A new centre of excellence is providing the Extremadura region of western Spain with the springboard to diversify its economy and create jobs.
- 07 January 2014
This initiative has the potential to greatly contribute to the creation of jobs and the competitiveness of the region. Moreover, it will help to achieve priorities in research and development and the transformation into a knowledge-based economy. It is an exemplary and inspiring project of concentration of research and development efforts that can be transferred to other regions.
The Science and Technology Park of Extremadura, known as PCTEx, has been constructed on two sites on the campuses of Cáceres and Badajoz of the University of Extremadura. The project’s main objectives are to encourage business and industrial research, development and innovation and to provide a creative space where the interaction between the scientific and business fields can take place in optimal surroundings.
Adding value to the economy
By aiming to become the centre of reference for research, development and innovation in the region, the PCTEx will contribute to the sustainability, transformation and competitiveness of the region’s socio-economic fabric.
Established small to medium-sized companies or new start-ups are able to occupy space at one of the PCTEx’s sites where they are able to tap into wide range of support services, such as high-speed data connections and the free use of common infrastructure. Overall, the aim is to create an eco-system of innovation where companies can create and provide high added value services, thereby creating a link between innovative and entrepreneurial business acumen, research and development, and employment.
Helping sectors to innovate
The sectors to have taken advantage of the park’s facilities include renewable energy, bio-medicine, information and communication technology (ICT) and food. A new environmentally sustainable building devoted to the ICT sector opened in 2012 at the Badajoz site.
It is expected that the project will help 50 companies to establish themselves, and create around 600 jobs, when the park is at full capacity, thereby boosting the business innovation and competitiveness of the region.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “PCTEx - Science and Technology Park of Extremadura” was EUR 18 166 381, of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributed EUR 10 118 186 from the Operational Programme “Extremadura” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period. The national and regional contribution was EUR 8 048 145.