How good is the weld or surface finish on my product or a component supplied to me? Was a defect caused by improper handling, or was there a hidden material flaw from the start? These are examples of questions that the team at the CXI TUL university research institute can answer very quickly. Thanks to the SUPPORT4SME project, companies can now access help with specific production issues, consultations, analyses and other services provided by a top-tier scientific workplace at minimal cost. The offer is intended for small and medium-sized enterprises with up to 250 employees from the Liberec, Ústí nad Labem and Karlovy Vary regions, as well as from Saxony.

Three companies and seven technical challenges for 25 students. That was the second edition of TechStarter, a six-month intensive program connecting schools with industrial companies in the region. At the ceremonial closing event, secondary school students presented their projects. There was no shortage of healthy confidence or lessons learned from mistakes. The event concluded with financial awards being presented to the successful participants.

The frame of an e-bike is tensioned on a pneumatic device, handlebars are bent in a testing rig to the verge of breaking, and brakes are made to withstand a simulated downpour. This is what an ordinary day looks like at the Engineering Test Institute in Jablonec nad Nisou. It is here, too, that decisions are made on whether new products will pass the safety filter and meet the demanding requirements of the market.