Canagrosa Explores New Opportunities for Technological Collaboration at the Andalucía Aerospace and HEGAN Meeting
Bárbara García and Sergio Domínguez took part in a two-day business and technology exchange event in the Basque Country, which included B2B meetings and visits to centres specialising in R&D&I
On 9 and 10 November, we took part in the innovation event organised by the Andalucía Aerospace cluster and the Basque cluster HEGAN, as part of the Andalusian cluster’s Innovation Committee. The event brought together companies and technology centres from Andalusia and the Basque Country to share industrial and technological capabilities, address R&D&I challenges and identify potential opportunities for collaboration.
Representing Canagrosa, Sergio Domínguez, Technical Director, and Bárbara García, Head of R&D Coordination, took part in the first day of the event, held at the Centre for Aeronautical Technologies (CTA) in Miñano (Álava). Under the theme ‘Shared Innovation: Andalusia–Basque Country’, the main areas of activity within both ecosystems, their innovation priorities and the challenges facing the sector were presented.
The programme also included B2B meetings with companies and technology centres, which enabled us to showcase our capabilities, learn about the needs and areas of focus of other organisations, and establish contacts to explore potential joint initiatives.
Technological capabilities and new opportunities for collaboration
On the second day, Bárbara García and Sergio Domínguez visited the three CTA laboratories in Álava, the Centre for Advanced Aeronautical Manufacturing (CFAA) and the TECNALIA facilities, the latter two being located in Zamudio (Bizkaia). The visits gave them a first-hand insight into the infrastructure, technical capabilities and main areas of activity of these technology centres.
Reflecting on the experience, Bárbara García noted: “One of the most interesting aspects has been gaining a first-hand understanding of the scope and specialisation of the Basque technology centres, as well as their ability to develop solutions that meet the needs of industry”.
Among the areas of greatest interest to Canagrosa are materials testing and characterisation, advanced manufacturing and the validation of new technologies, as well as the development of solutions for the aerospace industry.
Commenting on the opportunities identified during the conference, Sergio Domínguez notes: “Rather than a specific technology, we have identified various capabilities that can complement those currently offered by Canagrosa and which could enable us to expand our involvement in technological development projects”.
In particular, potential areas for collaboration have been identified in the development and validation of new processes, the characterisation of materials, testing associated with emerging technologies, and the refinement of new testing methodologies. These complementary strengths could help to strengthen Canagrosa’s current services and explore new areas of activity, particularly in R&D&I projects requiring the involvement of different specialists.
In addition to the contacts made, the conference provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and learn about different approaches to innovation, as well as how companies and technology centres within the Basque ecosystem collaborate to meet specific industry needs. The experience has also provided new ideas for the development of projects and services, and a broader perspective on the possibilities for collaboration with other organisations in the sector.
