"Applied research and cooperation with companies are among our priorities. Skoda Auto is an important partner of ours, we have joint projects that support practice-oriented education, we develop new technologies in the field of assistance systems and another example of successful cooperation is the unique artificial intelligence laboratory AIM.Lab. There we focus on teaching and developing data analysis, artificial intelligence and machine learning," said Jan Platoš, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Skoda Auto was represented at the meeting by Andreas Dick, member of the Board of Management of Production and Logistics, and other top managers from Production and Logistics and Quality Management. "What I have seen today is an excellent example of what cooperation between companies like Škoda Auto and universities should look like. I am really impressed by the enthusiasm for new technologies, the ongoing projects and the commitment," emphasised Andreas Dick.

The meeting was also attended by Adéla Hradilová, Director of the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre (MSIC), who presented current projects. "The Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre was established with the aim of strengthening the region's innovation ecosystem, exploiting its potential and responding flexibly to current challenges. Thanks to our partnership with the University of Applied Sciences, we can offer entrepreneurs, researchers and the whole region a wider range of opportunities and solutions, whether through projects such as EDIH Ostrava or the transformational vision of Smaragd with its key project Refresh. Škoda Auto is also actively cooperating with VŠB-TUO. In particular through its Škoda UniHUB, which helps to increase the attractiveness of the company as a potential employer in the eyes of students. We are glad to have it on the premises of the Ostrava T-Park," said Adéla Hradilová.

During the visit, the representatives of the automotive company visited the CPIT-TL3 testbed, where, in addition to AIM.Lab, other laboratories have their facilities. In the Mobility Lab they saw a new assistance system developed in cooperation with Škoda Auto or the development of a virtual software-defined vehicle, while in the Smart Factory there were demonstrations of a fully automated robotic line with a direct link to the creation of digital twins and production planning with a connection to virtual reality.

The last stop of the visit was the CEET research centre, which is dedicated to research and development in the field of low-carbon and sustainable energy and environmental technologies in line with the principles of the circular economy.