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SMARAGD

Basic info

REFRESH 

„Unique living laboratories for a smart, green and prosperous region."

Timeline of Implementation  

  • 2022 Project preparation and grant application submission
  • 2022 – 2027 Establishment of research teams and implementation of the plan
  • 2023 – 2025 Construction and purchase of equipment and facilities

Project Goal 

REFRESH wants to be a driving force for the transformation and revitalisation of the post coal¬-mining landscape of the Moravian-Silesian Region by solving technological and social challenges in the priority areas of renewable energy, environmental applications, digitalisation in accordan¬ce with Industry 4.0, transport, IT, and materials research. The key tool for the realisation of the project will be a complex of three collaborative and interconnected “living laboratories” located in a new building at the VSB-TUO campus and in other modernised premises. REFRESH will have strong links with industrial partners allowing the efficient transfer of results into practice.

  • Energy Lab
    A research facility for the effective transformation of current power engi¬neering systems into carbon-free technology with links to circular economy, and also the development of hydrogen technologies. Research will be focu¬sed on reliable, safe and environmentally friendly conversion, energy supply and its use, energy accumulation, and the control of energy flow in complex energy systems.
  • Materials & Environment Lab 
    Concentrating on the development of new materials and technologies that can be used to treat wastewater, and reduce waste and emissions while utilising renewable energy sources. The laboratory will link design, synthesis and the application of materials using the University‘s unique supercomputer infra¬structure. This will be supplemented by new technological advances in Green Industry, environmental technologies, energy technologies, mechanical engi¬neering, electrical engineering and medicine.
  • Industry 4.0 & Automotive Lab
    A unique laboratory and innovative R&D platform connecting sections of Indu¬stry 4.0, additive manufacturing, modern public transport, autonomous mo¬bility and e-mobility, car sharing, power engineering, and materials research. Research into materials and power systems for sustainable transport will be used to increase the innovation potential of companies through the digitalisa¬tion of industrial processes and advances in transport infrastructure.

Key Research Areas

  • Sustainable energy with the support of low carbon technologies
  • Environmental technology
  • Smart material technologies
  • Nanotechnology
  • Digitalisation and Industry 4.0
  • Autonomous mobility and e-mobility
  • Additive manufacturing
  • Artificial Intelligence

We do not build on a green field 

The goal of REFRESH is fully in compliance with European Green Deal, corporate sector requirements and global scientific trends. It consists of a wide network of application partners. The processes of the results exploitation, including the implementation of innovations in companies, are being improved by key partners of the MSIC or Fraunhofer Institute. The research of Excellence is guaranteed by the strong participation of ERC, Highly Cited Researches laureates and dozens of foreign scientists.

REFRESH integrates and strengthens the current potential of the university. The connection to the existing National Centre of Competence in Energy and the National Centre for Industry 4.0 is obvious. The technical solution for the required capacities includes the construction of a building shared with application partners which replace the ground floor building which is not suitable. Furthermore, the following buildings and areas connected to the existing infrastructure will be modernized, enabling the optimal function of laboratories not only in the premises of VSB-TUO, but also in those ones of the involved partners. The implementation of capital construction in the place of obsolete premises will not result in the occupation of new, to-date untouched areas of the land fund.

Estimated Expenditure

  • 4 mld. CZK 
  • 45 % people for R&D
  • 30 % Laboratory and instrumental equipment
  • 25 % Buildings and renovations

Project Benefits

The establishment of a strong interdisciplinary research team and knowledge base, which sys¬tematically contributes to the economic transformation of the Region. The research results, graduates of new University programmes, and cooperation with the sphere of application will lead to the transformation of the economy of the Moravian-Silesian Region from heavy industry to new and promising fields of the global importance

  • To strengthen and integrate research centres, including equipping them with top-of-the-li¬ne research infrastructure. To link technical and social science research aimed at fulfilling the strategic development of the Moravian-Silesian Region, while achieving Czech and Eu¬ropean goals in accordance with the priorities of the European Commission (European Green Deal, Digital Europe).
  • A critical mass will be created to achieve excellence, increase internationalisation, and the inflow of students into the Region. This will also involve the employment of more than a hundred new R&D workers and international experts.
  • The introduction of innovative technologies within traditional as well as new companies, and their effective use will have a positive impact on the revitalisation of the former coal-mining region (with the removal of old environmental burdens), whilst allowing several thousand university students as well as teachers and pupils from secondary education to use the new infrastructure.
  • The concept of living laboratories will lead to functional cooperation between the research and application spheres, which will lead to the connection of technological and marketing knowledge across the innovation ecosystem. This will also lead to an increase in the potential for the commercial application of research results by technology transfer to the corporate sector, including an increased intensity in the establishment of new start-up companies.
  • Ensuring the energy self-sufficiency of the Region leading to the optimisation of industrial production with the potential to expand production capacities and the involvement of skilled workers from various professions.
  • To strengthen employment in the Region through a multiplier effect, as international research shows that one research job generates up to four jobs in other fields. The Moravi¬an-Silesian Region is ideally placed to support this with more than 60% of employment in the Region being within the main application fields of the research goals.

Measurable outputs and impact

Public investment in research and education infrastructure has a high long-term return. In ad¬dition to the above long-term comprehensive benefits, demonstrably measurable outputs and results will be achieved.

Growth of innovation performance and competitiveness of the Region through

  • Transfer of knowledge and new technologies in the field of energy and materials R&D enabling companies to apply the principles of sustaina¬ble low-carbon energy technologies.
  • Knowledge and new technology transfer in the areas of producti¬on digitalisation, collaborative robotics, additive manufacturing, 5G networks, energy and operational management of buildings, and envi¬ronmentally friendly material technologies.
  • Innovation and optimisation of corporate vision and processes using the synergies of the results of technical and social science research, focused on the needs identified with the participation of application partners.
  • An important part of knowledge transfer is the education of graduates in new educational programmes, and the inflow of scientists and appli¬cants interested in studying within the Moravian-Silesian Region.

Expected changes

  • Increasing the innovative and financial performance of companies, and the emergence of more start-ups.
  • Re/up skilling resulting in new jobs.
  • Growth of innovation performance at universities, companies and institutions in the Region expressed by the ratio of total R&D expendi¬ture to the amount of gross domestic product.
  • Improving the competencies of students and other professionals and also their involvement in commercial activities.

Partners

  • CEDA Maps, Plc. 
  • Research Centre Řež, Ltd.
  • Cylinders Holding, Plc. 
  • Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics, Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) (CIIRC)  
  • CEZ, Plc.    
  • ČEZ Distribuce, Plc. 
  • Fraunhofer Institute 
  • Joint Research Centre  
  • Material & Metallurgical Research, Ltd   
  • Moravian-Silesian Energy Centre  
  • Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre Ostrava, Plc.  
  • Moravian-Silesian Region
  • University of Ostrava
  • Siemens, Ltd.  
  • Technische Universität Berlin   
  • T-Mobile Czech Republic, Plc.  
  • Institutes of the Czech Academy of Science    
  • SKODA AUTO, Plc.   
  • VALEO Autoklimatizace k.s.   
  • Veolia Energy Czech Republic, Plc.   

Idea Creator

VSB - Technical University of Ostrava providing technical, scientific and econo¬mic education for more than 11,500 students. In the field of R&D, it is one of the leading workplaces with a significant impact on development and innovation in the areas of IT, energy, new materials and environmental engineering.

Contact

VSB – Technical University of Ostrava
17. listopadu 2172/15
Ostrava - Poruba

www.vsb.cz/en/smaragd
www.vsb.cz/en

June 2021