RETA (Málaga, Spain)

The Andalusian Technology Network (RETA) is a non-profit organization that was incorporated in April 2005 at the initiative of the Regional Ministry of Innovation, Science and Enterprise to Foster R+D+I in Andalusian companies.

RETA’s main objective is to boost and improve the innovation to all andalusian companies regardless of their size or territorial location, through three premises:

• To have traditional companies that innovate
• To have innovative companies that carry out R+D
• To have companies that already carry out R+D+I to continue growing

To this end, RETA agglutinates the Autonomous Community’s innovation offer and makes it available to Andalusian companies.

For its networking model and its large presence in the Andalusian region, RETA is an innovative and unique experience in Spain and Europe, which has the backing of the European Union, through the Regional Program of Innovative Actions (PRAI - RETA).
 
The PRAI-RETA is an instrument funded by DG Regional Policy of the European Commission through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which was approved by European Commission Decision on 12 April 2006.
 
Since its inception, has sought to facilitate the PRAI European regions the opportunity to experiment in innovation and development, to address large projects territorial jurisdictions.

This initiative also offers regions the opportunity to explore many new aspects in R & D that are not taken into account in the context of the Structural Funds. The end result: a significant improvement in competitiveness and the level of technological development and creating more highly skilled jobs.

The RETA has allowed PRAI-territorial growth of the Network of Technological Spaces of Andalusia, in the framework of this program has launched new technology clusters, mainly in:

1º Industrial estates away from the nuclei of innovation
2º Technology centers related to traditional productive sectors

MISSION AND GOALS

RETA’s mission is to move the capacity of innovation of the Technological Centers of Andalusia and the knowledge generated at the universities to the whole Andalusian productive network in order to change it into highly competitive services and products.

RETA guarantees equal opportunities to all companies. RETA is located in Technological and Industrial Parks; in order the big size companies, as well as small businesses to be able to get advantages from technology and innovation.

• To stimulate and to guarantee the Innovation and Technology Transfer
• To find out opportunities from Innovation and Technological Development
• To foster networking and to boost internationalizations
• To enhance the Andalusian productive network competitiveness

“Technology Clusters”

RETA operates as a network deployed throughout every Andalusian Province by means of this “Technology Clusters” located in Technology Parks, Innovation Centres and the major Industrial Parks of the Region.

“Technology Clusters” are placed at the heart of companies concentrations in specific geographical areas, where a RETA Technology Expert provides services and advice to local companies, so as to help them innovate.

“RETA: a service at hand”

RETA offers Andalusian companies a direct, close, personalized and free consultancy service on:
1.     R+D+I financing and results protection.
2.     Creation of Innovate and technology-based companies.
3.     Business cooperation.
4.     Industrial promotion of small and medium-sized companies.
5.     Introduction of business management tools and systems.
6.     Product and process engineering.
7.     Technology Transfer.
8.     Specialized Training.

PARTNERS

RETA is comprised of 51 members:

• 11 Science and Technology Parks
• 35 Technology Centers and Foundations of Innovation and Technology
• 3 European Business and Innovation
• IFAPA, with its 18 Centers for Agricultural Research and Training and Fisheries
• Technological Corporation of Andalusia and 14 Participating Entities

RETA Members located in the province of Malaga

Bic Euronova
Avda. Juan López Peñalver, 21.
Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía
29590, Campanillas (Málaga)
Tlf.: 951 010 504
http://www.bic.es/

Centro Andaluz de Innovación y Tecnologías de la Información
y las Comunicaciones
Edificio CITIC C/ Marie Curie, 6
29590, Campanillas (Málaga)
Tlf.: 952 028 610
http://www.citic.es/

Fundación Centro de Innovación Turística de Andalucía
Ctra. Nacional 340, km 189.6
CP 29604
Marbella (Málaga)
http://www.cinnta.com

Fundación Centro de Tecnologías, Energías y
Construcción para el Hábitat
C/Marie Curie 22
CP 29590
Campanillas (Málaga)
www.cthabitec.com

Technological Areas Network of Andalusia (RETA) operates in the territory through Technology Partnerships (AGT). Technological clusters are concentrations of firms in science parks and industrial estates where there RETA agents work directly with employers in your area to facilitate access to services R&D provided by the network.

The value and uniqueness of RETA agents is that directly and personally working with entrepreneurs. Technology Partnerships Agents visit companies, meet their needs and detect in the Andalusian Knowledge System the most effective solutions.

Among the activities of Agents are:

• Convert to TGA in the network nodes Technological Spaces, transferring the experience of the Technology Park to the Industrial Estates.
• Enhance the capacity of innovation and enterprise development.
• Promote liaison between business and science.
• Connect business with innovation capacity to CIT, BICs and other businesses of the municipality or adjacent municipalities in the same grouping Technology.
• Technological diffusion among traditional companies so that the use of new technologies promoting modernization and innovation capacity in the future.