took place at Mendel University in Brno. The event was organized by the National Cluster Association – CREA Hydro&Energy and Mendel University in Brno. The event was held under the auspices of the city of Brno and the South Moravian Region.

The Cluster Day in the South Moravian Region welcomed seventy experts from the cluster community and the professional public, who discussed the future of innovations, cooperation, successes of cluster organizations, and their members. Selected NCA members were supported by member companies, which presented their technologies and cooperation with clusters during the panel discussion.

The main theme of this year's Cluster Day was Technology Transfer in Practice: The Cluster as a Facilitator of Innovation and Technology Transfer.

The president of the National Cluster Association (NCA), Jiri Herinek, together with the vice president of the NCA, Ivo Riha, welcomed the participants and gave the floor to representatives from Mendel University, the South Moravian Region, the city of Brno, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Minister for Science, Research, and Innovation (video recording).

Key Messages from the Opening

Jiri Herinek, President of the NCA: "I have been involved in the cluster environment for over five years, and during that time, I have seen a lot. Clusters have advanced and can now be considered mature organizations. Cluster organizations are growing and gaining marks of excellence. You have done a lot of work and have achieved great results, which we will present today."

Ivo Riha, Vice President of the NCA: "We have made progress in cooperation with the regions, which is very significant for us. Elections force us to follow current events and discover new opportunities. In the regions, we are addressing projects such as the cybersecurity roadshow and SmartCities, which operate not only in the Czech Republic but also in Slovakia. Today's event is about you, your successes in science and research, and your experiences in connecting cluster members."

Petr Ocko, Chief Director of the Digitalization and Innovation Section of the Ministry of Industry and Trade: "Clusters are key contact points for the innovation environment in various areas. We are pleased with the growing number of functional clusters and the improvement in the quality of their services. Cooperation with clusters is important, and we are glad it is working. The support from the ministry is crucial, as clusters play a significant role in setting the innovation environment."

Anna Putnova, Brno City Councilor for Innovation and Cooperation with Research Organizations: "The city of Brno has invested heavily in innovation over the past 15 years, both financially and energetically, with investments amounting to nearly 1 billion CZK. We support Brno's clusters both directly and indirectly, and we are grateful for these opportunities."

Marek Zenisek, Minister for Science, Research, and Innovation (video recording): "Cluster Day represents a great opportunity to share successes and experiences, but also to reflect on what is going well and where we can advance. Clusters play a key role in our economy and are proof of how effective collaboration between companies, research organizations, and public institutions can bring about innovations that would otherwise remain on paper. They also bridge the gap between research and its practical application, thereby aiding in knowledge transfer. It is important to realize that the success of clusters is not just about individuals or companies but about the mutual trust we build. Events like today's are invaluable in fostering these relationships."

During the session, Technology Transfer in Practice: The Cluster as a Facilitator of Innovation and Technology Transfer, Martin Klimanek, Vice-Rector for Strategy, Sustainability, and Targeted Activities at Mendel University in Brno explained how the university could be an excellent partner for the industry and Bretislav Skacel from CREA Hydro&Energy delved into the Application of Research and Development Results in Practice in the Field of Water Management.

During the panel discussion, cluster organizations presented their members and selected technologies. The topic of the panel discussion was: Clusters as Intermediaries in Technology Transfer – Practical Examples.

Petr Prikryl, Czech Optical Cluster + Radek Jansky, ZEBR

Currently, there is rapid development and commercial use of Raman spectrometers for analytical, biological, medical, and other applications. Numerous companies produce a wide range of Raman spectrometers. None of these manufacturers offer spectrometers capable of reliably measuring Raman optical activity. The relatively low reliability of commercial devices has so far hindered the broader application of Raman optical spectroscopy in practice. Our spectrometer can achieve this. It is a unique device capable of obtaining data applicable in the study of biomolecular structures, quantum chemistry, determining the enantiomeric purity of chiral substances in the pharmaceutical industry, and other related fields.

What is Raman Optical Activity

Raman Optical Activity (ROA) involves measuring the small difference between right- and left-circularly polarized radiation in Raman scattering. It is an experimentally demanding analytical technique, but it is highly sensitive to molecular chirality, and the information obtained is often impossible to achieve by other methods. Ideal systems for study include biologically significant molecules (chiral drugs, proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, viruses), making Raman Optical Activity an analytical technique with enormous potential.

Bretislav Skacel, CREA HYDRO&ENERGY + Lubomir Prochazka, GEOtest

The laboratories of Crea Geotest Brno conducted a series of tests using the shown shear devices (see photo), which are important tools for engineering geological surveys of the subsoil for significant infrastructure projects. Other laboratory equipment, such as presses for laboratory rock mechanics tests, has also been involved in important surveys, such as for Metro Line D in Prague, the Vlachovice Dam, geotechnical surveys for highways and railways, Václav Havel Airport, and the assessment of rocks at the Erdenet copper mine in Mongolia.

