Prague is not only an amazing historical city with a wealth of monuments, excellent gastronomy, cordial residents, and a wide range of events. It is also a modern and innovative science hub. Prague excels in many fields, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, biomedicine, low-carbon technologies, data technologies and selected creative industries, providing ideal opportunities for holding conventions and conferences with the matching topics.
In theΒ 23rd issue of Innovative Prague we will take aΒ look at theΒ latest Czech achievements in theΒ field of artificial intelligence, robotics, space research and medicine. We will introduce award-winning Czech innovative projects and find out how AI can help with mental health, translations or what are theΒ advances in cancer treatment.
Continuous Support of AI in Czechia
Artificial intelligence is one of theΒ topics most frequently discussed in theΒ Czech Republic and Prague. TheΒ local market is home to aΒ number of major startups and other players associated in various organizations for networking and best practice sharing, not only within specialized professional conferences. Although theΒ Czech Republic is aΒ small country, it is perceived as an AI Friendly Country, which according toΒ wired.czΒ may subsequently stimulate an increase in investment from third countries. Financial support is heading to this sector not only from investors, but also from public sources. For example, theΒ Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) recently allocated CZK 200 million for theΒ European AI-Matters project, which aims to promote cooperation between universities and SMEs, according toΒ novinky.cz. In Prague, theΒ Czech Technical University is involved in theΒ project, and theΒ ministry expects that more than 100 projects will be carried out in theΒ next two years.
AI Predator, Friend and Translator
In Prague, like in many other cities, there are many no-fly zones where operation of drones is not allowed in their perimeter. Eagle.one, aΒ robotic hunter, can now supervise and ensure that this ban is observed, for example, over airports, prisons, border crossings or power plants. As reported by ΔT 24 on itsΒ website, this artificial intelligence-equipped robot from theΒ Faculty of Electrical Engineering of theΒ Czech Technical University in Prague can, unlike its colleagues, intercept even fast-moving drones with unpredictable trajectories.
However, just as artificial intelligence can guard theΒ flight space, it can also protect mental health. According toΒ wired.cz, aΒ new app from theΒ Czech creators of Elin.ai aims to protect theΒ young generation from theΒ negative effects of theΒ online world on their brain. Elin.ai acts as an AI friend that users can talk to and consult, and thus help alleviate feelings of anxiety and helplessness from online messages distorting theΒ picture of real world around them.
Another AI app from Prague has recently marked aΒ success – AiLuvio, which acts as aΒ simultaneous translator for more than 30 languages, breaking down theΒ language barriers in communication. Although this app has not been on theΒ market for long, its creators have already attracted theΒ attention of investors. As reported byΒ CzechCrunch.cz, theΒ creators hope to raise up to $920,000 in total for its expansion and development.
Excelling not Only in AI, but also in Space and Cancer Research
However, Czech brains excel not only in theΒ field of AI, but also in space research, for example, Czech scientific capacities have achieved significant successes. An international team, including researchers from Charles University in Prague, has recently published two studies explaining theΒ origin of meteorites hitting Earth and from which asteroids meteorites originate. You can read which asteroid is theΒ most prolific in this respect on theΒ websiteΒ of theΒ Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University.
Another discovery by theΒ Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of theΒ Academy of SciencesΒ of theΒ Czech Republic in Prague has recently been published in aΒ prestigious scientific journal. They have figured out how to produce more stable substances than those currently used to treat tumors. In addition, theΒ new substance can also be used as aΒ contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging even in patients who would otherwise not be able to undergo theΒ procedure due to health risks. AΒ breakthrough platform, which was created by scientists from theΒ Laboratory of Biophysics of theΒ Institute of Physics of theΒ Academy of Sciences of theΒ Czech Republic in Prague, could also be used in theΒ treatment of cancer. According to theΒ VΔdaVΓ½zkum.czΒ website, this technology can be used, for example, in theΒ targeted destruction of cancer cells.
TheΒ fact that Czech science is truly top-notch is also evidenced by theΒ record number of supported Czech projects in theΒ European Research Council competition for European grants. However, it is not only about financial support, but also about prestige. Supported projects always boast aΒ unique idea and have aΒ significant impact on their field. Last year, ten projects succeeded in theΒ round of grants for young scientists. These focus, for example, on binary stars in astrophysics, enzyme research, but also on theΒ analysis of computer games and VR applications or war contexts in Europe and theΒ Middle East. Details about theΒ ten awarded projects can be found on theΒ wired.czΒ website.
TheΒ local competition Visionaries of theΒ CzechInno Association, which evaluates innovative achievements in Czech business, also focuses on excellence. TheΒ 14th year was in theΒ spirit of ecology β awards were given to innovations in theΒ processing of hazardous waste, improvement of theΒ living conditions of endangered animal species and significant savings in theΒ field of construction. TheΒ individual awarded projects are presented on theΒ BusinessInfo.czΒ website
