The Plzeň-based company NVIAS, focused on fostering entrepreneurship, is now bringing its project days titled Our Companies to the region in collaboration with the Moravian-Silesian Technological Academy (MTA). Pavel König, the company’s director, explains how this model works and shares future plans.
What is the “Our Companies” Project and Its Goals?
The goal of the Our Companies project days and simulation game is to teach students the basics of entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology, empowering them to become creators and entrepreneurs. The project focuses on developing entrepreneurial competencies through a comprehensive approach based on the EntreComp framework. It aims to provide young people not only with knowledge but also with motivation to create and implement real projects that bring added value to their communities.
How Does the Instruction Work, and What is Its Main Focus?
The program takes place through project days and a simulation game, during which students work on real entrepreneurial challenges, creating their own companies and solutions. The program covers various stages of starting and building a company—from idea generation to planning and final project presentation. The main focus is on connecting theory with practice. Students learn to use tools like the Value Proposition Canvas and Business Model Canvas, which help them develop their business ideas. Throughout the program, they face challenges such as investment games and work with programmable robots, simulating a range of business activities. We aim to show students how companies create added value—particularly in developing a unique final product they can bring to global markets. They also learn to effectively present their solutions, a critical skill by the end of the process.
Is This Program Available in Other Regions?
Yes, the Our Companies project is expanding to other regions. In the Ústí Region, for instance, we successfully collaborate with Bridge Academy, which not only conducts these project days but also offers a range of extracurricular activities for comprehensive development. We’re also working to establish partnerships in the South Moravian Region with the organization Lipka, which runs the Entrepreneurial School certification program. This program assesses schools based on their support for entrepreneurship, helping them set goals for further development in this area. We also have pilot experience with international collaboration, having conducted a roadshow in Žilina, Slovakia, and piloting the program in Germany. The Our Companies project continues to grow, aiming to cover the whole of the Czech Republic so that young people from various regions can access innovative and practical education.
What Will the Collaboration Between NVIAS and MTA Specifically Entail?
The collaboration between NVIAS and MTA will involve integrating the Our Companies program into EduBoxes to support entrepreneurship, expanding project days to high schools in the region. MTA is currently building a mentoring team with our support to conduct project days in partner schools in the Moravian-Silesian Region. In the future, it may also be possible to integrate specific technical EduBoxes into the Our Companies project days.
Do You Plan to Expand Collaboration with MTA to Other Projects?
Yes, we plan to broaden collaboration to include areas such as programs focused on artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, and sustainable development. MTA colleagues have already attended our simulation games and project days, such as Climate Rules, which will allow us to extend collaboration to sustainable development. We’re also interested in working on the AI Discovery program, which explores the full potential of artificial intelligence. Our immediate priority is to launch the Our Companies program in the Moravian-Silesian Region effectively. We’re confident that we’ll continue to develop this collaboration, bringing new, engaging educational projects to the region.
This project was made possible with the support of the TPA Project – Innovation Center for Education Transformation – CZ.10.03.01/00/22_003/0000072, implemented through the Operational Program for Fair Transformation (OPST) of the State Environmental Fund.
