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University Institute of Telecommunications

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We are aware that in the field of new technologies a lot of work is being done in the Basque Country and that in many sectors we are at the forefront. And yet when we talk about the invention of these new technologies and their studies, we often put our heads abroad. Mind and body, because people usually go outside to deepen their studies.

This is changing little by little and, in line with what was said at the beginning, we are in an increasingly better situation. An example of this is the GARAIA project that is emerging and putting in place around the cooperativism of Mondragón. Specifically, the ‘University Telecommunications Institute’, which will be within GARAIA, is the subject of telecommunications. But let's see what one and what another is.

ERA

GARAIA is a scientific park or innovation center promoted by MCC, along the path of Mondragon Unibertsitatea, the Basque Government, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa and the City of Arrasate.

What is an innovation center? The well-known technological centers are research centers that carry out concrete research for companies, often focused on specific needs. They are directly related to companies and can be said to offer them a service. However, in the scientific park or innovation center, long-term projects predominate, which are the meeting point of technological centers, the university and the Research+Development department in companies.

In innovation centers, the three areas mentioned are in the same place and, instead of servicing companies, work projects for the future (theses, long studies, etc. ). In short, the Innovation Centers are designed to foster the relationship between science, technology and business development, placing themselves in the same physical space and encouraging new forms of direct relationship and collaboration.

In our environment we do not know it, but abroad there are already centers of this type. For example, the American Silicon Valley and Research Triangle Park, or the British Manchester Science Park and Oxford Science Park. There are also more than 20 scientific parks structured around the most prestigious universities in the country. In the Spanish State, in Catalonia, there are the Vallés Parks and the Science Park of Catalonia. There is also one in Malaga and one in Valladolid.

Situation

Currently GARAIA is not built, but some steps are already being taken. In total, 50 hectares will be built on the slope of Mount Olandixo of Arrasate. The land is reserved and expropriations have been initiated. In the months of November or December, the resources that have been filed in August will be resolved.

The activity to be developed in the area to be built can be divided into five sections: 1) Research laboratories in the hands of Mondragon Unibertsitatea. 2) Research institutes promoted by companies or institutions. As for the results, university teachers and students will conduct research and development activities with greater risk or less certainty along with experts from technology centers and companies. 3) Center for the implementation of new business R&D areas. Once launched, this research will disappear from it, constituting a provisional research center. 4) Stabilized R&D groups, with special impact on long-term research. 5) Headquarters of the services and offices of the Centre for Innovation and the Rectorate of Mondragon Unibertsitatea.

University Institute of Telecommunications

As already mentioned, they have not yet begun to build GARAIA, but they plan to start this course. In fact, work has already begun on experimental mechanics, power electronics and three or four other projects, and since September the University Institute of Telecommunications is working in the fields of telecommunications systems and telematics. In addition, the ‘Comunica’ is already underway, promoted by Mondragon Unibertsitatea and companies. It integrates a ‘virtual group’ (virtual due to lack of specific headquarters) for collaboration between Ikerlan and the Polytechnic School, especially in the field of wireless communications.

• During the construction of the buildings of the new headquarters, professors and university students will conduct long-term research and thesis along with people belonging to technology centers and companies. These investigations, in addition to being long-term, will not respond to the needs of companies at all times, but to the generation of knowledge, technology, information for the future. In short, because the main objective is to move from being ‘followers’ in telecommunications (and in other areas of the project) to being creative technologies.

In any case, although GARAIA is a bet of the future and that at first we have said that many people are going to study or complete it, in our case things are done. For example, the ROBOTIKER Technology Center has a Strategic Research Program in Wireless Technologies, within which the Wireless Technology Group is integrated. This group, specializing in specific areas of knowledge, aims to help companies create and develop wireless products and services.