AIC and University of the Basque Country sign frame cooperation agreement

AIC and University of the Basque Country sign frame cooperation agreement

Agreement will strengthen relations between the two organizations and facilitate combined efforts on a range of issues | 17/10/2014

Bilbao, 17.10.2014-- AIC-Automotive Intelligence Center (AIC) and UPV, the University of the Basque Country, today signed a new Frame Cooperation Agreement. Representing AIC was José Luis Bilbao, chief executive of Bizkaia Provincial Council and President of the AIC Board of Trustees. Vice-chancellor Iñaki Goirizelaia did the honors for the University of the Basque Country.

Basically, the agreement is designed to create closer links between the two players, combine their efforts and establish broad action guidelines to channel cooperation in training, research, transfer, innovation and the diffusion of knowledge.

With a huge presence in the economy and proven innovation capacity, the automotive sector is one of the most important in the world today. It is currently evolving at a remarkable pace, largely thanks to globalization, the inclusion of new technologies, changes in the business model and an increasing range of mobility requirements. All this makes open cooperation and adaptation an imperative, so that different players can pool their skills and capabilities to provide a rapid, efficient response to immediate challenges.

The agreement signed today is designed to encourage and stimulate cooperation. Both organizations should thus be able to make better use of their respective scientific and technological resources, improving training in the process. Joint activities and projects will also be made easier and more effective.

In particular, it will affect several major areas:

• The promotion and implementation of joint programs in research, development and innovation.

• AIC’s involvement in UPV postgraduate teaching programs.

• The creation of common areas (virtual or physical classrooms) to stimulate knowledge, economic development and social wellbeing.

• Joint programs to publicize and encourage the culture of the entrepreneur and innovation.

• Providing end-of-degree and end-of-master course projects, and in-house training at AIC for students from the UPV.

• Incentives to graduates to work on doctoral theses at AIC.

Promoted by Bizkaia Provincial Council, Amorebieta-Etxamo and Ermua city halls, a group of cutting-edge automotive companies and Basque automotive cluster ACICAE, AIC provides a single umbrella for knowledge, training, technology and industrial development initiatives designed to improve competitive levels in the automotive industry.