The role of Brno University of Technology in the AI community: Radim Kudla will speak at this year’s Innovation Week

Innovation Week is Central Europe’s leading innovation conference focusing on AI, technology, business and start-ups. This year it takes place from 1 to 3 October. It aims to connect stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem and showcase new technological trends. This year’s 11th edition will feature talks, workshops and a start-up programme. Topics relating to artificial intelligence play a key role in the programme. Confirmed moderators and speakers will include names such as Daniel Stach, Lukáš Hejlík, Jan Tyl and Margaux Miller. Also featured will be ‘our very own’ Radim Kudla, who will deliver a talk entitled ‘The innovative role of BUT in the AI community’.

Kudla will draw on his many years’ experience as a technology transfer manager. In his talk, he will focus on the intersection of academic research and the commercial world. “BUT stands out in both the Czech and European innovation communities for its ability to connect talented students, researchers and industry within a single, functioning ecosystem. Using examples of ongoing and completed projects, I will demonstrate that our university is not merely an academic institution, but a dynamic driver of innovation,” says Kudla, outlining the main objective of the seminar, which will highlight specific projects, competitions and mentoring opportunities offered by BUT to those interested. During the seminar, Kudla will also mention the national project Czech AI Factory, which complements the infrastructure in the Czech Republic for the development of trustworthy artificial intelligence models and transfers expertise to industry with the aim of supporting the adoption of AI tools in the Czech Republic. The Faculty of Information Technology has been closely involved in the project from the outset. “Thanks to the Czech AI Factory, we provide services built on top of the AI development infrastructure and offer companies precisely the support and know-how they need to develop competitive products.”

Radim Kudla’s presentation will focus on practical experience in translating applied research into real-world products and sharing best practices in the commercialisation of technologies. Innovation Week participants – including company founders, investors and corporate leaders – will gain an insight into how to engage effectively in collaboration with BUT and how to utilise academic AI expertise to strengthen their own competitiveness.

It is worth noting that a key feature of the event is its scale – this year, the organisers are expecting more than 400 speakers and 15,000 participants, with the programme taking place across four stages.