The Innovation Center of the Ústí nad Labem Region officially opened the new office of the project team of the upcoming prototyping center, the so-called makerspace, on Tuesday, February 11, 2026. The makerspace is part of the project of the Transformation Center of the Ústí nad Labem Region. The newly opened premises will be used for conceptual, design and organizational preparation of one of the key projects for the transformation of the Ústí nad Labem Region until the center opens.
The new office serves as a working environment for the team that has been dedicated to the design, planning and coordination of the creation of the makerspace, the largest and best-equipped publicly accessible prototyping center in the Czech Republic. At the same time, it serves as an open showroom, where it is possible to transparently monitor the progress of the project preparations, its conceptual development and other planned steps. The project team based in the office consists of Ing. arch. Walbert Schmirler, manager and guarantor of the makerspace project, Bc. Martin Schiffneder, coordinator of cooperation with partners and future users, and Bc. Martina Sokolová, administrative support for the project. The team will also include an equipment technician, whose position is currently open and who will be primarily responsible for preparing technical specifications for the makerspace machinery.
The Makerspace is being created as part of the Ústí nad Labem Transformation Center and is designed as a nationwide hub for hard-tech development, prototyping, and technology transfer. It focuses on supporting technology startups, start-up companies, educational institutions, and development departments of established companies.
„"The opening of the project team's office is an important milestone. It is not just an administrative step, but the creation of a space where the Makerspace will be systematically prepared, discussed and coordinated in close contact with partners and future users," says Ing. arch. Walbert Schmirler, makerspace project manager.
„"The transformation of the Ústí nad Labem Region is based on the ability to create conditions for the emergence of new technological activities. Makerspace is a type of infrastructure that has the potential to bring long-term and real impacts - not only economic, but also educational and social," said Ing. Iva Tomešová, Head of the Department of Business Support, Innovation and Transformation.
According to Ing. Jiří Valenta, councilor for the Innovation Center of the Ústí nad Labem Region, the project is also important from the perspective of supporting entrepreneurship: "We see Makerspace as a key tool for the development of innovation in the region. It will offer companies and schools infrastructure that they could not afford on their own, and will create space for cooperation, development and the emergence of new business ideas."„
According to Ing. Tomáš Kirbs, Deputy Governor, the transparency of the entire process is also important: "I appreciate that the preparation of the makerspace is carried out openly and systematically. It is such projects that have a chance to succeed and bring real added value to the region."„
ICUK Director Ing. Martin Mata, MBA, LL.M. emphasizes the role of the team and the long-term nature of the project: "Makerspace is not a one-time investment, but an infrastructure designed for decades. The opening of the project team's office confirms that we take the project seriously and that we devote adequate professional and personnel capacity to it."„
The new office of the makerspace project team will serve not only as a working environment, but also as a place for meetings with partners, project presentations, and professional discussions about its further development.
You can find more about makerspace at the link here.
