Current Projects

Generating values through art for sustainable living in landscapes

The PALIMPSEST project focuses on identifying and developing culturally embedded practices that are environmentally friendly. It responds to the urgent call for action arising from the realization of the imbalance in human-nature interactions, focusing particularly on climate challenges and the transition to sustainability as formulated by the European Green Deal. The aim is to present new landscape/ecosystem scenarios and services, experimenting with practices that connect human activities, landscape heritage, and sustainability goals. The focus is on lost processes of nature-human interaction – to observe inconsistencies, tensions, and contradictions between human activities and the natural sphere. This is achieved through the involvement of pilot sites – Jerez, Milan, and Lodz, which activate local ecosystems of cultural operators and decision-making bodies, as well as international artists, designers, and architects.

Consortium: Politecnico Milano (IT) project coordinator, Aalborg University (DK), Basque Center for Climate Change (ES), ANCI Toscana (IT), Semantika (SL), Ayuntamiento de Jerez (ES), Fundarte (ES), Nomad Garden (ES), Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (EL), NOVELCORE (ES), COAL (FR), University of West Bohemia (CZ), Lodz Art Centre (PL), CULTURALINK (ES), Associazione Culturale KARAKORUM (IT)

Programme: EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Call: Horizon Europe

Project implementation period: 2023–2026

Research team: Prof. Ing. arch. Zdeněk Fránek, Assoc. Prof. Mgr. art. Jana Potiron, ArtD., MgA. Kristina Zejkanová, MgA. Jan Popelka

https://www.palimpsest-project.eu/exploring-prototyping-design-in-lodz-pilot/#

Pelvic floor disorders significantly impact women’s quality of life, affecting their social and personal activities and contributing to mental health challenges. The project aims to raise awareness and develop a non-invasive device for evaluating the proper contraction of pelvic floor muscles. This system will rely on clinical data and advanced simulation technologies. The consortium combines expertise in healthcare, cybernetics, biomechanical modelling, industrial design and engineering. The project outcomes will be disseminated among healthy women aged 18–45, the general public, and professionals in gynaecology and physiotherapy. The FDA design team is responsible for the development of a working prototype, including material and form testing.

Provider: Interreg Czechia–Bavaria
Project name:  Pelvic Floor Disorder Prevention
FDA implementation team: Mgr. art. Jan Korabečný, BcA. Radka Krajíčková
Joint project with NTC (New Technologies – Research Centre) of UWB
Project duration: 2023–2026

This project aims to strengthen research capacity between Technische Hochschule Deggendorf and the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen in applied research, with a focus on developing a lower limb exoskeleton prototype for rehabilitation. It involves innovation in design, construction technologies, 3D printing, and the transformation of brain signals into limb movement. The project brings together a multidisciplinary research team and five associated practice partners. It will enhance technology transfer capacity in rehabilitation and prosthetics. The FDA team is responsible for designing a new functional prototype of the exoskeleton, ready for application in healthcare and rehabilitation.

Provider: Interreg Czechia–Bavaria
Project name: Applied Research of an Exoskeleton for Use in Rehabilitation
FDA implementation team: Assoc. Prof. MgA. Zdeněk Veverka, Mgr. Tomáš Chochole, Ph.D.
Joint project with the Faculty of Health Care Studies, UWB
Project duration: 2023–2026

Provider: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TAČR)
FDA implementation team: Assoc. Prof. MgA. Zdeněk Veverka, Mgr. Tomáš Chochole, Ph.D.
Joint project with the Regional Technology Centre and the Faculty of Health Care Studies, UWB
Project duration: 2023–2025

The project focuses on major innovation in the computational and experimental support of 3D printing technologies for plastic components exposed to cyclic loading or extreme temperatures. All participating institutions and companies use additive manufacturing in their business, research, or educational activities. The joint objective is to advance production methods and material usage in prototype production of high-tech components or in contract-based research. The project outcomes will improve predictions about the future usability of 3D printing across a wide range of products. FDA’s team is in charge of material research and the design of an upper limb prosthesis prototype, shaped according to user needs.