With the motto ‘Ready for the Future’, Skoda has inaugurated its new InnoCube innovation area, which is located in a former abbey building near Malda Boleslav. Guests at the event were able to experience augmented reality first-hand as well as try out innovative gadgets such as drones and hoverboards. The new InnoCube is a place for research, new ideas and presentations about innovations as well as aspects of digital transformation. With the opening of the InnoCube innovation area, the Na Karmeli training centre is now in its second decade.
As part of the opening, Skoda Auto is staging a special exhibition: guests have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with augmented reality, video mapping and 3D printing. In addition, they can see how the laws of gravity can seemingly be defied by what are known as Levitrons: these allow smaller items to levitate using repelling magnetic fields. Hoverboards and drones offer a look ahead at the mobility of tomorrow. A transparent cube is one of the highlights of the new innovation area. This is fitted with a microchip, which stores personal messages from Skoda Auto board members. They comment on key topics for the future and give their view on how training, individual mobility and cars will change in the years to come.
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Bohdan Wojnar, Skoda Auto board member for Human Resources, pointed out, “With the new InnoCube, we’re offering our employees new opportunities to prepare themselves for the challenges that lie ahead with regards to mastering digitisation. Our employees now have the opportunity to undergo further training in the form of lectures, workshops and events, to take inspiration and – thanks to their newly acquired knowledge and skills – add to their qualifications.”
Andre Wehner, chief digital officer at Skoda Auto and the person responsible for corporate development and digitisation, added, “The entire automotive industry needs to embrace profound social and economic changes. And we are prepared for that. We are consistently aligning our company and our portfolio of digital services to the changing requirements of our customers. With the new InnoCube, we are taking the next step towards successfully managing this change. Here, we are training our junior staff according to the latest standards as well as formulating and addressing questions with regards to innovative topics for the future.”
The InnoCube has been set up to prepare employees for the demands of the digital transformation and to press ahead with the digitisation of the company as part of its 2025 Strategy. The new area, which is open to all of the departments at Skoda Auto, is divided into four different areas. Alongside dedicated research facilities, the innovation area also offers a foyer and an auditorium for events and discussions. Furthermore, Skoda will be hosting workshops, hackathons and other events at the InnoCube. Selected events will be incorporated into the Skoda Auto Vocational School’s training programme.
What’s more: Skoda Auto University students taking part in the Incubator start-up programme have been given their own dedicated area at the InnoCube, where they can develop digital business models for example.
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By GlobalDataThe Na Karmeli training centre is unique – it has combined historical and modern architecture since 2007. Many events are held there, including concerts, theatre productions and exhibitions. It also provides a space for training programmes and social gatherings. Skoda Auto University, for example, is part of the centre.
