SCO-TTi Innovation Day delights guests

In March 2023, the Science Center Oberlausitz (SCO-TTi) held its first Innovation Day at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences under the theme “People at the Heart of Industry 4.M.”

SCO-TTi (Science Center Oberlausitz—Technology Transfer—Innovative) is an interdisciplinary laboratory at our university, based in the Faculty of Business Administration and Engineering Management, and works closely with the IPM (Department of Measurement Technology and Process Automation) and the Umgebindehaus Information Center. Within SCO-TTi, the team develops approaches to shaping the digital transformation of the economy and society. The Science Center serves as a meeting place for students, researchers, managers, SMEs, and citizens, where research, innovation, teaching, and technology transfer converge in the context of digitalization.

The goal of the first SCO-TTi Innovation Day was to present the extensive research findings—for example, from major EU projects—and to identify ways in which companies in Upper Lusatia can apply these findings in their businesses or use them to launch new collaborations. Numerous representatives from the regional business community were in attendance, including Arnell, ATN Hölzel, Diakoniewerk Oberlausitz, Digades, ENO, and many others.

Scientists from Infineon Technologies Dresden and Virtual Vehicle Graz delivered keynote speeches on current trends in automation and digitization, as well as augmented reality (AR) in production and logistics. Participants also had the opportunity to tour the SCO-TTi laboratories and view the equipment for robotics, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) as part of an exhibition. In addition, a workshop was held where participants could learn how industry in Upper Lusatia can benefit from Industry 4.M.

Dr. Germar Schneider, Senior Manager of Factory Integration at Infineon Technologies Dresden, delivered a keynote speech on the topic “IoT Tech Radar – Use Cases for the Internet of Things in the Modern Semiconductor Industry. The Path from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 with the Goal of Establishing Sustainable and Human-Centered Manufacturing.”

The second keynote, presented by Michael Spitzer, Senior Researcher at Virtual Vehicle in Graz, focused on “Technology-Supported Work and Learning with Augmented Reality—Use Cases in Machine Maintenance and Robotics.”

During the break, guests were invited to explore and try out Industry 4.M technologies such as augmented reality and e-learning, collaborative robots and automated guided vehicles (IPM: Christian Vogel), as well as virtual reality (IZU: Jan Fallgatter).

In addition, Daniel Winkler and Fabian Lindner from SCO-TTi presented the Factory4Future project and led a workshop on how industry in Upper Lusatia can benefit from Industry 4.M.

The 45 participants were enthusiastic about the event and emphasized that the SCO-TTi Innovation Day was an important step toward successful collaboration between the university, business, and society in the region.

The SCO-TTi team would like to thank the Dean and the Faculty of Business Administration and Engineering Management for inviting the guest speakers and for their support during the event. We would also like to thank Leonie Liemich from the Lausitz Life & Technology Alliance for moderating the event, as well as the facility staff for their organizational support.