Review of MINOX 2023 Invention Festival
On September 9, the XII International Invention and Innovation Exhibition MINOX 2023 and the Regional Invention and Innovation Festival “MINOX Zemgale 2023” took place in Jelgava, on the Pasta Island, within the framework of which a Master Class “Experimental and innovative experience in the gastronomy industry” was organized under the leadership of the creative association “Skudras Metropole”, encouraging to look creatively at the synergy possibilities of gastronomy and technology. MINOX 2023 was part of a large Mechatronics open-air Festival taking place annually on the Pasta Island.
In the festival of “Inventions and Innovations MINOX 2023” 51 inventors with 28 inventions participated, representing Jelgava 5th Secondary School, Riga Anniņmuižas Secondary School, Riga Technical University, University of Latvia, Latvian Inventors Association, Society “CONNECT Latvia”, Design and Ergonomics Center, Companies – SIA “WILEG”, SIA “Bruntor”, IK VAAV, SIA “Spiiid Botanics”, SIA “EVO Group”, SIA “Smart Clast”, SIA “PrintyMed”, as well as individual inventors. Two inventions were presented to the festival by inventors from Taiwan – “Intelligence Deep Brain Stimulation Image Processing System” invented by Syu-Jyun Peng, Fu-Yuan Shih and Chun-Chun Huang, and “AIoT Intelligent Sustainable Green Wall” developed at the National Taichung University of Science and Technology by Yuan-Hsiou Chang, Hsiao-Ling Lu, Zhi-Jia Feng and You-En Zhong. Those interested had the opportunity not only to see the newly created inventions, but also to meet their authors and participate in various activities. Attendees were able to try out a variety of technological devices with learning content, including virtual reality glasses and a modular robot. There was also the opportunity to view and try a wide range of developmental wooden toys, verify the operation of a durable wind turbine, create the desired decorative Venetian plaster, test the operation of a versatile computer keyboard and test the closed cargo scooter in action.
At the same time, visitors to the exhibition were invited to vote for the best invention. According to the audience's evaluation, the Jelgava 5th Secondary School students Denis Melup and David Richmel received the Letter of Appreciation for creating an energy-smart house. The Silver diploma was won by Edgars Brokāns with the brand “EpoxySvete” - interior design possibilities were demonstrated by creating original Venetian decorative plaster and imitating marble coating. Two inventions received the Gold diploma this time, having won the same number of audience votes – Riga Technical University representatives Laimdota Vilcena, Zane Zelča and Silvija Kukle with betulin nanofiber cosmetic face mask and Jelgava 5th Secondary School students Demids Kaidalovs, Toms Kaidalovs, Andrejs Deikuns and Ivan Gribanovs with pedagogue Josif Spirt for LED cube – drone program simulator-debugger. Society “CONNECT Latvia” awarded special Golden Prize to both inventions from Taiwan. There were no age or other restrictions for participating in the exhibition, therefore anyone who has created an invention could participate in it, thus popularizing inventiveness and promoting its use in the national and international economies.
In order to motivate both festival visitors and inventors to become even more creative, an opportunity was offered to go on a creative journey together with the team of the creative association “Skudras Metropole”, who invited to see the synergy solutions of different industries – gastronomy and technology. Together with the globally award-winning event producer Gundega Skudriņa, the event's visitors worked at the mobile fork stand, the technology stand, at the DJ table and played gastronomic checkers. The greatest interest was generated by a unique innovative solution - an ice cream piano. As a result of the performance of a professional pianist, ice cream was prepared, which the attendees could immediately taste. Visitors could gain new experience and motivation to look at common things in a broader and more creative way, resulting in innovative solutions. The event was attended by more than 600 people.
The event was organized by project no. LVIII-068 “Development of business environment of Zemgale and promotion of competitiveness of entrepreneurs” / within SMEPRO-2. The aim of the project is to capitalize, use and multiply the results of the successful experience and practice of the SMEPRO project in order to promote the development of the Zemgale region's business environment in municipalities and provide support to SMEs.
This publication has been prepared with the financial support of the European Union. The competence development center of the Zemgale region and Society “CONNECT Latvia” are fully responsible for its content, and it may not reflect the opinion of the European Union.