The budget for the Department of Innovation, Research and University will increase in 2017 by nearly 9%, as an example of the commitment by the Executive to consolidate the R&D&I system in Aragon. This was claimed by the President of Aragon, Javier Lambán, during his visit to the Aragon Technology Institute, whose budget will be increased in 2017 by 57%, from one and a half million euros to two million, four hundred and twenty-five thousand.
The President, Javier Lambán, explained that ITA “is the most powerful instrument that Aragon has to collaborate with innovation in companies”, and emphasised that last year over one thousand companies in the Community benefited from cooperation with ITA, with three quarters of them being SMEs. That is why he insisted on the fact that “a priceless service is provided to Aragon’s economy from this institute”. “A competitive economy with quality employment is only possible in societies which invest in education, training, research and innovation, and these are two political priorities, priorities in spending by the Government I preside”, he went on to add.
Also to favour the return on talent, the general directorate of Research and Innovation increases its budget by 64% with over 23.7 million euros. Among the increases there is more money for research groups and institutions for research contracts through the ARAID Agency, more pre-doctoral contracts and new lines of support for research and innovation are being considered, such as multi-disciplinary projects to hold conferences and activities for dissemination, or for technical personnel to support research. In the last budget, aid was recovered such as that assigned to maintaining equipment that the former Executive had not assigned in its entire legislature.
Aragon Technology Institute
ITA is the best tool for innovation in Aragon-based companies. Last year the Aragon Technology Institute worked with 1036 companies, 3.39% more than in 2015. Most of them are SMEs based in Aragon. Last year ITA grew in terms of turnover by 22%, ending the year at almost seven million euros. 214 people work at the facility.
At the moment ITA is taking part in 17 H2020 projects and has two research groups, in the field of applied research and experimental development in Industrial Systems and Multimedia Technology and also in simulation, characterisation, design and development of materials. 78 researchers take part in these projects.
ITAINNOVA is a benchmark in technological research and innovation that analyses the needs of the market and creates solutions for R&I to improve the competitiveness of companies, transferring their know-how and contributing to the sustainable growth and improvement of society.
ITA’s Director, Angel Fernández, emphasised that at the moment they are working on 185 projects. He also stated that they work on 12 technological disciplines “responding to very complex projects in the companies”.
Javier Lambán also expressed his satisfaction with the visit to the centre, the same venue where he recorded his New Year’s Message, precisely “to prove our commitment to innovation and research” and where he reminded attendees of his “engaging” moment with a collaborative robot.