The UPV/EHU and TECNALIA expand their collaboration to improve their research and knowledge transfer

The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and the Research and Technological Development Centre TECNALIA have signed a new framework collaboration agreement

The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and the Research and Technological Development Centre TECNALIA have signed a new framework collaboration agreement to bring both entities closer together and to increase the ongoing collaborative activities in training, research, innovation, and the dissemination and transfer of knowledge. This agreement was signed today by the UPV/EHU Rector, Nekane Balluerka, and the CEO of TECNALIA, Iñaki San Sebastián.

In the educational context, the agreement covers, among other actions, the use of TECNALIA’s classrooms and spaces at the UPV/EHU to develop end of year projects, end of master’s projects, and doctoral theses that are co-tutored by TECNALIA personnel. It also includes educational internships for UPV/EHU students at TECNALIA premises, in order to carry out projects and other R&D and innovation activities. In addition, people from the Technology Centre are also expected to collaborate with university teachings and to develop training activities for post-graduate students.

With regard to the fields of research, transfer and innovation, the agreement encourages the creation of mixed collaborative teams organised around the framework of the Joint Research Laboratory. Likewise, the agreement aims to intensify the collaboration between groups of UPV/EHU researchers and TECNALIA researchers through recognising and creating the EUSKAMPUS Joint Research Unit (JRU), a well known structure in the European Union research programmes which allows members to act as if they came from a single entity.

This framework agreement will also promote special agreements between joint research teams for specific subject areas, thereby encouraging exchanges of technical and research personnel between both organisations. In addition, the agreement sets out the framework to implement programmes which promote entrepreneurial culture, with the possibility of organising outreach activities such as joint workshops, seminars and congresses.

The UPV/EHU Rector, Nekane Balluerka, has welcomed the signing of this agreement: “The transfer of knowledge to society through companies or other social organisations is one of the University of the Basque Country’s crucial objectives. Moreover, the framework agreement that we have signed today also covers other work fronts: collaboration in the teaching environment (internships, end of year projects, end of master’s projects, etc.) and in the research environment (doctoral theses and the creation of mixed collaborative teams). After having enjoyed a close relationship throughout these many years, this agreement opens up new possibilities and it acknowledges TECNALIA, one of the most important technological centres in Europe, as a strategic ally for our university”.

The CEO of TECNALIA, Iñaki San Sebastián, believes that the agreement is very positive as “this agreement is strategic in nature and it allows us to continue to make progress in creating knowledge, education, research and innovation ecosystems, which favour economic, social and cultural development of surrounding areas with international projection. It will enable R&D and innovation value chains to be created that have greater impact and are more durable from fully complementary positions, strengthening the synergies of the UPV/EHU and TECNALIA”.

ABOUT TECNALIA

TECNALIA is a benchmark Research and Technological Development Centre for Europe; with 1,400 experts from 30 different nationalities, focusing on transforming technology into GDP to improve People's quality of life, by creating business opportunities for Companies.

www.tecnalia.com

ABOUT UPV/EHU

The UPV/EHU is the only public university in the Basque Country to be listed among the top 500 universities in the world in the Shanghai ranking. It has over 43,000 graduate and post-graduate students, and employs more than 7,500 people in higher education, research and transfer. It is the main research agent in the Basque Country.