PBN HIGHLIGHTS - APRIL NEWS SUMMARY
2025-05-07
In April, Pannon Business Network engaged in a diverse range of international project activities. RurALL workshops in Sárvár and Bystrice focused on rethinking abandoned spaces for community use, while the IPR4SC final conference in Ljubljana emphasized the role of intellectual property in driving sustainable innovation. Following the successful closure of the DigiTwinGreen and ConFacts projects, achievements in digital training and industrial collaboration were highlighted. One of the month’s standout events was the Sárvár showcase of Ameca, one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots, which opened a local dialogue on the future of AI. Additional highlights included the eTOM workshop, the AI REDGIO 5.0 knowledge exchange, and the OD4GROWTH meeting in Warsaw.
Humanoid showcase and dialogue on the future of Artificial Intelligence in Sárvár
In April, a special event took place at the House of Music in Sárvár, organized by the „Civil Roundtable for the Future of Sárvár” Association. As part of the “Civil Evenings” program series, Ameca – one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots – was introduced to the public. During the event, Balázs Barta, Managing Director of PBN, gave a presentation titled “Should We Be Afraid of Artificial Intelligence?”, showcasing Ameca’s capabilities and discussing the societal impacts of AI development. The goal of the event was to bring technological innovations closer to the local community and to initiate a dialogue about the future of artificial intelligence. The program successfully combined a technology demonstration with community discussion, contributing to the growing interest in and awareness of artificial intelligence in Sárvár.
Progress in the RurALL Project – revitalizing rural heritage
At the recent RurALL partner meeting held in Bystrice, Czech Republic, project partners reviewed the current status of the initiative and discussed the next steps. The PBN presented the implementation plan for the Hungarian pilot project, focusing on the development of thirty derelict buildings in the Sárvár district. Planning has also begun for two community workshops to involve local residents and foster collaborative thinking around rural regeneration.
Focus on Intellectual Property – final conference of the IPR4SC project in Ljubljana
The final conference of the IPR4SC project was organized in Ljubljana. The event marked a significant achievement for the project and tackled essential topics in the field of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation. Bringing together 107 experts and stakeholders from across Europe, the event fostered a dynamic exchange of ideas to turn intellectual property into impactful, sustainable innovations.
The conference also shared valuable results from the project during the panels. This included materials from "IPR for a Sustainable and Circular Future" and the introduction of "IP-Monitor: A One-Stop Tool for IPR Excellence." The event concluded with thematic networking on IPR, sustainability, and innovation in Europe, providing valuable insights and fostering discussions about the existing work, research and projects that continue to push the field forward.
Collaborating for social enterprises in the 3P4SSE project
One of the key objectives of the local action plan under the 3P4SSE project is to support social enterprises. As part of this, the Western Transdanubian Social Enterprise Platform was established to bring together and communicate the needs of the region’s stakeholders while also providing solutions to the sector's challenges through concrete actions. At the beginning of April, a successful workshop was held, organized by PBN, where participants collaborated on brainstorming solutions to the challenges and development proposals. The next step is to update the local action plan with new objectives and directions to begin joint work.
CIRCES project closing event – results, reflections and future opportunities
The closing event of the CIRCES project was also held this month. During the meeting, project partners summarized the main results achieved over the two years, focusing on the online learning platform developed within the project. This platform offers high school students and their teachers an opportunity to explore the topic of circular design in an engaging, gamified way. In addition, the CIRCES guidelines were presented, aiming to ensure the long-term use and transfer of the project's outcomes. Following the presentations, the partners participated in a joint workshop to reflect on the project's strengths, challenges, and possibilities for future continuation.
Maker-based pedagogy in practice– eTOM workshop at the CODE Experience Center in Veszprém
As part of the eTOM project, organized by the University of Sopron, the partnership had the chance to visit the CODE Digital Experience Center in Veszprém. During the visit, experts from the center hosted a workshop for the preschool education students from the University of Sopron, allowing them to experience firsthand how creative pedagogy methods are applied in practice. Throughout the session, the students were required to combine their communication, logical thinking, crafting, and programming skills to complete the tasks.
.jpg)
.jpg)
New functions for forgotten spaces – RurALL workshop in Sárvár
On April 24, 2024, a workshop was held in Sárvár as part of the RurALL project, bringing together numerous local stakeholders, including members of the local artist community, representatives of educational institutions, and cultural actors. The program's goal is to breathe new life into neglected, dilapidated, or currently unused buildings in the city and its surrounding area, allowing them to serve community and economic purposes in the future.
In the preliminary phase of the project, 30 such buildings were identified. During this workshop, three specific locations were selected for focused discussion: the rear section of the Sárvár castle, the old convent building, and the currently vacant media room. Ideas proposed included the creation of community and cultural spaces, the establishment of group accommodations, and the development of entertainment and leisure venues. A follow-up workshop is planned in the near future, where these initial concepts will be further developed and refined.
