The Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics at the Czech Technical University in Prague (CIIRC CTU) today welcomed an international delegation of senior policy makers and experts from the OECD, GIZ, and Eastern Partnership countries. The visit took place as part of a regional study tour organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and coordinated by the OECD and the German development agency GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit). The focus of the visit was on effective support mechanisms for the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including technology adoption and innovation ecosystem development.
The study tour is part of the ongoing project “Empowering SMEs for Industry 4.0: Digital Innovation, Tech Transfer, and Ecosystem Collaboration”, which aims to strengthen policy frameworks and capacity building for SME digitalisation across Eastern Partner countries.
During the afternoon session at CIIRC CTU, the delegation was introduced to the institute’s broad engagement in applied AI, robotics, and industrial digitalisation. The participants explored how CIIRC CTU supports companies in their transformation through its leadership of EDIH CTU, its involvement in the AI-MATTERS Testing and Experimentation Facility (TEF), and in particular through the RICAIP (Research and Innovation Centre on Advanced Industrial Production) infrastructure.
Professor Vladimír Mařík, Scientific Director of CIIRC CTU, opened the meeting with an overview of the institute’s mission and its active role in linking academia, industry, and public institutions in the field of smart manufacturing. Ondřej Beránek, Head of the Czech node of the AI-MATTERS project, showcased the services provided by CIIRC to SMEs within EDIH CTU and through the TEF network, including practical tools for testing AI-driven technologies.
A key highlight of the visit was the tour of RICAIP Testbed Prague, a state-of-the-art experimental facility for robotics, automation, and flexible production systems. Presented by Pavel Burget, Director of the Testbed for Industry 4.0, the testbed represents a core element of the RICAIP distributed research infrastructure, which connects physical testbeds in Prague, Brno, and Saarbrücken (Germany). The delegation had the opportunity to see live demonstrations of smart manufacturing processes and gained insight into how companies—from start-ups to large industrial players—can benefit from access to advanced equipment, expert knowledge, and a neutral testing environment for new technologies.
The visit to CIIRC CTU formed part of a broader programme in Prague, which included a morning session at the Ministry of Industry and Trade focused on financial instruments for SME digitalisation, as well as an excursion to the EDIH Brain 4 Industry (B4I) innovation centre in Dolní Břežany later in the afternoon.
The regional study visit, taking place from 2 to 6 June 2025 across the Czech Republic and Poland, brings together senior representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, including deputy ministers, digitalisation policy leads, and innovation ecosystem stakeholders. The aim is to foster regional dialogue and exchange good practices for supporting digital innovation, building institutional capacity, and advancing the Industry 4.0 agenda in the Eastern Partnership region.
Photos from the event
