AN INNOVATION MODEL RECOGNIZED AS “GOOD PRACTICE” ON THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS
TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTES: ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF A MODEL RECOGNIZED AS “GOOD PRACTICE” ON THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS
The productive fabric of the Valencian Community is characterized—firstly—by a predominance of SMEs, which are mainly micro-enterprises and—secondly—by the relative importance of the so-called consolidated or traditional sectors which tend to be grouped geographically in clusters. Textiles, toys, footwear, furniture or ceramics are typical examples.
The origin of the Technology Institutes of the Valencian Community goes back to the mid-1980s, although some, such as footwear or ceramics, had already been set up in an incipient way in the previous decade. At that time, the Valencia region was a national pioneer in the implementation of support models for small and medium enterprises through the creation of the Institute for Small and Medium Industries (IMPIVA), today the Valencian Institute for Business Competitiveness (IVACE) dependent on the regional government. With the support and encouragement of these entities, and above all, motivated by the needs and initiatives of the business community of the major sectors in the region, our presentday Technology Institutes arose.
Legally, they are private non-profit institutions. Their private component is strategic and fundamental. Private companies participate as members of their governing bodies. In addition, over the 2021 financial year, 57% of their income came directly from invoices to companies, meaning they interface closely with them and learn to understand their needs. Another part comes from competitive public funds from the autonomous public administration (33%), Europe (8%) and the state (2%). These funds allow them to generate their own knowledge, which is transferable to the market, and stay ahead of the needs and demands of the region’s production sector.
Today, the Valencian Community has a consolidated Network of Technological Institutes (REDIT) and extensive experience in collaboration with companies in the field of R&D&I. There are currently 11 centres that cover the needs of both the existing sectors (textiles, footwear, agri-food, ceramics, metalworking, furniture...) and those of many new technologies for multisectoral application (energy, plastic, logistics, biomechanics, packaging, ICTs...).
A NETWORK THAT STAYS CLOSE TO COMPANIES
Castellón
AIDIMME AIMPLAS AINIA ITE ITENE ITI AITEX LABORATORIO DE ARCO ELÉCTRICO (AITEX-ITE)
ITC
Almassora
ITC
Paterna
IBV ITI ITE AIJU
Valencia Headquarters Technical Unit
Ontinyent
AITEX AITEX
Alcoi
Elda
Alicante
AINIA ITI
Elche
INESCOP
Bilbao AINIA
AIJU
Ibi
INESCOP
Vigo
AINIA Zaragoza Barcelona
AINIA AINIA
Madrid
AIDIMME AINIA
Sevilla AINIA Technical Unit
The Institutes under the REDIT umbrella currently employ 1,800 professionals from the scientific and technical fields, with nearly 5,300 associated companies and almost 14,000 client companies, with a growth rate of over 5% compared to 2020, which was the year of the Covid-related health pandemic. During the past year, our centres billed €125.5 million.
14.000 client companies
1.800
professionals
5.300
member companies
What’s more, REDIT, on its own merits, has become the major support Network for innovation in SMEs in Spain, since 60% of the 21,000 clients of FEDIT associated Centres work with centres in Valencia. REDIT Centres also have 196 laboratories and 14 technological, market and trend observatories. This is the largest number of laboratories accredited by ENAC in Spain. All this support infrastructure totalling over 100,000 m2 is especially important in view of the fact that companies comprising the industrial fabric in Valencia are smaller than the national average, more sectorized and spread out over the territory than in other regions, making support and assistance from REDIT agents essential. Conscious of these structural needs, the Technology Institutes of the Valencian Community have positioned themselves as prime technological partners for many companies, not only in the region itself, but also in the rest of Spain and internationally, thanks to their extensive range of skills and know-how, and their R&D projects offering high added value.
100.000 m
2
196 labs
14
technology observatories
These Centres contribute in a fundamental way to empowering the companies and the regions in which they operate. For example, according to a study conducted in collaboration with the Complutense University of Madrid, companies collaborating with Technology Institutes in the Valencian Community are 7% more productive and export 25% more products outside the European Union than companies that do not collaborate with innovation agents. The impact of these Institutes within the territory itself is also evident, as they are organizations that attract national and European funds which would otherwise go to other regions and countries. In 2020, the REDIT Technology Institutes obtained €19.7 million from national and European programmes and, in addition, helped their client companies receive €78.7 million. Induced investment from this activity stands at over €142 million. In all, Technology Institutes contributed to attracting over €98.3 million from national and European programmes for the region. Thanks to their activities, over €335 million have been brought in over the last four years.
