The TECNALIA Technological Corporation is leading five projects within the VII Framework Programme with regard to the simulation of cement materials, nanomaterials for building safer aircraft, communications and mobility services, efficient management of fisheries resources and new models of production.
In these projects, TECNALIA is collaborating with leading companies in their activity sectors - Aernnova (previously Gamesa Aeronáutica), Alcatel-Lucent, Basf, Bikain, Ericsson, Italcementi and Telefónica. It is also working jointly with European-reference bodies such as the Fraunhoffer and VTT Research Centres, the Universities of Bonn, Cranfield and Lille and the Eduardo Torroja Institute, CEFAS and the Imperial College, London.
TECNALIA took on 43 new projects in 2007, the first year of the EU VII Framework Programme, with a return of 14 million euros, involving a growth of almost 45% with respect to the annual average for the VI Framework Programme.
Within the ranking for Spanish entities, according to the CDTI, TECNALIA is the foremost body in the Basque Country regarding returns and the second within the (Spanish) state where the first was CSIC.
By sectors, the greatest returns were in Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies (NMP); Information and Communications Technologies (ICT); Transport; and Energy.
Of these 43 new projects, TECNALIA is leading five:
- CODICE: an NMP project the goal of which is to develop a computational simulation tool enabling the reproduction of the mechanical structure and properties of cement materials from macroscopic variables, as well as their resistance to processes of degradation.
- LAYSA: a transport project, the aim of which is the development of materials for the construction of safer aircraft and intelligent materials, based on nanomaterials capable of detecting and reacting to atmospheric phenomena in cases of fire or accident.
- m:CIUDAD: an ICT project, the goal of which is the generation of a new infrastructure of communications for services and self-created from a mobile telephone, for use of other mobile phone users. For example, my m:blog, my m:preferences, my m:advertisements services, etc.
- TXOTX: a Food, Agriculture and Fisheries & Biotechnology project, designed to contribute a coherent approach to research into the evaluation and management of fisheries resources, especially focused on those areas where the European fleet operates, whether in international waters or in third countries or where the European Union is promoting important development activities.
- LeanPPD: an NMP project, the aim of which is the development of a new model of production - the lean product/process Design Paradigm, covering the whole life cycle of the product, in such a manner that it creates added value for the customer, and including aspects of sustainability, innovation, personalisation and quality.
In 2007, TECNALIA launched an Office for European Projects, supported by the INNOEUROPA Programme of the Ministry for Industry, Tourism and Trade, which has enabled a strengthening of the strategy of our Corporation within Europe, both from the point of view of position of the Corporation itself as well as fomenting participation of Spanish companies.
TECNALIA arose in 2001 with the main goal of contributing to the second economic and social transformation through the use and encouragement of Technological Innovation, by means of the development and diffusion of Research, in an international context. Currently it is made up of the Azti, ESI, Fatronik, Inasmet, Labein, Neiker and Robotiker Technological Centres.
With income greater than 100 million euros annually, it has more than 1,300 highly qualified professionals, it generates new quality jobs, it trains and exchanges professionals with companies, retrieves scientists who have been working in third countries and trains up new generations of technologists: the basis and the creativity on which its future is being built.
With an operational Model that is innovative in Europe, based on the development of sector-based Business Units, where market orientation, technological specialisation and excellence are their hallmarks of identity, it is working with over 3,500 clients a year; providing value and wealth to society at large and to the business infrastructure in particular, by means of Research and Innovation in an international context.
Its European activities in 2007 consolidated the leadership position of the Corporation – the third body throughout the whole of Spain (the second of a private nature) in European returns within the 6th Framework Programme (2003-2006). In all, it has participated in 172 projects, led 29 of these and obtained 39 million euros in income from them.