REGIONAL PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE VIZCAYA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL INAUGURATE AIC FACILITIES

Automotive research centre based on integrating value added activities and cooperation 20,000-square-meter central building and 2 development units built in year and a half 18 organizations involved 250 highly qualified professionals to man facilities Phase 2 enlargement under way Vizcaya Provincial Council provides €62 million financing for both phases | 23/01/2009

Amorebieta-Etxano, 23.1.2009–– Regional president Juan José Ibarretxe and Vizcaya Provincial Council chief executive José Luis Bilbao today officially inaugurated the AIC-Automotive Intelligence Center at Amorebieta-Etxano at an event attended by a large group of players and professionals either from or with links to the automotive industry.

A world pioneer in integrating value added activities in a single physical area, AIC has a mission to promote and stimulate cooperation between firms in the industry housed there as a way of improving their competitiveness.

AIC facilities provide a suitable setting for training, research and/or industrial development units.

To date, 18 organizations have applied to be admitted, including foreign multinationals, local groups, cooperatives and family businesses, as well as research centers, training centers and engineering firms.

AIC has first-class facilities at Boroa (Amorebieta-Etxano) and nearby Ermua. Part of Phase 1, the zone inaugurated today includes the central building and two development units. The 20,000 square meters at Amorebieta-Etxano were completed to deadline in just a year and a half.

The €42 million phase 1 has cost so far has been provided entirely by the Vizcaya Provincial Council, with Amorebieta-Etxano town hall contributing the 50,000 square meters of land. As part of the same phase, five development units are currently under construction at Ermua.

Phase 2 of the project was also presented during the event. This involves enlarging the central building by 4,800 square meters and constructing a new 5,900-square-meter building to house new R&D and innovation units. The enlargement is already under way and work on the new building is to begin shortly. This phase entails an additional €20-million investment, also financed by the Vizcaya Provincial Council.

Once its strategic plan had been completed in 2008, the Center began a number of activities basically relating to geostrategy, cooperation and internationalization.