Connecting Teaching and Learning Factories and developing digital training content – ConFacts 2023 successfully concluded
The international ConFacts 2023 project has also ended, with PBN actively participating as a project partner. The project focused on Teaching and Learning Factories in three cities – Porto, Prague, and Szombathely – and the technical groundwork for this connection was successfully completed during the project period. On the digital education front, the results speak for themselves: a total of 64 English-language training materials were developed, 10 of which were created by PBN.
Digital Twin Solutions – Training development and business support in DigiTwinGreen
After 27 months of intensive collaboration, the international DigiTwinGreen project, led by PBN, successfully concluded at the end of March! The project results were officially presented to the funding authority, EIT Manufacturing, in April. We are proud to share that the EIT gave highly positive feedback on the joint efforts and congratulated PBN and the entire consortium on the achievements! As part of the project, PBN expanded its Teaching and Learning Factory with a new model, complemented by a digital twin application developed by our in-house team. Throughout the project, a total of 64 English-language digital training materials on the topic of digital twins were created—14 of which were developed by PBN.
Moreover, project partners supported 11 European companies, helping them lay the foundation for their digital twin innovations.
International knowledge exchange – Welsh partners visit as part of the AI REDGIO 5.0 project
At the end of April, partners from Wales visited Szombathely and Budapest as part of the AI REDGIO 5.0 project study tour and professional exchange. During the visit, the delegation toured the FALCO factory, gaining insight into innovative and circular manufacturing processes. The program continued by presenting am-LAB and PBN’s technical competence areas, highlighting successful use cases. Both PBN and the Welsh partners agreed that there are numerous areas of mutual interest in which they aim to build future collaborations.
On the second day, the group visited CU.BE, the industrial innovation experience centre in Budapest, for an inspiring guided tour.
Innovation in rehabilitation – RehAllianCE mid-term meeting in Klagenfurt
During the three-day RehAllianCE project meeting in Klagenfurt, partners presented their pilot plans, each offering concrete solutions for the target groups. In the upcoming period, PBN will take part in implementing two pilots:
Humanoid showcase and dialogue on the future of Artificial Intelligence in Sárvár
In April, a special event took place at the House of Music in Sárvár, organized by the „Civil Roundtable for the Future of Sárvár” Association. As part of the “Civil Evenings” program series, Ameca – one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots – was introduced to the public. During the event, Balázs Barta, Managing Director of PBN, gave a presentation titled “Should We Be Afraid of Artificial Intelligence?”, showcasing Ameca’s capabilities and discussing the societal impacts of AI development. The goal of the event was to bring technological innovations closer to the local community and to initiate a dialogue about the future of artificial intelligence. The program successfully combined a technology demonstration with community discussion, contributing to the growing interest in and awareness of artificial intelligence in Sárvár.
Progress in the RurALL Project – revitalizing rural heritage
At the recent RurALL partner meeting held in Bystrice, Czech Republic, project partners reviewed the current status of the initiative and discussed the next steps. The PBN presented the implementation plan for the Hungarian pilot project, focusing on the development of thirty derelict buildings in the Sárvár district. Planning has also begun for two community workshops to involve local residents and foster collaborative thinking around rural regeneration.
Focus on Intellectual Property – final conference of the IPR4SC project in Ljubljana
The final conference of the IPR4SC project was organized in Ljubljana. The event marked a significant achievement for the project and tackled essential topics in the field of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation. Bringing together 107 experts and stakeholders from across Europe, the event fostered a dynamic exchange of ideas to turn intellectual property into impactful, sustainable innovations.
The conference also shared valuable results from the project during the panels. This included materials from "IPR for a Sustainable and Circular Future" and the introduction of "IP-Monitor: A One-Stop Tool for IPR Excellence." The event concluded with thematic networking on IPR, sustainability, and innovation in Europe, providing valuable insights and fostering discussions about the existing work, research and projects that continue to push the field forward.
Collaborating for social enterprises in the 3P4SSE project
One of the key objectives of the local action plan under the 3P4SSE project is to support social enterprises. As part of this, the Western Transdanubian Social Enterprise Platform was established to bring together and communicate the needs of the region’s stakeholders while also providing solutions to the sector's challenges through concrete actions. At the beginning of April, a successful workshop was held, organized by PBN, where participants collaborated on brainstorming solutions to the challenges and development proposals. The next step is to update the local action plan with new objectives and directions to begin joint work.
CIRCES project closing event – results, reflections and future opportunities
The closing event of the CIRCES project was also held this month. During the meeting, project partners summarized the main results achieved over the two years, focusing on the online learning platform developed within the project. This platform offers high school students and their teachers an opportunity to explore the topic of circular design in an engaging, gamified way. In addition, the CIRCES guidelines were presented, aiming to ensure the long-term use and transfer of the project's outcomes. Following the presentations, the partners participated in a joint workshop to reflect on the project's strengths, challenges, and possibilities for future continuation.
