An innovation model recognized as 'good practice' on the national and international levels

AN INNOVATION MODEL RECOGNIZED AS “GOOD PRACTICE” ON THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS

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TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTES: ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF A MODEL RECOGNIZED AS “GOOD PRACTICE” ON THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS

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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.

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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

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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

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www.re

edit.es