Sewio Returns to BUT: Opening a High-Tech Laboratory and Building a Center of Excellence at FEEC

The story of Sewio, a company founded by graduates of Brno University of Technology (BUT), is returning to where it began. The company, established by Milan Šimek and Ľubomír Mráz, then PhD students at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication (FEEC), is coming back to the university – together with the Department of Telecommunications it is opening a new laboratory focused on next-generation localization technologies for industrial applications. The laboratory will become part of a planned Center of Excellence, which is to be established in Brno under the banner of Sewio and U.S. technology leader HID Global.

“The story of Sewio, founded by BUT graduates, proves that the university environment can not only give rise to innovation, but also serve as a partner for its long-term development and real-world application. The return of the company to the university, together with a global leader such as HID Global, demonstrates that what originates in our laboratories and classrooms can succeed in global competition. The new laboratory will give students access to state-of-the-art technologies while also creating space for more intensive collaboration with industrial partners. I believe this project will inspire other students and PhD candidates considering their own journey from research to entrepreneurship,” says BUT Rector Ladislav Janíček.

Despite leaving the university in 2014, Sewio has remained in close contact with the academic environment – the company has continuously contributed to research projects, teaching, and student supervision. Now, the cooperation is moving to a new, global level.

The laboratory is being established at the Department of Telecommunications, FEEC BUT, where both graduates once worked. It will showcase technologies developed in collaboration with HID and will serve not only for teaching, but also for practical testing of new solutions for industry partners. The opening will take place on September 22 with representatives of the university, the South Moravian Innovation Centre (JIC), investors, and experts in attendance.

“Our ultimate goal is to build a Center of Excellence that connects cutting-edge development with education and access to the most advanced technologies. Thanks to HID, we have the opportunity to bring to Brno the know-how and products that today define global trends in localization systems. And BUT is the best address, as linking business practice with the university has long been a priority for university leadership,” says Milan Šimek, co-founder and CEO of Sewio.

Sewio is a provider of solutions for material flow digitalization based on precise localization technology using Ultrawideband and business intelligence software tools. Sewio’s solutions are used in more than 300 production plants worldwide, including Volkswagen, Phillips, Marmon, Budweiser Budvar, Toyota and Hyundai. In 2024, the company was acquired by U.S. giant HID Global, a market leader according to the Gartner Magic Quadrant.

“HID has long grown also through the acquisition of successful companies, and we are proud that this strategy works. Just one year after the acquisition of Sewio, we are jointly opening this unique laboratory focused on cutting-edge RTLS technologies. Beyond global growth, such collaborations bring real benefits to local regions. They accelerate innovation, attract talent, and build top engineering know-how – for example, right here in the Czech Republic,” says Mark Robinton, Vice President of the RTLS Business Unit at HID Global.

“Today, we are developing our technology on a global scale, but the heart of development, as well as marketing and support management, remains in Brno. We believe that connecting the university environment with practice is the key to further growth – not only for our team but for the entire innovation ecosystem in the region,” adds Ľubomír Mráz, co-founder and CTO of Sewio.

As part of the Center of Excellence in Brno, the company plans to build a global team ranging from developers to business professionals. The new laboratory is one of the first steps. It will serve as a base for joint research projects, inspiration for students, and potentially a foundation for further spin-offs.

“We are pleased to cooperate with leading technology companies, among which Sewio and HID undoubtedly belong. The newly established #Sewio rtlsLab joins the ranks of the AT&T Innovation Laboratory and #Vodafone UniLab as another key research and education center in the field of communication and localization technologies for Industry 4.0,” concludes Petr Číka, Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications, FEEC.

Zdroj: vut.cz/en