ANNUAL REPORT 2017

José Miguel Erdozain CEO of IK4 08.2. IK4 RESEARCH ALLIANCE 08.1. Message from the Chairman 08.2. Message from the General Management 08.3. Figures 2017 Basque companies are growing increasingly more committed to activating technological innovation and development plans as a way of strengthening their competitiveness in a markedly global environment. In this context, the IK4 Technological Alliance continues to be a key private sector ally. We confront the challenges posed by the future with a new model based on seven technological centres and will continue to work on developing projects that allow us to leverage complementing features and synergies. The last business year closed with income in the amount of 101.5 million euro, almost 57.73% (58.59 million) of which came from corporate transfer activities, particularly in Euskadi, the source of 84% of the total. The number of patents applied for runs up to 33, and the workforce exceeds 1,100, a third of them doctoral graduates. Moreover, two new spin-offs were created last year, bringing the total number of new companies created around the IK4 Alliance to 88. Despite the complex, highly competitive scenario of the European sphere, the performance of the seven centres comprising our alliance shows signs of solidity. The IK4 technological centres are exerting significant efforts to acquire cutting-edge equipment and support the recruitment of highly qualified talent as mechanisms indispensable for continuing at the forefront of research. The main work areas of this past business year were the projects aimed at research into materials and processes, and communication, information and mechatronic technologies. Energy, the environment and nanotechnologies are also among the fields where significant technological development initiatives have been undertaken. In sum, the evolution of our income as compared with the preceding financial years has been positive and the prospects for 2018 confirm this rising tendency. Our performance data enable us to look ahead confidently. The changes to come in the near future will allow us to advance to a new stage in strengthening our bid for a customer-friendly service of excellence in R+D+i applied to companies. We confront the challenges posed by the future with a new model based on seven technological centres. INDEX 01 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR 02 REPORT BY THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT 03 MARKET MANAGEMENT 04 TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT 05 THE VOICE OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND COLLABORATORS 06 REVENUES AND BOOK BALANCE 07 COLLABORATING ORGANISATIONS & GOVERNING BOARD 08 IK4 RESEARCH ALLIANCE