IK4 and the Basque Government signed an agreement to promote innovation and technological development

The agreement promotes a stable framework for collaboration and includes the possibility that the administration involved in the governing bodies of IK4, following the integration of its seven centers

The Basque Government gives consideration to the Agent Alliance Technology reference in the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation.

The Minister of Industry, Innovation, Trade and Tourism, Barnabas Unda, today signed an agreement with the president of IK4 Research Alliance, Rafael Barrenechea, to promote innovation and technological development in Euskadi. The agreement includes a stable framework of collaboration between both parties, as embodied in two novelties. On the one hand, it opens the possibility that the administration involved in making decisions IK4. Furthermore, the Basque Government will now consider the Alliance as Agent Technology reference in the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation. This agreement follows the process of integration into a new system of common governance of the seven centers comprising IK4 (CEIT, Cidetec, Gaiker, Ideko, Ikerlan, and Vicomtech Tekniker along materialize 2010 LORTEK incorporating a Alliance), which has just finished.

The Basque Government through this agreement recognizes that in recent years the technology centers that have come together in IK4 Research Alliance have made an effort in the implementation and adequacy of their technology infrastructure oriented to the acquisition, generation and transfer of technology to the business fabric Euskadi .

The agreement also reflects the contribution of industrial development IK4 the Basque Country, by providing applied research, technological development and innovation the continuing adequacy of Basque companies to the requirements of competitiveness in a globalized environment.

The Convention aims to take a step towards a stable framework that allows the planning of human resources, technical resources and lines of medium-term research in a coordinated system of innovation and excellence to ensure adequate funding and appropriate investigations.

The deal is a recognition of the "maturity" reached by IK4 and its role as "strategic ally of the Basque business sector." In this sense, there is a mutual need between the Government and the Technology Alliance, to guide their activities to achieve results.

In addition, it provides for the amendment of the statutes of the Alliance, so that the Department of Industry, Innovation, Trade and Tourism will participate in their governing bodies. Specifically, the agreement includes the establishment of a model of corporate governance that keeps the privacy of IK4, while allowing public administrations involved in the design and development of the new organization. Institutional representation in the governing bodies of the Alliance shall be at least 25%, of which the Basque Government will have an absolute majority.

In addition, subject to ratification IK4 Department of Industry, Innovation, Trade and Tourism the most important decisions of your organization, such as the appointment of its directors or statutory changes.

For its part, the Department gives consideration IK4 Technology Reference Agent for the development of policy and strategy for R + D + i. The Government will promote a balanced pattern of public-private funding, following European models of funding for technology corporations. For that implement programs that will help support IK4 to develop their technological capabilities based on the results. It is the aim of this model framework to achieve a stable core funding of 25% of R + D + i Alliance consolidated IK4.

The duration of the convention starts today and will stay the duration of the Science, Technology and Innovation of the Government.

IK4 Technology Alliance, currently composed of seven technology centers Basque (CEIT, CIDETEC, GAIKER, IDEKO, IKERLAN, TEKNIKER and LORTEK VICOMTECH and in the process of incorporation) obtained in 2009 a total volume of revenues exceeding 80 M € in I + D + i. Today, IK4 unites more than 1,250 professionals and operates around eight scientific and technological units: Biotechnology and Biomaterials, Micro and Nanotechnology, Environment and Recycling, Energy, Management and Manufacturing, Mechatronics Communication., Materials and Processes and Information Technology and Communication.

This specialization allows you to position itself as a technology partner firms to undertake any type of projects in many sectors of application. So IK4 is also a reference in participation in research projects driven by the European, Spanish and Basque.