By specialising in such fields as renewable energies and sustainable technology, it has become a reference partner of the leading companies in those sectors.

A number of companies has charged the Technological Centre with the development of technological projects within major research programmes of the Spanish and Basque Governments.

Technological Centre TEKNIKER-IK4 and those companies have signed eight new technology contracts worth over 5.5 million Euro to develop R&D projects funded by the Spanish and Basque Governments. The Eibar-based centre has been hired by the companies that lead each of the projects, which strengthens its leadership in various areas of specialisation to work on advanced technology developments.

As a subcontracted research centre, TEKNIKER-IK4 participates specifically in four projects that have been recently called by the CENIT Programme (Spanish abbreviation for ‘National Strategic Consortia for Technical Research') and involve developments for more than 3 million Euro. TEKNIKER-IK4 also takes part in another four projects within the Etorgai Programme set up by the Basque Government to support strategic industrial research and experimental development projects. In this case, developments contracted for by the companies exceed 2.5 million Euro. All adjudications took place in the course of December.

With regard to CENIT projects, TEKNIKER-IK4 has emphasized its specialisation in renewable energies and its line of sustainable technology, since it plays an outstanding part in projects relating with those areas. Consequently, TEKNIKER-IK4 works on the Ocean Líder project that aims to develop new renewable ocean energies under the coordination of Iberdrola; on Unisolar-headed ATON project to research and develop new energy generation techniques using thin film photovoltaic cells; on the Sintonia project conducted by Boeing to develop unmanned systems tending to zero environmental impact; and on the Fasis project that is coordinated by Nextel and aims at achieving a safe and healthy factory.
In connection with the Etorgai Programme, TEKNIKER-IK4 participates in the OSI+ projects headed by Ibermática to develop devices, services and applications for the intelligent and extended hospital; in Euskestur under the coordination of ITP to manufacture a new generation of radial turbine structures; in Hiperion, developing cutting-edge machine-tool equipment under the leadership of Soraluce; and in the Iñude project coordinated by Ikusi and aimed at starting up an integral safety, maintenance and emergency management platform for critical facilities and infrastructures.

TEKNIKER-IK4's active participation in the two major R&D supporting programmes, in Spain and in the Basque Country, places the Eibar-based Technological Centre in a position of reference strategic partner such that the principal companies in every sector trust it with their R&D projects.

With over 25 years experience in researching applied technology and transferring the results to business, TEKNIKER-IK4 is highly specialised in four main areas (Precision Engineering and Mechatronics, Surface Engineering, Production Engineering and Automation, and Manufacturing Technologies), something that allows it to place its cutting-edge technology at the service of those requiring it. In 2008, the Eibar-based technological centre had a turnover of approximately 19 million Euros.

Apdo. 44 · Otaola 20 · 20600 Eibar · Gipuzkoa · Spain Tel: 943.20.67.44 · Fax: 943.20.27.57