Technological Initiative Pilsen

A regular meeting of members and partners of Technological Initiative Pilsen (TIP) took place at the company Gerresheimer Horsovsky Tyn on 9^th October 2013. Helmut Schweiger, Managing Director of Gerresheimer Horsovsky Tyn, opened the meeting by introducing the company. Gerresheimer is a leading international manufacturer of top-quality special glass and plastic products for global pharmaceutical industry and healthcare. The plant in Horšovský Týn specializes in the production of inhalers, insulin pens, drug testers, dialyzer parts, etc. In 2012, its production capacity was expanded by adding a new manufacturing facility and a fully automated warehouse.

The main topic discussed at the meeting was involvement of members, potential members and partners in the project for supporting technical education. Gerresheimer presented its training centre built in partnership with the Vocational School in Domažlice. Pavel Duchek, TIP Secretary-General, informed all the participants that the TIP Association has joined the Technical Education Committee which was formed upon the initiative of the Governor of the Pilsen Region Milan Chovanec in partnership with the Pilsen Region Chamber of Commerce.  TIP supports all activities aimed at the revitalization of specialized technical education in the Czech Republic and overall enhancement of technical education. In the discussion, all participants agreed on TIP implementing and supporting a partnership between the member companies and primary and secondary schools in the region. TIP calls on primary and secondary schools located near the member companies to establish active collaboration.

TIP representatives did not agree with the document “Information on the Preparation of Educational Policy Strategy of the Czech Republic until 2020”, which is being prepared by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The material does not include support for technical education as a fundamental prerequisite for economic development of the Czech Republic.

Furthermore, Richard Brunner, Head of IHK Regensburg in Cham, presented an unconventional and efficient tool for the promotion of technical education. He introduced a case with technical tools and a case containing Lego Technic. All the members agreed that this was a good way of promoting the topic at schools and that they would support partner schools by purchasing these educational aids.

R. Brunner cordially invited TIP representatives for a field trip aimed at the presentation of research projects and facilities of the University of West Bohemia, supporting collaboration between companies and schools. This event will take place at the University of South Bohemia in Pilsen on 5^th November 2013. See

http://www.ihk-regensburg.de/ihk-r/autoupload/officefiles/Fachexkursion_Pilsen_2013_11_05.pdf

In conclusion, it was stated that the association would actively pursue other joint projects, primarily the joint procurement project.

On behalf of TIP: Ing. Pavel Peták Technological Initiative Pilsen, z.s.p.o.

It will be held “Meeting with representatives of business subjects in Pilsen Region” in Pilsen Science and Technology Park, Building A, Teslova 3, on 22 October 2013. The organizers are the Pilsen Region and the regional office of CzechInvest in Pilsen Region. The aim of the meeting is to provide information to business subjects about specific activities of support of the business environment in the Region.

For more information: http://www.czechinvest.org/data/files/pozvanka-plzen-3892-cz.pdf

On 4^th September 2013, presentation of state-of-the-art 3D print technologies took place at the headquarters of EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems in Krailling near Munich. The presentation was attended by representatives of MBtech Bohemia, EvoBus Bohemia, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, NTC facility and Blue Projects Agency. EOS supplies technologies for the 3D printing of metallic and plastic structures.

This technology is used when a product needs to be very quickly obtained from a data model, featuring characteristics equivalent to a product manufactured in a conventional way. The basic principle of 3D print in all EOS machines is laser sintering of thin layers of a powder which is gradually and globally distributed in multiple thin layers. After defined parts of each layer gradually fuse together, the resulting product is simply taken out of the box full of unsintered powder. You can picture the gradual sintering of the final part as melting of the flat layers of the parts, which are formed when a part is cut into slices. A complete part is gradually made from these slices of sintered material. It is possible to obtain parts which have the same technical characteristics as steel, stainless steel, chrome cobalt, nickel, as well as PET, polyurethane and other common materials. In addition to other novelties, EOS is preparing 3D printing of precious metals and extension of work space.

Chaired by Jiří Struček, Deputy Governor for Education, Sport, Culture and Tourism, specialized committees commenced their work. The committees include representatives of primary and secondary schools, the Pilsen Region, employers, Technological Initiative Pilsen, JCI, IHK Regensburg, District Chamber of Commerce for the Pilsen Area, Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, CzechInvest, Employment Office and other government and private institutions.

All the stakeholders wish to agree on, create and implement a long-term strategy that would support the development of technical education in the Pilsen Region and thus ensure enough qualified workers for industrial enterprises which provide a substantial part of added value in the entire region.

The TIP representatives engage in the Marketing Section. On the committee meetings held on 20^th and 27^th June 2013, the TIP representatives presented a marketing strategy proposal targeted at the public, opinion and decision makers. TIP provided its poster “Technology Lined with Gold” (Technika má zlaté dno), as well as the Nine Recommendations for Mutual Cooperation in Supporting Technical Education.

Members of the Marketing Section agreed on the necessity to get involved the broadest possible scope of private enterprises, educational institutions, municipalities, communities and non-profit organizations in the implementation of this strategy. Their debate further focused on the use of unconventional and avalanche-like approaches that enable other entities to participate as well, based on their own decision and with minimal resources.

Members of the Marketing Section recommend that other businesses and schools make space for the collaboration between kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, universities and enterprises, invite managers of engineering and electrical engineering companies for discussions with students deciding on their careers, organize coordinated open days at industrial enterprises on 1^st June and in the first and second weeks of February.

