In the Czech Republic, there is an increase in high school students who are strengthening their skills for the labor market in the field of IT. School teaching separated from practice is not enough for them. They have the desire to start a business, participate in socially beneficial projects and gather experience from experts from companies.
Among them is the passionate handyman and inventor Miloš. He joined Samsung Solve for Tomorrow at the beginning of his senior year. He could not pass up the opportunity to work on his own technological innovation with the support of Samsung. "I'm up for any challenge, I like to learn new things and I enjoy meeting new people. And to be frank, I also wanted to win interesting prizes. But more importantly, it was a hands-on experience that a high school student would not normally have access to," said Miloš, who is now a student at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague.
Last year, three boys and one girl charmed the jury of Solve for Tomorrow with a "smart" light bollard that has the potential to save lives. It took them eight months to turn the initial idea into a functional bollard prototype. "We were students majoring in economics and we started working on technology that is supposed to light up on command, scare animals, produce its own electricity and requires simpler software. It was a big challenge to build and program such a device, but thanks to the supportive environment and the mentor of Solve for Tomorrow, we managed it, and it was worth it! I'm not the kind of person who sits in books all day and studies theory. I have to try things. I'll find people for me, we'll set a clear vision, and we'll go after it," Miloš recalled about his experience at Solve for Tomorrow.
Even as a child, he and his mother played with Lego, folded paper, and made various "gadgets" at the cottage with his father and grandfather - automatic feeders, water dispensers or special equipment for the garden. "I grew up with a drill and a 'straightedge' in my hand, but Solve for Tomorrow took me much further. I learned how to program applications and what technologies I could use in construction, I improved my presentation skills, my ability to cooperate with various people, and a lot more. The program provided me a precious experience that can help me improve employability. Thanks to our invention, we have received invitations from companies and job offers," said Miloš.
Now, a year after Solve for Tomorrow, he is involved in several projects with the theme of road safety, runs his own business, and continues to develop his heart-shaped "bollard of the future" with his friends from Solve for Tomorrow team. "Since my grandfather worked as a car painter and my dad manages an authorized service warehouse for a car company, I've always been around cars. But participation in Solve for Tomorrow program brought me to the issue of road accidents. Right after Solve for Tomorrow, I established cooperation with the non-profit Moje Vize 0 and completed an internship at the State Transport Infrastructure Fund. Now I work in a working group with the task of reducing the number of accidents on the roads, and I continue to devote myself to our bollard and the development of other preventive devices for automobile traffic," described the young innovator.
In addition, Miloš co-owns a company for the production and sale of soy candles, tutors accounting in high schools, and participates in mentoring for younger students with equally ambitious projects for a better future. “I see that the younger students are, the faster they learn new things. For example, I do use AI, but so far only for writing texts. But students use AI to create photos, videos and many other incredible things. As they approach challenges differently and think differently. I can learn a lot and most importantly – it's fun!” added Miloš.