Maker-based pedagogy in practice– eTOM workshop at the CODE Experience Center in Veszprém
As part of the eTOM project, organized by the University of Sopron, the partnership had the chance to visit the CODE Digital Experience Center in Veszprém. During the visit, experts from the center hosted a workshop for the preschool education students from the University of Sopron, allowing them to experience firsthand how creative pedagogy methods are applied in practice. Throughout the session, the students were required to combine their communication, logical thinking, crafting, and programming skills to complete the tasks.
New functions for forgotten spaces – RurALL workshop in Sárvár
On April 24, 2024, a workshop was held in Sárvár as part of the RurALL project, bringing together numerous local stakeholders, including members of the local artist community, representatives of educational institutions, and cultural actors. The program's goal is to breathe new life into neglected, dilapidated, or currently unused buildings in the city and its surrounding area, allowing them to serve community and economic purposes in the future.
In the preliminary phase of the project, 30 such buildings were identified. During this workshop, three specific locations were selected for focused discussion: the rear section of the Sárvár castle, the old convent building, and the currently vacant media room. Ideas proposed included the creation of community and cultural spaces, the establishment of group accommodations, and the development of entertainment and leisure venues. A follow-up workshop is planned in the near future, where these initial concepts will be further developed and refined.
Connecting Teaching and Learning Factories and developing digital training content – ConFacts 2023 successfully concluded
The international ConFacts 2023 project has also ended, with PBN actively participating as a project partner. The project focused on Teaching and Learning Factories in three cities – Porto, Prague, and Szombathely – and the technical groundwork for this connection was successfully completed during the project period. On the digital education front, the results speak for themselves: a total of 64 English-language training materials were developed, 10 of which were created by PBN.
Digital Twin Solutions – Training development and business support in DigiTwinGreen
After 27 months of intensive collaboration, the international DigiTwinGreen project, led by PBN, successfully concluded at the end of March! The project results were officially presented to the funding authority, EIT Manufacturing, in April. We are proud to share that the EIT gave highly positive feedback on the joint efforts and congratulated PBN and the entire consortium on the achievements! As part of the project, PBN expanded its Teaching and Learning Factory with a new model, complemented by a digital twin application developed by our in-house team. Throughout the project, a total of 64 English-language digital training materials on the topic of digital twins were created—14 of which were developed by PBN.
Moreover, project partners supported 11 European companies, helping them lay the foundation for their digital twin innovations.
International knowledge exchange – Welsh partners visit as part of the AI REDGIO 5.0 project
At the end of April, partners from Wales visited Szombathely and Budapest as part of the AI REDGIO 5.0 project study tour and professional exchange. During the visit, the delegation toured the FALCO factory, gaining insight into innovative and circular manufacturing processes. The program continued by presenting am-LAB and PBN’s technical competence areas, highlighting successful use cases. Both PBN and the Welsh partners agreed that there are numerous areas of mutual interest in which they aim to build future collaborations.
On the second day, the group visited CU.BE, the industrial innovation experience centre in Budapest, for an inspiring guided tour.
Innovation in rehabilitation – RehAllianCE mid-term meeting in Klagenfurt
During the three-day RehAllianCE project meeting in Klagenfurt, partners presented their pilot plans, each offering concrete solutions for the target groups. In the upcoming period, PBN will take part in implementing two pilots:
- Transnational pilot: Providing product testing opportunities and user feedback to support the development of an AR-based, playful and interactive diagnostic and rehabilitation tool. This solution aims to assist in the early detection of neurological disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis), improve diagnostic accuracy, enable personalised therapy, and promote independence at home.
- Regional Living Lab pilot: Aimed to compare traditional physiotherapy's effectiveness when complemented with modern methods (magnet therapy, shockwave therapy, and soft laser therapy) for elderly individuals with musculoskeletal problems. The pilot responds to the growing social and economic burden of age-related joint degeneration and mobility limitations.
Partnership for open data and effective policies – OD4GROWTH meeting in Warsaw
OD4GROWTH Thematic Groups Meeting took place in Warsaw on April 28-29, 2025. It was a crucial gathering of our project partners as we reviewed our shared journey and looked ahead to the next phase of impact and collaboration. The first day focused on national open data tools and urban transformation initiatives in Poland, with presentations and networking involving key institutions like the Polish Development Fund and the Ministry of Digital Affairs. The second day centred on reviewing policy impacts, planning upcoming project activities, and discussing stakeholder engagement and communication strategies.
OD4GROWTH Thematic Groups Meeting took place in Warsaw on April 28-29, 2025. It was a crucial gathering of our project partners as we reviewed our shared journey and looked ahead to the next phase of impact and collaboration. The first day focused on national open data tools and urban transformation initiatives in Poland, with presentations and networking involving key institutions like the Polish Development Fund and the Ministry of Digital Affairs. The second day centred on reviewing policy impacts, planning upcoming project activities, and discussing stakeholder engagement and communication strategies.