Companies collaborating with Technology Institutes in the Valencian Community are 7% more productive and export 25% more outside the European Union
Companies choosing REDIT Technology Institutes as their preferred collaboration partner account for 38.3% of the region’s turnover. Exports to countries outside the EU from these companies represent 13.6% of the region’s total. It is estimated that €2.5 out of every €10 in export volume can be attributed to the impact of REDIT Centres. Also of note is the effect of REDIT Technology Institutes on the economy of the Valencian Community, which is around 2.2% of GDP, i.e., it amounts to over €2.14 billion. The model of Technology Institutes in the Valencian Community has been recognized as Good Practice on the international level. In fact, the European Union and other international organizations have shown great interest in REDIT and have invited us to various international conferences to explain our example of best practices in public-private collaboration in support of industrial R&D and business Innovation.
38,3%
turnover in the Region of Valencia
13,6%
Total of all exports from the Region of Valencia
In addition, Technology Institutes have spent decades transferring knowledge and technology to countries with productive fabrics similar to that of the Valencian Community. Currently, they provide a range of services on the international level, such as specialized technical training for companies and organizations in different countries; technical assistance to companies and similar entities. They are also major certification and standardization bodies for products and processes and develop collaborative R&D projects. The Network also has its own international activities involving searches for opportunities; organizing technological missions to leading countries in the field of R&D to adopt good practices that are beneficial for the regional production fabric; and the Network also implements transfer projects for the Centre and Network model to other regions. In this respect, transfers have been made to countries such as Tunisia, Morocco and Peru. Moreover, the Network currently has ongoing projects with Chile, through an agreement with the Fundación Parque-Cientifico Tecnológico de Antofagasta, and Colombia, thanks to another cooperation agreement with the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) and a current agreement with the Bank of Development of Latin America (CAF). REDIT forms part of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), an organization created by the European Commission as a network of experts to promote innovation and competitiveness in companies with an international outlook, which has over 600 organizations in 60 different countries, making it the largest global network dedicated to promoting technological and commercial collaboration between organizations from different countries.
REDIT AS A SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTES
The Network of Technology Institutes of the Valencian Community (REDIT) was born 20 years ago, in order to place value on the Valencian technology centre model, a support system for business innovation perfectly adapted to the reality of the business fabric of the region. Its mission is to promote the transfer of knowledge and technology generated by the network of Technology Institutes, improve the competitiveness of companies and contribute to the sustainable development of society. To achieve this, REDIT contributes to the strengthening of its centres along four main lines: REPRESENTATION. It defends the common interests of centres vis-à-vis key agents in the Innovation System, both public and private. It collaborates with public entities to address challenges and set strategies and coordinate with the main regional business associations, such as the CEV, Chambers of Commerce and AVE. THINK TANK. It generates knowledge through the preparation of reports and studies on industry and innovation. ENCOURAGING COLLABORATION. It facilitates cooperation between centres, and between them and other agents, contributing to the efficient use of all network resources. DISSEMINATION AND COMMUNICATION. It fosters the promotion and transfer of initiatives promoted by the Technology Institutes to enhance the socioeconomic development of corresponding territories while contributing to the improvement of living standards amongst the population.
TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTES
AIDIMME: Metal-Mechanics, Furniture, Wood, Packaging and Related Industries Technology Institute Chairman Fernando Saludes García CEO GRUPO SALUDES
Director Vicente Rocatí Rufes
No. of clients --------
No. of members --------
No. of employees --------
AIDIMA (1984) AIMME
1.246
620
153
(1987)
No. of projects --------
Facilities surface area --------
79
25.000 m2
Year incorporated --------
FUSIÓN AIDIMME (2016)
Location: Sede Benjamín Franklin: C/ Benjamín Franklin, 13 Parque Tecnológico - Paterna, València
Sede Leonardo Da Vinci: C/ Leonardo Da Vinci, 38 Parque Tecnológico - Paterna, València Contact: Telf. 96 136 60 70 www.aidimme.es
AIJU: Children’s and Leisure Products Technology Institute Chairman Pablo Cañizares Montón MANAGING DIRECTOR JUGUETES PICO SL AT SMOBY
Director Manuel Aragonés Francés
Year incorporated --------
No. of clients --------
No. of members --------
1986
949
390
No. of employees --------
No. of projects --------
Facilities surface area --------
105
40
6.000 m2
Location: Avda. de la Industria 23 - Ibi, Alicante Contact: Telf. 96 555 44 75 www.aiju.es
AIMPLAS: Plastics Technology Institute
Chairman José Luis Yusá Irles PLÁSTICOS YUSÁ
Director José Antonio Costa Mocholí
Year incorporated --------
No. of clients --------
No. of members --------
1990
1.361
699
No. of employees --------
No. of projects --------
Facilities surface area --------
183
173
10.500 m2
Location: C/ Gustave Eiffel, 4 - Parque Tecnológico Paterna, València Contact: Telf. 96 136 60 40 www.aimplas.es
AINIA: Agrifood Research Institute
Chairman Manuel García Portillo CHAIRMAN GRUPO MGP
Director Cristina Del Campo Asenjo
Year incorporated --------
No. of clients --------
No. of members --------
1987
1.688
701
No. of employees --------
No. of projects --------
Facilities surface area --------
207
161
12.000 m2
Location: C/ Benjamín Franklin, 5 a 11 Parque Tecnológico - Paterna, València Contact: Telf. 96 136 60 90 www.ainia.es
AITEX: Textiles Technology Institute
Chairman León Grau García ADMINISTRATOR OF HIMIESA
Director Vicente Blanes Juliá
Year incorporated --------
No. of clients --------
No. of members --------
1985
5.529
1.431
No. of employees --------
No. of projects --------
Facilities surface area --------
329
100
16.000 m2
Location: Plaza Emilio Sala, 1 - Alcoy, Alicante Contact: Telf. 96 554 22 00 www.aitex.es
IBV: Biomechanics Institute
Chairman José Capilla Romá RECTOR OF THE UPV
Director Javier Sánchez Lacuesta
Year incorporated --------
No. of clients --------
No. of members --------
1976
762
368
No. of employees --------
No. of projects --------
Facilities surface area --------
160
146
6.000 m2
Location: Camino de Vera s/n - Edificio 9C Universitat Politècnica - València Contact: Telf. 96 111 11 70 www.ibv.org
INESCOP: Footwear Technology Centre
Chairman Antonio Porta Cantó
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF UNISA EUROPA
Director Javier Navarro Cremades
Year incorporated --------
No. of clients --------
No. of members --------
1971
521
336
No. of employees --------
No. of projects --------
Facilities surface area --------
91
38
8.000 m2
Location: C/ Alemania, 102 Polígono Industrial Campo Alto Elda, Alicante Contact: Telf. 96 539 52 13 www.inescop.es
ITC / AICE: Ceramics Technology Institute
Chairman Joaquín Font de Mora CEO OF VIDRES
Director Gustavo Mallol Gasch
Year incorporated --------
No. of clients --------
No. of members --------
1969
421
226
No. of employees --------
No. of projects --------
Facilities surface area --------
127
66
7.000 m2
Location: Avda. de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n Campus Universitario Riu Sec - Castellón
Sede Almassora. Pol. Ind. SUPOI 8 C/ Cedrillas nº 20. 12550 Almassora (Castellón). Contact: Telf. 96 434 24 24 www.itc.uji.es
ITE: Energy Technology Institute
Chairman Miguel Rivas Calderón --
Director Marta García Pellicer
Year incorporated --------
No. of clients --------
No. of members --------
1994
493
109
No. of employees --------
No. of projects --------
Facilities surface area --------
84
36
5.500 m2
Location: Carrer de Juan de la Cierva y Codorniu, 24 Parque Tecnológico - Paterna, València Contact: Telf. 96 136 66 70 www.ite.es
ITENE: Packaging, Transport and Logistics Technology Institute
Chairman Pedro Ballester Fernández CEO DE LOGIFRUIT
Director Javier Zabaleta Merí
Year incorporated --------
No. of clients --------
No. of members --------
1994
783
188
No. of employees --------
No. of projects --------
Facilities surface area --------
144
78
6.500 m2
Location: C/ Albert Einstein, 1 Parque Tecnológico - Paterna, València Contact: Telf. 96 182 00 00 www.itene.com
ITI: Technology Institute specializing in ITC
Chairman José Capilla Romá RECTOR OF THE UPV
Director Laura Olcina Puerto
Year incorporated --------
No. of clients --------
No. of members --------
1994
174
221
No. of employees --------
No. of projects --------
Facilities surface area --------
201
46
8.000 m2
Location: Camino de Vera, s/n, Edif. 8G Acc. B - 4ª Planta Universidad Politécnica - València Contact: Telf. 96 387 70 69 www.iti.es
www.re
edit.es