First student start-up at BUT offers a solution for monitoring fuel leaks from railway tankers
(Press Release, Brno, June 28, 2024) Brno University of Technology (BUT) has its first start-up composed exclusively of bachelor’s and master’s students. The agreement was signed by BUT Rector Ladislav Janíček and representatives of TechMountain, granting them the right to use the label "BUT Start-up." The company, founded a year ago by students of mechatronics and business at BUT, focuses on engineering solutions for specific technical problems for corporate clients.
The new start-up consists of Antonín Černý and Jiří Dlouhý, both from the Mechatronics study program at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and Vojtěch Parkan, who studies Strategic Business Development at the Faculty of Business and Management. The founders met through the Argo project, where they collaborated as part of the strojLAB student team at BUT. Their entrepreneurial journey began when ORLEN Unipetrol approached them with a request for a solution to monitor fuel leaks from railway tankers.
The goal of their solution is to enable real-time location tracking of tankers and immediate detection of fuel leaks. “We came up with the idea of using an existing technology from the USA, which we enhanced with network connectivity to enable remote device communication and data exchange,” explained Antonín Černý, Managing Director of TechMountain.
The team had to meet several requirements set by the client, including non-invasive installation on tankers, at least a one-month battery life, functionality outside signal coverage, and compliance with explosion-proof standards. “Our technical solution takes the form of a clamp that attaches to the tanker’s outlet. It contains a device that uses ultrasonic waves to continuously measure flow and transmit data for processing. We presented a technological solution that meets functional requirements, is non-invasive, and cost-effective,” added Černý.
The decision on further cooperation, which would advance the project to commercial production, now lies with the client. Despite this uncertainty, the start-up team plans to continue development and bring the project to completion.
The “BUT Start-up” trademark, which TechMountain recently obtained, should also help with this effort. “Being able to associate our business with BUT gives us credibility and strength. An important factor is also the opportunity to utilize the university’s expertise and infrastructure. This label makes us feel like ambassadors of technical education, and we would like to contribute to its promotion,” explained Vojtěch Parkan.
“Students often fear entrepreneurship and potential failure, but when is a better time to start a business than now, when our main focus is school and we have no other commitments? We want to promote the courage to start a business and an entrepreneurial mindset,” added Jiří Dlouhý.
“It is amazing to see this initiative, which combines technical creativity, interdisciplinary collaboration, energy, and a passion for entrepreneurship. It is a great example of best practice that we, as a technical and business university, want to support,” emphasized BUT Rector Janíček. He continued, “Students can count on legal and marketing consulting, and we will also assist with finding spaces and incubation support in the early stages of business development, for example, in cooperation with the innovation agency JIC or the Brno Technology Park. I am also pleased that our students perceive such challenges as opportunities. This is confirmed by the results of the ‘BUT Student Entrepreneurship Award,’ which regularly brings forward interesting business ideas.”
Entrepreneurial thinking at BUT is also fostered by student projects such as TU Brno Racing, YSpace, Chicken Wings, and strojLAB, where outstanding technical solutions are developed. “It is admirable to see the creativity and professionalism our students bring to these projects and how they apply their academic knowledge to practical solutions. I deeply respect their efforts and am happy to support such activities. TechMountain also proves that there is no need to wait. It is a message to all university students that the time spent studying can be the best moment to capitalize on the know-how acquired at the university,” said Janíček at the signing ceremony.
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| Link | https://www.vut.cz/en/but/media/f19527/d261605 |
Responsibility: Mgr. Kamila Šmídková