Clusters connected with the Metal Industry
The new-formed groupings,or Clusters are considered a vital tool in gaining a better integration and overall communication system in the "Sistema Regional de Innovación" (Regional System of Innovation).
The development of these Groupings answers the need to consolidate a sectorial policy, which would allow the on-going design of back up instruments capable of responding to specific needs of particular sectors, and are a formula for stimulating and extending more quickly the practice of innovation and internationalization for well established collectives of companies, and come with a willingness to set up advanced types of projects,working in collaboration.
We will continue by referring to these Clusters contained in the Metal Industry in Asturias:
"Agrupación de Interés Económico"- AIE (Clusters for Economic Interest) Technological Consortium of Asturian Energy
At the end of 2009 the Cluster for the Economic Interest in the Technological Consortium of Asturian Energy AIE was formed. It was an energy Cluster, made up of some twenty companies which were mainly concerned with engineering and suppliers of capital goods.
The AIE is controlled by the Fundación Asturiana de la Energía (FAEN), the latter being the body which administers the Technical Secretary Office of the Cluster.The strategic aims are concentrated in 5 strategic Areas or Fields of operation:
- Initiating and establishing contacts with Colleges ,technological bodies and Networks
- Development of Innovative Products and Services
- Innovation of management and managing of data knowledge
- New Markets and Internationalization
- Expansion of the consortium
The lines of work planned for projects are concentrated in the Area of Electricity, Fossil Fuels, Building and renewable Energy sources.
Manuf@cturias
Manuf@cturias is a regional initiative from the European Technological Organization MANUFUTURE. Formed in Asturias in 2006 by different bodies both in the private and public sector and with the aid of the "Instituto de desarrollo Económico del Principado de Asturias"(Institute for the Economic Development of the Principado de Asturias)(IDEPA) this Organization can presently count on more than 90 groups, Asturian industrial companies being at the forefront of this organization, having its permanent sectretarial office in the "Fundación PRODINTEC" (PRODINTEC Foundation), the Technological Centre for Industrial Design in Asturias. It has as its main object to promote the rebuilding, reactivating, and restructuring in the traditional industrial sectors by means of a strategy based on investigation and innovation.
In the year 2007 an opportunity was seen for the most pro-active of the MANUF@CTURIAS organization to join forces with the new figure, initiated by the "Ministerio de Industria" (Ministry of Industry), "Turismo y Comercio" (Tourism and Commerce), and by the "AGRUPACIÓN EMPRESARIAL INNOVADORA" (Innovating Company Cluster), AEI.
At the beginning of 2008 "MANUFACTURIAS AEI" was formed as "Agrupación de Interés Económico" (Economic Interest Cluster) (AIE), by means of the registration of members of 28 bodies: 27 companies and one Technology Centre, "Fundación PRODINTEC" (The PRODINTEC foundation).
The company Cluster formed around the Asturian manufacturing industry has as its principal aim to contribute to growth and expansion of the component members by adopting strategies of working together with a view to promoting investigation, implementing of new technology,and the setting up of innovations in the field of their respective company businesses; to increase productivity and improve their competitiveness.
"La Agrupación Empresarial Innovadora" (The Innovative Company Cluster) MANUF@CTURIAS has been included by the "Dirección General de Política de la PYME" (General Management of Policy of PYME), by the "Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio" (Ministry of Industry,Tourism and Commerce) in the Special Register of Innovative Company Clusters by surpassing the classification of excellence in its strategic planning.
Idesa Technical Consortia (Idesa Technical Consortia) AIE – ITC AIE
In the Spring of 2009 the Idesa Technical Consortia was formed, an Economic Interest Cluster lead by the asturian company IDESA (Ingeniería y Diseño Europeo, SA-Engineering and European Development) which nowadays is made up of over thirty members, mainly private companies. The main objective of the Cluster is to give technical and commercial support,quality control and training to small metal-mechanical workshops in the region,with staff of between 30 and 40 workers.
Apart from the participation of members of the Cluster,the University of Oviedo also takes part, as well as the Centres of Technology, both Asturian and National, with their excellent network systems.
IDESA has been developing its sphere of activity in the Industrial division of capital goods and mechanical constructions since more than 15 years ago in Asturias. In recent times,it has revitalized its area of research,opened exterior markets, and placed itself in a good position in the market of alternative energies.
