South Bohemian Digital Innovation Hub

South Bohemian Digital Innovation Hub

Acronym:  South Bohemian Digi Hub

 

Project partners:

  • South Bohemian Science and Technology Park
  • Technology Center Pisek 
  • South Bohemian Regional Authority
  • South Bohemian Chamber of Commerce
  • University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
  • Institute of Technology and Business in Ceske Budejovice

 

Coordinator: 

  • South Bohemian Science and Technology Park

South Bohemian Science and Technology Park is 100% owned by the region of South Bohemia dealing with non-profit supportive activities regarded to development of the regional economic, and particularly innovation ecosystem.

Institutional partners:

  • South Bohemian Chamber of Commerce
  • University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
  • Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice

 

Business partners:

  • dataPartner s.r.o.
  • Holistic management, s.r.o.
  • HYDROSERVIS-UNION a.s.
  • Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích
  • Montekord Machines s.r.o.
  • ROHDE & SCHWARZ závod Vimperk, s.r.o.
  • TODOROV nástrojárna s.r.o.
  • Virtual Lab s.r.o.
  • Vysoká škola technická a ekonomická v Českých Budějovicích
  • Vyšší odborná škola, Střední průmyslová škola automobilní a technická, České Budějovice
  • Vyšší odborná škola, Střední škola, Centrum odborné přípravy – Sezimovo Ústí
  • Výzkumné a vývojové centrum obnovitelných zdrojů a elektromobility s.r.o.

 

Basic information:

South Bohemian Digi Hub is a non profit DIH that aims to support processes dealing with gradual digital transformation of regional companies, and simultaneously support for building digital competencies at schools of all grades, and support of follow-up and long-life learning with regards to development of digital skills. South Bohemian Science and Technology Park is a founding member of the DIH together with Technology Centre in Písek.

The DIH offers opportunities for further development for technology services providers, while to demanding subjects (typically SMEs), whose capacities are insufficient to deal with their issues of digitising production and processess, the hub provides complex know-how and tailor-made services solving their needs.

 

Activities:

  1. Creating network of service providers - building functional collaborative grouping of various regional subjects, which are able to offer relatively complex services for digital transformation of processes, products and services
  2. Test before invest - AI, RPA, VR, AR
  3. Consultancy services on digitisation including fund raising
  4. Education in digitisation
  5. Promotion and marketing

 

Link to national or regional initiatives:

We are part of a network of cooperating hubs in the Czech Republic under the initiative "CEEInno Platform".

We have taken participation in the EU initiative Smart Factories in New EU Member States.

We have become regular member of I4MS initiative.

Our organisation has implemented regional Smart Specialisation Strategy on behalf of the South Bohemian Region.

Our organisation is a lead partner in a cross-border project „Competencies in supporting Digitalisation“ aimed at rising competencies of our employees. Partner of the project is a Linz based agency Business Upper Austria.

Partner of the hub - South Bohemian Chamber of Commerce – has implemented a project „Cross-border Region 4.0 – together.digitally.create“. One of the objectives of the project is rising awareness about possibilities of transforming SMEs to so called „smart factories“.

 

Examples of services:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Testing Laboratory

Artificial intelligence (AI - artificial intelligence) deals with the creation of machines solving complex tasks such as logistics, robotics, natural language processing, image processing, or processing large volumes of data.

Neural networks in artificial intelligence are loosely inspired by the corresponding biological structures. In contrast, they are greatly simplified to speed up calculations, and use different learning mechanisms than those used by the brain. The goal of informatics is not to faithfully simulate biological structures, but above all to solve practical problems. Computational neuroscience deals with the creation of biologically accurate models of neurons and neural networks.

