AIC launches Phase 3 at Boroa
15-million euro investment to house new R&D and innovation units | 03/11/2011Bilbao, 3.11.2011--- Biscay Provincial Council chief executive José Luís Bilbao, who doubles as Chairman of AIC-Automotive Intelligence Center, today announced the launch of the automotive centers Phase 3, involving a new 9,000 square-meter building and an investment of around 15 million.
Sited in Boroa (Amorebieta-Etxano), the new building will stand opposite the centers Phase 1 and 2 buildings and house new R&D units from Basque-based and international businesses alike. Unit distribution will be similar to the other phases, with engineering units on the upper floor and labs on the ground floor. One of its first projects will be Volkswagen-Edai-Inauxa, which is expected to take up some 2,000 square meters.
Located not far from Bilbao on two sites, in Amorebieta-Etxano and Ermua, AIC integrates knowledge, technology and development under one umbrella in a bid to improve competitiveness in the automotive industry. Today, 22 organizations run units at the Center, with more than 400 people involved. Virtually 100% of the centers capacity is now occupied.
AIC inaugurated its 27,000 square-meter facilities in January 2009. In April 2010, the AIC enlarged its infrastructure by a further 10,700 square meters to provide space for new R&D and innovation units. Investment in AIC currently tops the 62-million mark, most of the money being put up by Biscay Provincial Council and the European Union.
US multinational TENNECOs recently inaugurated R&D unit, Tenneco Innovación, was conceived to boost the Groups research capability. In all, the new unit, based at AIC Ermua, has 60 engineers and technicians developing technologies associated with absorbers and emission control.
AIC is a foundation promoted and backed by Biscay Provincial Council, Amorebieta-Etxano and Ermua city halls, a group of leading edge firms from the automotive industry and is run by Basque automotive cluster ACICAE.