On Thursday 11 May 2023, the University Library of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica became the venue for the second INNOVATION MEETUP event series. The event was organised by the Banská Bystrica Development Agency in cooperation with the Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, with the aim of building and supporting the innovation system of the region.
More than 70 participants from business, academia, public administration, and startups gathered at the second INNOVATION MEETUP to engage in networking, community building, relationship development, and business-to-business and science-to-business networking. in the field of innovation. The aim of the event was, among other things, to exchange experiences, knowledge, and views on various topics. Participants of the meetup could get to know interesting projects of existing or starting companies, but also experience scientific research gadgets in the form of virtual reality or the life of microorganisms used in pharmacy and medicine.
Photo source: Kamila Borseková
At the event, the head of Research at the Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Kamila Borseková, also presented the innovative web platform "Mining treasures", which is the result of work within the international research project INCULTUM. Mining treasures represent an interactive platform and a digital map of mining treasures in mining towns in Central Slovakia. The aim of the platform is to introduce and familiarise people with "treasures", in the form of historical and cultural heritage, left by our ancestors in connection with mining activities in Central Slovakia. The role of the platform is not only to promote and spread interest in visiting lesser-known mining monuments, but to educate children, young people, and the general public in this area of history in an interactive way. Few people know that Jakob Fugger, one of the founders of the Thurzo-Fugger company, was the richest person in history or that the Thurzo-Fuger company introduced a system of double-entry accounting.
Photo source: Kamila Borseková
As Kamila Borsková stated at the event: "Although we and our children have learnt about dinosaurs, Mesopotamia and Egypt, we pay very little attention to our own history, and that is one of the things we decided to change with the Mining Treasures of Central Slovakia project. Thanks to the mining treasures project, we discovered an immense potential connected with the cultural and historical heritage that this region has, as well as a number of great people who are active, passionate, and realise great things. We also see great potential in starting other business activities, in creating new and innovative products and services. We currently see our role as a university mainly in the fact that we will try to connect these people, connect them, and help use this potential for the development of our region."