Lubos Komarek, NANOPROGRESS + Karel Havlicek, Nanotech Dynamics

A device for producing composite linear nanofiber structures based on a globally unique nanofiber production technology using alternating current, consisting of a core yarn or filament surrounded by a nanofiber layer. The device has high productivity mainly due to the implementation of a greater number of electrodes and sophisticated stabilization to enhance the adhesion of the nanofiber coating to the carrier yarn. Like its laboratory version, it is capable of processing a wide range of polymers.

Vitezslav Gaja, Cluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturers, on behalf of Jaroslav Pehal, NADOP-VYROBA NABYTKU

Technology Transfer:

Selection, collaboration on development, and facilitation of the purchase of the latest technology for furniture manufacturing.
Own R&D aimed at increasing production efficiency in line with the Industry 4.0 initiative through collaboration between the Cluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturers and companies engaged in research and development in this field, with available R&D capacities and organizations.
Transfer of R&D outputs among cluster members – validated technologies and software models.
Specific benefits for cluster members – time, financial, and human resource savings.
Further education among cluster members through workshops – Industry 4.0 in the furniture and woodworking industry, matchmaking – introduction of advanced technologies, and hackathons.

This year, the GOLDEN CLUSTER award was presented to the CREA Hydro&Energy cluster for its significant contributions to innovation and for promoting Czech entities in the water management sector internationally. The board chairman, Bretislav Skacel, accepted the award.

An honorary award for supporting development and innovation in companies was given to the Moravskoslezsky automobilovy klastr (Autoklastr). The executive director, Libor Dobes, accepted the award. The Autoklastr received the prize with an example of good practice: Support for software development for advanced production planning using AI "Biomorphic Factory" for the company Cerebrica and LARS Chemie (utilizing a voucher from the Eurocluster RESIST project worth €60,000).

An honorary award for the development of internationalization and the promotion of the Czech Republic was awarded to Klastr MECHATRONIKA. The award was accepted by the president of the executive board, Ing. Michal Zemko. The Klastr MECHATRONIKA received the award with an example of good practice: A new "table-top" exhibition concept in the Czech-German border region. The industry meeting was actively attended by 80 companies and research institutions. Two contracts were directly agreed upon at the event, with more in progress.

An honorary award for support and development of education was given to the Czech Footwear and Leather Association. The award was accepted by Marcela Melicharkova, a footwear technician and project worker. The Czech Footwear and Leather Association received the award with an example of good practice: It initiated the formation of a working group, which resulted in the preparation of a new high school program, "Technical Lyceum – specializing in footwear and plastics manufacturing." Thanks to fundraising, 200,000 CZK was obtained for promotion. The program will open in the 2025/2026 school year for 20 students.

An honorary award for the development of the regional innovation environment was given to CLUTEX - Cluster technical textiles. The award was accepted by Petra Dufkova, project manager. CLUTEX - Cluster technical textiles received the award with an example of good practice: Participation in developing an innovative approach to textile recycling. The Technical University of Liberec and the social cooperative Diakonie Broumov tested the recycling of entire garments. The result is a new material from which coat hangers and construction boards were produced.

An honorary for long-term development and support of collective research, securing grants, and organizing regional events to promote advanced technologies and development in the Liberec region was given to the NANOPROGRESS. The award was accepted by the chairman of the board, Lubos Komarek.

During the Inspiration for Everyday Practice and Strategic Decisions of Cluster Managers and their Teams session, representatives shared practical tips, highlighting successes and lessons learned from challenges.

Vendula Doubravska from the Czech Aerospace Cluster shared insights into the experience of business missions. Lucia Haraslinova from the Cluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturers expanded on the topic of group visits to foreign trade fairs and incoming missions, highlighting the benefits for cluster members. Renata Pfefferova from the National Cluster Association provided practical tips on using ChatGPT and demonstrated how this tool can assist clusters in writing newsletters, articles, and social media posts. Lucie Meznikova from the Czech Optical Cluster spoke about LinkedIn and its possibilities. Hana Gabrielova from the CzecHemp approached the topic of the Scientific Council, and Lubos Komarek from the Nanoprogress explained why project proposals should not omit essential elements.

Cluster Day concluded with several excursions at Mendel University, including Brewing and Malting / University Mini-Brewery Johann, Woodworking Technologies / Woodworking Workshops, Botanical Garden and Arboretum, and a social evening.