At the Novo mesto Development Centre, we won a gold award for innovation for our LABTOP, which developed a new concept of social collaboration. “LABTOP is a high-tech mini-factory where students, young and established companies learn. It is a permanent installation that integrates most of the key technologies that belong to Industry 4.0. The space is shared with local educational institutions, which run a regular educational programme in the laboratory, and is also available to businesses and individuals.” is stated, among other things, in the prize’s explanatory memorandum, which was presented on behalf of the authors (Dr Katerina Božič, Franci Bratkovič, Dr Krištof Debeljak, Dr Andrej Dobrovoljc, Anja Jakše, mag. Tatjana Koleša, Marko Kuzmanović, Vinko Longar, Jožica Piškur, Dr Janez Povh, Janez Primc and Marko Rudolf) from the hands of the President of the Chamber , Marek Gorjup, was accepted by Franci Bratkovič, Director of the Novo mesto Development Centre. “We were aware that LABTOP is a great project when it was conceived. We have believed in this project from the start, working hard on it, liaising with various experts and suppliers. The GZDBK Gold Innovation Award is a confirmation that the project is also recognised and appreciated in the domestic environment, which is an added bonus. We see the award as a confirmation of the direction in which we are working and as an incentive to take further ambitious steps.” he said.
This year’s call for the best innovations of the GZDBK 2022 received 26 innovation proposals from 192 innovators from 13 companies, 2 faculties and a public institute. The proposals were evaluated by a six-member Innovation Evaluation Committee, which is part of the Innovation Section and consists of Krunoslav Šimrak, TPV AUTOMOTIVE d. o. o. (Chairman of the Commission), Mitja Pelko, Krka, d. d., Bernarda Bevc Bukovec, Adria Mobil, d. o. o., mag. Mitja Košak, Solos, d. o. o., Dr Andrej Dobrovoljc, Development Centre Novo mesto, d. o. o., and Marjan Hosta, Iskra PIO, d. d. o. o. There were 11 gold, 13 silver and one bronze awards, as well as one award for contribution to innovation.“This year’s innovations showed a positive trend in the areas of macroeconomic development, integration of customer and market needs, focus on positive impacts on society and the environment, and the technological advances we have seen in the past year,” said the regional chamber at the award ceremony, where they were pleased to note that we are the most successful region in Slovenia in terms of the number of registered innovations. After a successful presentation of innovations to the public last year, innovations, innovators and innovators will be presented to the general public again this year at an exhibition on the Main Square in Novo mesto.
