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Mining is a thing of the past in our region. Researchers are now collecting stories of former miners Scientists will focus on the life chances of residents of excluded localities How do social inequalities relate to the health of our children? Balance of results and quick exchange of information Refresh: transformation project with the participation of the UO launched

Refresh−Social Lab

Interdisciplinární projekt REFRESH (REFRESH - Research Excellence For REgion Sustainability and High-tech Industries) is conceived as four interconnected scientific research living labs (Energy Lab, Industry 4.0 & Automotive Lab, Materials & Environment Lab, Social Lab), which are an open platform for multifaceted interdisciplinary collaboration of top scientists, experts, students, companies and public administration representatives.

The University of Ostrava is a partner institute within the REFRESH project, whose task is to identify and solve key societal issues related to the adaptation of modern technologies in energy and industry to life in society (Social Lab).

Role of the University of Ostrava - Social Lab

The main focus of the University of Ostrava researchers within the REFRESH project is research in the field of social sciences and humanities with a focus on the process of equitable transformation leading to an increase in the standard of living of the population. They look at the above mentioned issues in a historical, social and geographical context, paying special attention to disadvantaged social groups, which can be expected to suffer the highest level of negative impacts of the transformation. Their problematic situation and attitudes may be one of the biggest obstacles to successful and equitable change in the region, in line with current European strategies.

Key activities of the REFRESH project

Living Labs

• The concept of living labs enables intensive interdisciplinary scientific collaboration, links science and industry and facilitates the transfer of research results into practice (Energy Lab, Industry 4.0 & Automative Lab, Materials & Environment Lab, Social Lab).

Innovation and Research

• Focus on sustainable energy (decarbonisation) increasing the energy and raw material self-sufficiency of the region.
• Digitalisation of industrial production and automation in transport leading to greater efficiency, optimisation and financial savings.
• Environmental technologies and smart material technologies - development of new materials "tailored" to the requirements of modern industries.
• Research on the process of equitable transformation leading to a higher standard of living for the population of the whole region

Main objectives of the REFRESH project

• Identification and solution of societal problems related to the adoption of modern technologies.
• Building a European infrastructure for research and technology transfer in the fields of sustainable energy, digitalisation of industrial production, automation in transport, environmental technologies or smart material technologies.
• Strengthening research excellence in the Moravian-Silesian Region.
• Increasing the attractiveness of the region as a centre of higher education.
• Linking industrial partners with research teams.

Solvers

The principal investigator of the REFRESH project is the University of Mining and Metallurgy – Technical University of Ostrava. The University of Ostrava together with the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre (MSIC) are the project partners.

Project realization

1 January 2022 - 31 December 2027

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