IK4-TEKNIKER consolidates total 2018 earnings and turnover with companies

Last year, the Basque Technology Centre IK4-TEKNIKER reported earnings totalling 25.6 million Euros (provisional 2018 closing data), a figure that has underpinned its research and technology transfer activities with private companies. Said earnings are the end result of producing scientific and technological knowledge within the framework of competitive programmes and a number of initiatives sponsored by the Basque (27%) and European (22%) authorities and other institutions such as the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa or the Central Spanish Administration (2%) and of carrying out technology transfer actions with companies (projects, licences and patents) accounting for 49% of its overall R&D&I activities.

These figures, together with other indicators such as excellence in terms of research, transfers to markets and collaborative actions involving other stakeholders have allowed IK4-TEKNIKER to become a benchmark organisation in terms of applied research in the Basque Country. In fact, and as mentioned in the most recent annual report published by the Basque Government, the organisation is playing a key role as a member of the Basque Network of Science, Technology & Innovation (RVCTI).

More specifically, it was last year when IK4-TEKNIKER reached a 96,67% level of compliance in terms of the indicators laid down by the Executive in the EMAITEK Plus programme, a result that stands three percentage points higher than the figure reported for the previous fiscal year and which places the organisation at the level of the maximum values obtained by other technology centres.

Data connected to excellence indicators established by the Basque Government, to outstanding results obtained in Europe (in competition with other European research centres of excellence) and to a continuous focus on Basque companies with regard to developing more innovative products and services in collaboration with IK4-TEKNIKER have served to boost the position and consolidation of the technology centre.

Results that have exceeded goals set initially

The centre surpassed the goal set for 2018 in 17 of the 20 indicators listed in the report with above-average performance levels compared to other Basque technology centres in 11 of the parameters evaluated. One of the relevant indicators is connected to the impact that activities carried out with the technology centre have for customer turnover; in other words, this level of turnover would never have been achieved if IK4-TEKNIKER were not involved. Compared to other organisations, and as regards this indicator, IK4 TEKNIKER has achieved maximum values.

As regards patent applications, IK4-TEKNIKER has also performed much better in terms of the goals set for this purpose. In terms of collaborative actions involving different stakeholders, most of the partnerships signed by the centre last year were mainly connected to the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and surpassed the objectives set for the year.

The organisation also fulfilled its aims and performed better than other technology centres in terms of its returns in Europe and in its role as a driving force for Basque companies to advise how to the European sphere must be addressed. IK4-TEKNIKER is the driving force behind 13% of all the companies involved in international projects currently collaborating with research bodies and technology centres.

“Last year´s results, both from a quantitative and qualitative perspective, are very positive to the extent that we have been rated as a benchmark technology centre in the Basque country. It is highly satisfactory to see that the Basque Government and industrial fabric of this country agree on this issue, particularly because we have always done our utmost to provide them with value through our activities”, says Alex Bengoa, Director General of IK4-TEKNIKER.

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