On Thursday, 13 October RTU Design Factory (DF) was opened within the celebration of 154th Anniversary of Riga Technical University. The event was attended by the author of design factory concept Kalevi Ekman, the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis and Riga Technical University Rector Academician Leonids Ribickis.
«In my lectures I tell students about «let’s do it!» attitude that I saw in reality when I came to RTU DF, when late in the evening still activities went in full swing. I know that RTU administration truly and strongly supports the DF initiative, and the DF team of our university will also be beside you,» in the opening said Professor K.Ekman who on Friday, 14 October, was granted 2016 José Vasconcelos World Award of Education for strategic and inspirational concept of design factory as an important platform of teaching and education.
K.Sadurskis admitted that magnificent work has been invested in creation of the DF and expressed his gratitude to the authors and implementers of idea. Minister stated: «The DF will continue to be a great mediator between ideas, prototypes, new technologies and solutions. I wish you success, great interest and ideas, as well as good cooperation among higher education institutions by involving young people, business sector representatives and entrepreneurs in project development».
RTU Rector L.Ribickis said: «We hope that work successfully started at the new premises of the Design Factory will continue and there will be an ongoing cooperation with the global network of design factories. I believe that it will facilitate cooperation with international companies by developing new ideas and designs, and we will strengthen the cooperation between dedicated students and start-up companies».
The DF is a place where creative ideas of scientists and students, thanks to technological possibilities, turn into prototypes, which later become products and enter the market in collaboration with entrepreneurs. The DF is equipped with cutting-edge technologies, including four 3D printers of different sizes and other valuable equipment – laser cutting, engraving, large format printing, as well as electronics workshop. At the DF, students and academic staff members from different RTU faculties work together by integrating extensive knowledge in the creation of prototypes.
