The Engineering Academy of the Czech Republic awarded the project of the CIIRC CTU five-member team led by Dr. Vít Dočkal. The CIIRC RP95-3D protective half-mask was developed by the researchers in one week in March 2020 in response to a severe shortage of protective equipment at the beginning of the first coronavirus wave. Using the high-tech equipment of the Testbed for Industry 4.0 of the European RICAIP project, the mask was both developed and certified as a professional protective device. In cooperation with industrial partners, the mask soon went into production and the first batches were supplied mostly to the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic. The 3D printing data was freely shared for non-commercial purposes and downloaded by more than a hundred institutions from 30 countries, including the US Navy. A newly established spin-off company, TRIX Connections, then worked with a consortium of Czech companies to modify the mask so that it could be mass-produced at a rate of tens of thousands per week.
"This year, the Board of the Engineering Academy decided to award an innovative venture that is also an example of effective cooperation between academia and industry in innovation and technology transfer, with an international overlap," said Prof. Petr Zuna, founding member and President of the IA CR, and added: "An important aspect was that this is a project with a strong degree of solidarity in the fight against COVID-19."
"The Engineering Academy Award is very much appreciated. We have fully embraced modern technologies and processes, especially additive manufacturing and 3D printing as the critical infrastructure of the future for crisis management. In addition to the need to come up with a product that will actually help people, we were also interested in how to set up a model of cooperation so that the product can be manufactured quickly in deteriorating conditions, anywhere in the world," emphasized Vít Dočkal, who is responsible for strategic project management at the CIIRC CTU, adding: "Without the involvement of a number of partners, both from the public administration and industry, we would not have been able to implement such a project in this form."
This year's award has acquired a new look for the first time since its inception, thanks to the support of long-time partner Preciosa. A hand-made trophy of Czech crystal was presented, combining modern techniques and design with the tradition of Czech glass and engraving. The trophy symbolizes Ressl's ship propeller, which is depicted in the EA CR’s logo.
The Engineering Academy Award was inauguratedin 1997. The award intends to stimulate the work of scientists, researchers, designers, engineers and technical staff. Among the most important projects awarded so far are the construction of the Research Center for Power Lasers of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, the development of restoration and conservation technology for the Last Judgement mosaic at St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle, and a number of projects related to the development of new machines and equipment. Infrastructure projects have been awarded as well, such as the project for a new passenger terminalat the international airport in Prague, the project of sliding subway tunnels under the Vltava River, giant storage tanks for the state's strategic oil reserves, the original steel roof structure at the Sazka Arena in Prague, and many others.
Engineering Academy of the Czech Republic: the main activity of the Engineering Academy of the Czech Republic is research and development in the field of engineering, technology, innovation, technical education and international cooperation. It brings together leading experts in technical fields, researchers, academicians and industry and public administration representatives who strive to link research and development with the application sphere. The aim is also to create tools for the effective application of the latest R&D results in practice and their promotion.
Photo, source: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (Josef Zima)
On the appointment of an honorary foreign member of the Engineering Academy of the Czech Republic, who became prof. Wolfgang Wahlster also informs DFKI on its website: here and here.
