Digital Innovation Hub –FabLab Bielsko-Biala
"You do not have to be a big organization to create great things! The most important is how to use your own potential”. It is our motto.
Regional Development Agency in Bielsko-Biała has for many years been strongly involved in activities supporting the development of the region and the city of Bielsko-Biała. Through active involvement in EURADA's (European Association of Development Agencies in Brussels), cooperation in many international projects, we have become a recognizable partner in Europe. In the period from 2004, we have cooperated with many organizations and enterprises in the field of: tourism development, cultural heritage protection, technology transfer, cluster development, innovation, implementation of modern environmental protection technologies, energy efficiency, digitalization of indusytry sectors, technical education and smart specialization. We are facing the next technological revolution that we all know under the name Industry 4.0. Already in 2015, we recognized the need to implement modern digital solutions not only at the level of modern enterprises, but more importantly from the very beginning of education of younf entrepresneurs and future engineers. This is how the Digital Innovation Hub was created - FabLab Bielsko-Biała (www.fablab24.pl). We have put together modern technical equipment and knowledge of 3D technology: 3D modelling and design, 3D printing, rapid prototyping and reverse engineering, 3D scanning and laser cutting. We develop the activities of FabLab by serving enterprises in the SME sector with new modern technologies, offering access to modern equipment, dedicated and dedicated engineering training, initiating actions for local community in the field of entrepreneurship, creativity induvidual growth. FabLab actively supports the local education system by providing training to improve professional competences and implementation of modern digital competencies consistent with the Strategy of Intelligent Specialization. From 2016, FabLab Bielsko-Biała is a member of the international project consortium implementing the FabLabNet Interreg Central Europe project, as a result of which a huge knowledge base in the field of digital innovations, modern production methods and rapid prototyping was created. So called “Virtual Factory”was established on the basis of laboratories being in the FabLabNet network, providing the opportunity to create pratically every innovative product one can imagine. We use this knowledge in the daily work of FabLab, supporting the local innovation system of Bielsko-Biała, actively forming the basis for further development of the region.