The first year of the MAKER FEST festival in the Ústí nad Labem Region brought almost 700 primary and secondary school students a unique opportunity to discover the world of technology, crafts and creativity first-hand on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. The festival, organized by the Innovation Center of the Ústí nad Labem Region (ICUK), focused on connecting robotics, technology, innovation and traditional crafts.
MAKER FEST offered compared to regular festivals, exhibitions and fairs something extra – the opportunity to try everything and really make something of your ownThe students not only viewed demonstrations of technologies and crafts, but also actively participated in work at two dozen stations.
There was a great atmosphere at the festival. Students from 32 classes from 21 different schools in the region They went through interactive stations connecting traditional and modern skills. They enthusiastically produced, created and tried out technologies and crafts in practice. Seeing concentrated faces during traditional embroidery, hands dirty with clay on a potter's wheel or precise work with leather alongside enthusiastic control of robots and testing of virtual reality was proof that MAKER FEST offered a varied and inspiring program for everyone.
They were not missing competitions for pupils, where it was not only about general knowledge, but also the speed of their answers. For educators A separate room was prepared where they learned about other planned events of the RUR team from ICUK, which is dedicated to supporting education for entrepreneurship and creativity, and organized MAKER FEST.
"We want to show students that technology and crafts are not just about theory, but about real skills and creativity. Our effort is to connect schools, companies and innovative projects so that young people have the opportunity to encounter these areas during their studies, starting from primary school," said Tamara Klein, ICUK project manager.
The festival would not be possible without the participation of companies and organizations that actively participated and offered students the opportunity to experience their technologies and products. A big thank you to all of them:
Hennlich, Robot games, Children and Youth House Ústí nad Labem, SVČ Cvrček Chomutov, Technical Club Litoměřice, Creative Space Bridge, DigiLab Usti nad Labem, Rowingo, Woodmaid, ORAVEC CARPENTRY, AIGNOS, Baltic Zatec, LABINA, Nia-design and Smile Photo CornerAnd also to my colleagues from the RUR team from ICUK, who prepared other creative workshops.
"MAKER FEST in the Ústí nad Labem region was a success and ICUK is already planning another year, which should offer an even wider range of activities and welcome even more students. The festival showed that interest in technology and crafts is still alive among the younger generation. It also confirmed that technology and crafts can be fun and inspiring," said Martin Mata, director of ICUK.
