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Questions on FATRONIK-Tecnalia

Press each of the frequently asked questions to directly access its answer.

When was FATRONIK-Tecnalia founded and why?

FATRONIK-Tecnalia was founded in 1986 to answer the needs of a group of machine tool manufacturers in technological matters.

In 1999 it an important transformation as regards technology and industrial orientation was initiated, that leads FATRONIK-Tecnalia to become a Technology Centre. Since then, it is dedicated to creating and assimilating knowledge, transforming it into competitive industrial innovations for several sectors (aeronautical production, machine tools, health technologies...)

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What is FATRONIK-Tecnalia's legal character?

FATRONIK-Tecnalia is a private non-profit making Foundation. That is to say, an organisation that pursues ends of general interest, in this case scientific research and technological development.

It needs to be clarified that this fact does not imply the entity's income being guaranteed. Like any company, FATRONIK-Tecnalia has to ensure that its economic objectives are fulfilled and that it generates a surplus at the end of the year.

The fact that it is non-profit making means that the annual economic surpluses can not be shared out, but rather reinvested in FATRONIK-Tecnalia's technological activity.

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How does FATRONIK-Tecnalia organise its activity?

FATRONIK-Tecnalia's activity revolves around two basic focal points.

This model aims to find a balance between the carrying out of knowledge generating projects to the service of companies, where a real transfer to the business fabric occurs.

It is precisely this model that distinguishes a Technology Centre, that carries out applied research, from a University or an Engineering Firm. Research carried out in the University (basic research) is mainly centred on generating knowledge, and not so much on applying it. The other extreme are the Engineering Firms, dedicated to putting knowledge into practice, but not to the search for new technologies.

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How is FATRONIK-Tecnalia financed?

8% of FATRONIK-Tecnalia's financing is public, obtained in an agreement given its Technology Centre nature. The rest of the financing, that is to say 92%, is obtained by means of projects under contract with public administrations and companies.

To be precise, 42% is obtained carrying our research projects in the different local, national and European public administrations free competition invitations to tender.

The rest (50%) comes from industrial research projects. It is the companies that contract FATRONIK-Tecnalia to carry out R&D projects, under different methods: contracted projects, shared risks projects, long term agreements…

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Who governs FATRONIK-Tecnalia?

The governing and representative body of the FATRONIK-Tecnalia Foundations is the Trust, whose members, mainly from the business world, receive the name of Employers. The capacity to be Employers is acknowledged both to individuals and legal entities. Corporative / Trust Information Section..

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What are FATRONIK-Tecnalia's knowledge areas?

FATRONIK-Tecnalia is an investigation centre, specialised in the generation of intelligent devices that require the integration of different technologies: mechanics, control, electronics and information technologies, and a profound knowledge of manufacturing technologies. Knowledge Area Section..

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In what type of action areas does FATRONIK-Tecnalia work?

Historically, FATRONIK-Tecnalia has applied its knowledge in the industrial field, helping to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of several industrial sectors.

However, since 2003 we have committed ourselves to applying technology in the social sphere as well. We intend to improve the quality of life of people, centring ourselves mainly on the elderly and disabled.

The action areas are:

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What sectors does FATRONIK-Tecnalia aim its activity at?

The great potential of FATRONIK-Tecnalia's technological capacities allow us to have an attractive offer for different sectors.

However, we mainly centre our work on the following sectors, considered as priority sectors for FATRONIK-Tecnalia that we know in depth and are the ones we have more experience in.

But FATRONIK-Tecnalia also makes its experience and knowledge available to other sectors (automation, construction, wood, textile...), to help business and social development by means of innovation and technological development.

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What is FATRONIK-Tecnalia's geographical scope?

FATRONIK-Tecnalia does not limit its action area to the national level. On the contrary. We are naturally inclined towards internationalising our activity and are open to working with centres, universities and companies from abroad.

In fact, since the creation FATRONIK-Tecnalia up to the present, we have established a solid relations network in the international context. This has been possible thanks to the carrying out of industrial projects with companies, the participation in European research projects, the membership in world wide recognised organisms and associations…

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Why choose FATRONIK-Tecnalia as your technology partner?

FATRONIK-Tecnalia is the suitable technology partner given the values it has and which are highlighted in the relationship with our customers:

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Who works for FATRONIK-Tecnalia?

People are FATRONIK-Tecnalia's most important mainstay. The achievements and objectives that the centre has attained would not have been possible without the professionalism, dedication and effort carried out by its personnel on the whole.

Experts in various disciplines work together to satisfy our customer's needs. From a technical point of view, mechanical, electronic, computing, telecommunications and physical engineers… share their knowledge to attain the optimum solution. Complementing the technical team, experts in management, organisation, financial and legal aspects… contribute to the success of FATRONIK-Tecnalia's activity.

With the aim of increasing the Centre's scientific profile, FATRONIK-Tecnalia encourages the internal promotion of doctorates , in the search for a balance between the scientific and the technological basis of the Centre.

The effort FATRONIK-Tecnalia makes in the incorporation of women in industrial research is also worth mentioning, promoting the participation of women in the selection of candidates. Currently 30% of the staff are women (above the average in the industrial research area) and with a high participation in posts of responsibility. This ratio is expected to increase during years to come.

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What can FATRONIK-Tecnalia collaborate in?

Glossary

Applied Research
Research to acquire new knowledge, directed mainly at a specific practical objective.
Basic Research
Experimental or theoretical works mainly for obtaining new knowledge on the bases of phenomenon and observable facts, without applying them or giving them a determined use.

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Paseo Mikeletegi, 7 - Parque Tecnológico E-20009 Donostia - San Sebastián
Telf. (+34) 943 00 55 00 - Fax (+34) 943 00 55 11