As part of the South Bohemian Digi Hub project, we have opened an artificial intelligence testing laboratory - AI TESTBED - for those interested in the professional and lay public on the premises of the South Bohemian Science and Technology Park. In this testing laboratory, it will be possible to demonstrate individual applications of the use of AI on illustrative examples. These demonstrations are prepared to verify and test the possibilities of using artificial intelligence in corporate practice and in public administration activities. The main benefit of this demonstration laboratory is also consulting and the possibility of consultations with experts in this rapidly developing field.

 

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Testing Laboratory

Robotic process automation (RPA) is a technology that brings business process automation based on the autonomous work of software robots.

As part of the South Bohemian Digi Hub project, we have opened a test laboratory Robotic Process Automation - RPA TESTBED for those interested in the professional and lay public on the premises of the South Bohemian Science and Technology Park.

Testing laboratory - RPA TESTBED of the South Bohemian Science and Technology Park is ready to show on practical examples of operation and the principle of RPA. Explain to those interested in this technology all possibilities of use in company practice and in the activities of public administration. The examples are supplemented by the possibility of consultations with experts in the field and at the same time by the possibility of consulting on specific examples and client requirements. The visitor of the demonstration laboratory will get a comprehensive overview of what RPA is in one place and at the same time will get information through a simple guided workshop with an expert, whether this technology is suitable for processes in his company or institution.

 

Virtual and Augmented Reality Testing Laboratory (VR + AR)

Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that allows the user to find himself in a simulated environment, ideally accompanied by his interaction with it.

Augmented reality (AR) is a term used for a real image of the world complemented by computer-generated objects. It is therefore a representation of reality and the subsequent addition of digital elements.

Virtual and augmented reality technologies create the illusion of the real world and are the possibilities to effectively induce a controlled experience where real experience cannot be achieved (for time, financial and other reasons) or for people for whom working with certain perceptions is in difficult in the real world (worries, fears, existing limitations). Virtual and augmented reality is thus an effective and efficient helper in training, coaching, education, in coordinating the work of teams or for the personal development of individuals.

The VR + AR TESTBED testing laboratory is ready to demonstrate the possibilities of this technology on practical examples for SMEs, public administration and institutions. Visitors will see practical examples and have the opportunity to try many demonstrations. When demonstrating VR + AR, it is possible to immediately consult with experts on specific possible uses, for each individual visitor individually.

 

Brokerage and funding

Client: Hydroservis Union pro, s.r.o.

Profile: small regional company dealing with development and production of small hydro power plants

Need: to develop control interface for its device to optimise rotation speed of turbines in small water power plants.

Provided solution: South Bohemian Science and Technology Park, corp. supported this project by a voucher and by providing experts from Technical University in Liberec. The absence of a simple user interface to control rotation speed optimiser was a fundamental imperfection, which was eliminated thanks to our support. 

 

Providing external expertise and funding

Client: SLOUPÁRNA Majdalena

Profile: traditional and only producer of pillars made of prestrained concrete in the Czech Republic.

Need: By-product of the production of concrete pillars is some amount of a sludge made of cement, water, additives and fine stone fillers, and must be dissolved at the company's expense. Large amount of these sludge is generated by the operation every year, which is continuously transported to a landfill.

Provided solution: We have supported project of this company on processing and application of waste concrete sludge by a voucher and by experts from our network (Experimental Centre of Czech Technical University in Prague). The results of the project convinced the company management to implement the investment in the modification of production technology and production program. The company reaches significant savings and reduce its environmental impact by addressing the further processing and application of waste sludge.

 

Access to funding and networking

Client: ProNanoTech s.r.o.

Profile: company dealing with development of nanofibers dedicated specifically to application in cosmetics.

Need: to find out whether it is possible to use nanofibers in nail polishes as a carrier of other active substances capable to cure or nurture nails.

Provided solution: The project was supported by a voucher on a cooperation with experts from Czech Technical University in Prague. Nanofibers from various materials were tested and processed according to various methods with a special focus on their influence on rigidity and quality of nail polishes. The project result is newly created method for production of new generation nail polishes, which can be enriched with various medicinal and nutritional substances.