After more than five years of successful collaboration between the VSB - Technical University of Ostrava (VSB-TUO), the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU and the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, an ambitious project has been launched: The 'Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Applied Artificial Intelligence for Materials & Manufacturing at VSB - Technical University of Ostrava' (FIP-AI@VSB-TUO) began its work on June 1, 2021. The aim of the cooperation is to research novel solutions for heat recovery in industry based on modular concepts for energy storage and heat exchanger systems and to link these approaches with solutions for digital production technologies and integration into process chains. Advanced and highly specialized AI applications are a decisive factor at every step. On this basis, the cooperation partners are creating a broad portfolio of research and development offerings for companies and industrial partners. Industry will be able to improve its energy balance, reduce CO2 emissions and optimize its production at the same time.

The project partners each contribute their own expertise to this ambitious project: VSB-TUO in the fields of artificial intelligence and next generation computing, Fraunhofer ICT in materials research and energy systems and Fraunhofer IWU in manufacturing technology and production. The bundling of these competencies enables the partners to offer powerful and comprehensive solutions for the entire industrial value chain - technology concepts, control solutions, materials, demonstration models, holistic solutions involving other specialist departments as well as detailed solutions and optimization options.

FIP-AI@VSB-TUO is aimed at customers from industry and the public sector. However, medium-sized companies without their own research and development department or companies with a different research focus can also benefit from the cooperation and expertise. The offer is also open to industrial partners from Germany and the Czech Republic as well as interested parties from other European countries. In addition, FIP-AI@VSB-TUO aims to expand VSB-TUO's research activities and to support regional companies even more with cutting-edge research. The cooperation gives them the opportunity to work together on international projects, gain rapid access to the markets of the partner regions and join forces with German companies on research projects.

The joint project will provide German and Czech students, doctoral candidates and young scientists with career opportunities through internships in the respective partner country. A regular exchange of students and employees promotes joint research activities and generates ideas for new projects and business models.

The management of FIP-AI@VSB-TUO is made up of one representative from each of the partner institutions. The Director General chose Michaela Vráželová, who is currently Head of the VSB-TUO International Office. Two deputy directors, Dieter Weise from Fraunhofer IWU and Vladislav Kolarik from Fraunhofer ICT, represent the Fraunhofer Institutes and coordinate the research activities of a specially established so-called mirror group of FIP-AI@VSB-TUO at their home institutes in order to ensure efficient cooperation at all times.