Furthermore, the members call on all the relevant structures to support the revitalization of infrastructure for extracurricular technical activities (engineering centres, young engineers’ clubs, school workshops, etc.).

The meeting participants believe that the goal will be achieved when target groups are aware of the prospects of technical study programmes, the target group’s perception of values with respect to technical education has changed, technical study programmes represent a prestigious specialization, the topic of technical education regularly appears in the media, at school lectures and discussion programmes, the topic “Technology Lined with Gold” is included in all strategic documents of the region, municipalities, communities, schools, industrial enterprises, etc., industrial enterprises in the Pilsen Region have enough qualified workers, primary and secondary schools have advanced infrastructure for the study of technical fields and all the structures interested in technical education systematically improve the entire process.

Welding is needed everywhere. Welders connect metals to fences, oil pipelines, nuclear reactor parts. And to bus structures at the EvoBus factory in Holýšov. „We need the highly qualified workforce, because welding robots do not think. We need thousands of different parts, and adaptation to permanent changes. For this, we need qualified welders“ says Reiner Springmeier, director of the EvoBus factory and having been welding engineer himself. TIP member EvoBus is one of the largest welding factory of Daimler group. Supporting the “Technology lined with gold” initiative is one of their actions to sustain a continuous workforce of skilled tradesmen.

To introduce young students in the world of welding, the equipment producer Fronius brought their welding simulator to the school in Holýšov. With the help of Fronius instructors and their teachers, girls and boys alike had to weld one joint, the simulator allowing them to control the parameters like speed, distance and angle of the burner. And to discover that good craftsmanship is not so easy. Occasion to gain respect for good work, and maybe for one or the other the first step into a job with a bright future.

From 3^rd June 2013, the first billboard by Technological Initiative Pilsen (TIP) is on public display in Pilsen, having been installed within the TIP project to enhance the attractiveness of technical study programmes in the Czech Republic.

TIP is planning to gradually expand the number of billboards promoting technical education, both in the Pilsen Region and on a national level, in order to attract public (particularly students’ and parents’) attention to technical fields.

Anybody who has space (e.g. a surface, website) and would like to encourage interest in technical education can support the campaign by displaying the billboard “Technology Lined with Gold” (Technika má zlaté dno).

If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact us at: pavel.petak@bpagency.cz

The billboard “Technology Lined with Gold” is located at Americká Street, across the street from a public transport stop (in the direction toward the main station) near the Tesco store.

Martin Kořínek, CEO of GRAMMER CZ, Václav Khin, Business Manager of MBtech Bohemia, Josef Basl, Vice-Chancellor at the University of West Bohemia, and TIP Secretary-General Pavel Duchek talked about the project by the Technological Initiative Pilsen (TIP) to support technical education on the Czech Radio Pilsen programme “Co Vás zajímá” (Your Interest).

A full recording of the debate is available here:

http://prehravac.rozhlas.cz/audio/2884343

Johannes Heidecker, President of the Technological Initiative Pilsen, and Wolfram Motz, Managing Director of MBtech Bohemia, participated in the panel discussion “Competitiveness through Innovations and Creativity”. This discussion was held on 23^rd April 2013 as a part of the Štiřín Talks, organized regularly by the Prague office of the German foundation Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

Wolfram Motz noted that the ability to innovate one’s products is crucial for a business success. At MBtech, Czech engineers contribute significantly to the success of the company.

Johannes Heidecker observed that many people leave Europe for the USA to start innovative businesses. This trend is taking off despite the fact that the government offers no public subsidies to such people. They are only attracted by a different business climate in the USA. This could be inspiration for Europe.

On 9^th April 2013, a workshop called “The Arab World and Business Opportunities” took place under the auspices of Ivo Grüner, Deputy Governor of the Pilsen Region. TIP Secretary-General Pavel Duchek also participated in this workshop.

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco in the Czech Republic, Her Excellency Souriya Otmani talked about this region.

MOROCCO

Today’s Morocco is a country of investment opportunities, particularly for the following reasons:

• proximity of Europe and the Arab world
• rich natural resources (cobalt, nickel, aluminium)
• human resources potential leaning on peoples’ experience
• political stability
• democratization process and active policy
• market economy with a strong domestic demand
• substantial public investments
• liberalization policy
• modernization of the infrastructure and administration
• strong social policy
• advantage of low wages and transportation cost
• language skills of the people
• etc.

Morocco is sometimes called the “Business Gateway”. Investment promotion is secured by the Morocco Agency for Investment. Morocco is a member of the WTO.

Strategic investment sectors: agriculture, fishery, food industry, mining industry, automotive, telecommunications, tourism, electronics, etc.

Investment references: Sumimoto, KAZAKY, Renault, BOMBARDIER, and others.

Main investment streams: USA, India, China, South Korea

Important links:

http://www.maroc-trade.gov.ma/

http://www.invest.gov.ma/

http://www.marocexport.ma/

http://www.tourisme.gov.ma/

 ALGERIA

The current situation in Algeria is characterized by the following trends:

• liberalization and restoration of a political system leading to stability
• national debt reduction
• massive foreign investments (about 100 million USD / year), substantial public investment
• infrastructure development and general housing development
• preparation of investment promotion programmes (photovoltaics, gas mining)
• good relations with the Czech Republic

General Secretary of the association, Mr. Pavel Duchek informed on 11th Apr, 2013 public about the project: Technology lined with gold by ČRo Plzeň.

Reportage:

http://www.rozhlas.cz/plzen/zpravodajstvi/_zprava/instituce-na-plzensku-ladi-strategii-na-podporu-technickych-oboru–1199006