Industry trains employees to master new technologies. In the Moravian-Silesian Region, experts are helping

The Moravian-Silesian region, once a symbol of heavy industry and coal mining, is now undergoing a fundamental transformation. The region, which has been dependent on traditional fossil fuel industries for decades, must adapt to new technological and environmental challenges. This applies not only to companies but also to their employees.

Czech industry is modernising, introducing new technologies, especially digital ones, and reducing its emissions. However, this is not enough for a successful green transformation. Local people employed by the industry must also adapt to new trends.

This is where two strategic projects – TRAUTOM and the Technology and Entrepreneurship Academy – come into play to help the coal region make the transition to a more modern and sustainable economy.

The EU-funded TRAUTOM project focuses primarily on companies, advising them on modernising and training their employees.

“We are actively reaching out to companies, especially those undergoing changes related to automation, digitalisation, the transition to carbon-neutral production, implementing the principles of the circular economy, etc.,” explains Martin Navrátil, TRAUTOM project manager and director of the Moravian-Silesian Employment Pact (MSPAKT), which is behind the project, to the editor.

Companies operating in the automotive, metallurgy and energy sectors are undergoing transformation. If they do not undergo modernisation, they will not be competitive in Europe. Modernisation is not a one-off event – companies need to keep their eyes open and keep up with the development of new technologies and human skills.

“The main objective of our support is to ensure adequate training and advisory services for employees and the region’s residents. That is why, together with experts from companies and vocational schools, we are defining the new professions that are coming up and the skills that existing employees will have to acquire in the future,” explains Navrátil.

The findings are then useful for companies in the region as well as for technically oriented schools, which can adapt the courses they offer to the trends. As a result, people’s skills should improve, and with them the competitiveness of companies.

“At the same time, we have set up a career centre that offers professional and career advice for citizens and employees who are going through a change of employer or even profession,” explains Navrátil. In addition, the career centre will soon be converted to an online format. The project will be accompanied by a marketing campaign to inform about the transformation of the regional industry and the opportunities associated with it.

Companies prepare plans for transformation

The project also offers companies subsidy support for employee training. However, the granting of the subsidy is linked to consultancy and the preparation of a company plan based on which the company should modernise and adapt to the 21st century.

As Lucie Czudková, an expert in communication with companies from MSPAKT, revealed, the interest of companies in such subsidy support is in line with expectations, but could be higher. This may be due to more demanding conditions for granting subsidies. Companies have to create a transformation plan and clearly outline their own modernisation. But the consultancy can also help them with this, as there are templates for drawing up such plans.

“We expect that interest will continue to grow, especially given the ongoing changes in the labour market and the need to adapt to new technologies,” says Czudková.

The TRAUTOM project is funded by the Operational Programme for Equitable Transformation (OPST) and will run until the end of 2027. The total cost exceeds CZK 100 million, with OPST subsidies amounting to just under CZK 90 million.

“So far, about 30 to 40 companies have joined the TRAUTOM project. The first of them have already started training their employees, in the order of dozens of people. The others are preparing their training projects or waiting for their approval,” Czudková summarizes the first results, adding that the project should expand next year to reach dozens more companies. Thousands of people should be trained thanks to the project.

The University of Mining and Metallurgy – Technical University of Ostrava (VŠB-TUO), which is behind the project together with MSPAKT, plays a significant role in the project.

The VŠB-TUO develops the project methodology, monitors and analyses the supply of education, and assists companies directly with the transition to new technologies and innovative practices.

The school then also ensures international cooperation and transfer of experience between similar actors across European borders. “This aspect is essential for TRAUTOM to reflect the latest trends in education and technological transformation, while offering up-to-date and relevant training courses that help improve the educational offer in our region,” says Jakub Štolfa, who is in charge of the project for VŠB-TUO.

“The challenge of this project is especially its scale and complexity. Setting up a systematic and managed approach to lifelong learning in the region to help transform the region for the future requires coordination between many different actors, including companies, schools, employers and public administration,” the academic adds.

The key, he says, is to keep up with the rapid pace of technological change – especially with regard to digitalisation. It is also important that TRAUTOM is not an isolated project, but is part of a broader innovation strategy for the region.

Part of the Moravian-Silesian Region’s efforts to kick-start innovation in the region is also the TPA project, i.e. the Technology and Business Academy. It is aimed primarily at secondary schools and technically oriented pupils.

One of the main goals of TPA is to connect companies and schools. Within the framework of the project, modern learning spaces are being created in nine secondary schools in the region.

In addition, the TPA project brings innovative educational tools such as EduBoxes – virtual learning packages that cover topics such as e-health, hydrogen technology or smart agriculture. The materials will be used to expose high school students to current technologies and trends that will dominate the job market in the future.

The TPA project also promotes the development of entrepreneurship among students and improves their digital competences. It also includes facilities for teachers who will be trained in the latest technologies and pedagogical methods.

The cost of the project exceeds CZK 1 billion, with the vast majority covered by the OPST grant – similar to the TRAUTOM project.

It is OPST that is bringing subsidies to the Czech Republic from the European Fair Transformation Fund, which the EU created in an effort to help coal regions move away from dependence on the fossil fuel industry and kick-start sustainable development. To receive the money, regions had to prepare their own transformation plans and incorporate projects that have the potential to move them forward – projects such as TRAUTOM and TPA.