The Government of La Rioja supports Riojan businesses in their participation in a Regional Technology Strategy which is seeking to set up stable, sustained development through participation in projects and schemes with companies and bodies from rival countries outside the European Union.

Within the framework of the Globaltech Rioja Programme s series of technology surveys have been undertaken, based on a Benchmarking approach and the identification of excellent technology at worldwide level (extra-community) and those agents which develop them, so as to make the best technology at an international level available to Riojan businesses. Once the technologies and countries are identified, the next step was to sign collaboration agreements between bodies representing those countries and the ADER.

Why Mexico?

In 2003, ADER opened an office in Mexico in a move by the Government of La Rioja to develop a new market for companies from La Rioja, supporting the export of Riojan products to that country and offering our companies guidance and support in the paperwork required to do so. Since then, many activities have taken place and many Riojan companies have succeeded in penetrating the complex Mexican market through the services of ADER-Mexico.

If we analyse the latest statistical data for 2007, we can see that exports to Mexico have risen by 9.91% and that during the same year imports from this country into La Rioja had increased by 90% compared to the previous year. Despite this rise in imports, 2007 closed with a balance of trade in its favour because in value more was exported to Mexico than was imported from there.

Since the ADER-Mexico office was set up Riojan exports into Mexico have risen by 32.24%, an exceptional statistic. During the same four years, imports have decreased by almost 74%, resulting in a positive trade balance for the four years. The figure for export growth is really excellent considering the strength of the euro compared to the dollar and the Mexican peso (the euro finished 2007 with a value of approximately 16 pesos).

Since 2003 Riojan firms have taken part in many international trade fairs in Mexico, most notably the presence of 21 companies in the last two Alimentaria food fairs (2007-2008) and the participation of ADER, through funding from the European Globaltech Rioja Project, with their own stand at Expopyme, the most important Mexican technology fair.

Technology Prospecting and Agreements

As a result of the actions taken as part of the Globaltech Project, as well as a technology prospecting trip to Mexico in November 2008, with the presence of ADER representatives, and of the Technoloogy Centres of La Rioja La Rioja CITA, CTIC and CTCR and ADER’s participation in the Expopyme trade fair, together with the rest of the actions taken (international technology mapping, surveys of target sectors for Globaltech in Mexico, etc.), it has been concluded that there is a huge potential for collaboration between La Rioja and Mexico, and for this reason it has been considered necessary to set up agreements with the main Mexican bodies related to science and technology, with ADER being the organisation which promotes and coordinates the actions for achieving them.

The aim of such agreements is to conduct joint actions and projects in all those areas which are of mutual interest to the parties:

1.- Technology transfer.
2.- Participating in joint research projects.
3.- Mobility and exchange of researchers and technologists.
4.- Dissemination: organisation of seminars, conferences, courses and other similar activities.
5.- Exchange of publications, research studies and any other documents of interest.
6.- Technological support for Rioja businesses present in Mexico and vice-versa.
7.- Two-way technology surveillance.

Meat Industry

Agreement signed between: ADER – CTIC- CIAD
- Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER)
- Meat Industry Technology Centre of La Rioja (CTIC)
- Centre for Food Research and Development, A.C. (CIAD)

Agrifood

Agreement signed between: ADER – CTIC- CIAD
- Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER)
- Meat Industry Technology Centre of La Rioja (CTIC)
- Centre for Food Research and Development, A.C. (CIAD)

The Centre for Food Research and Development, A.C. (CIAD) was founded in 1982 and forms part of the SEP-CONACYT system and has the status of a semi-public body.

Its purpose consists in strengthening scientific and technological infrastructure; supporting the development of branches in its specialised area; supporting actions related to research, dissemination and widening scientific and technological knowledge based on the purposes and how they fit in with the goals, strategies and policies of the national Development Plan in its Science and Technology Programme and other applicable ones; promoting the development of food processing techniques and related sciences; directing basic and applied research towards the meeting of regional and national needs; training human resources guided at strengthening the country and the region’s research programmes in coordination with the study plans and syllabuses of the national and foreign institutions of a scientific and educational nature; as well as granting academic recognition and degrees, supported in the local Universities and by the Mexican Public Education Secretariat.

Agreement signed between: ADER – CTIC- UAM
- Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER)
- Meat Industry Technology Centre of La Rioja (CTIC)
- Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM)

The Autonomous Metropolitan University appeared at a vital moment for the country, picking the fruits of the efforts that were put into the organisation of education, revision of curricula and teaching methods in Mexico at the end of the sixties and in the early seventies. On 10th January 1974, the Architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez was appointed as the first Vice Chancellor or Rector of the UAM. His conception of the UAM was a division into three units, with scientific research housed in the Iztapalapa Unit, traditional studies such as civil engineering and architecture in the Azcapotzalco Unit and the area of health in the Xochimilco Unit.

It can be stated that the UAM is a university which makes a break with the traditional university and places itself as a transition between a traditional and a modern higher education system, shaping the academic market and giving a specific profile to each profession.

The Iztapalapa Unit was the first to begin the work of constructing buildings and facilities, and today is considered as the most complete unit, in accordance with the original design, which in spite of having been modified, has managed to adapt to the changing needs of new scientific, social and cultural events. A plot of land was chosen to the east of the Federal District, consisting of 177,955 square metres in the Iztapalapa Delegation, to commence work. The place proved to be ideal because of its growing urban development and the establishment of small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Iztapalapa Unit formally commenced activities on 30 September 1974. These days it divides its curriculum into three broad areas:

Basic Sciences and Engineering
Biological and Health Sciences
Social and Human Sciences

Footwear Sector

Agreement signed between: ADER – CTCR- CIEX
Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER)
Footwear Technology Centre of La Rioja (CTCR)
The Centre of Innovation for Export (CIEX)

CIEX belongs to the Coordinating Body for Fostering Foreign Trade of the State of Guanajuato (COFOCE), a devolved body of the State Government whose purpose is to develop and promote the exportable offer of the State of Guanajuato so as to internationalise it buy effectively conducting activities aimed at strengthening the presence of the exportable offer in international markets.

The Centre of Innovation for Export (CIEX) is the area within COFOCE responsible for supporting firms, especially smes, in the development of products, brands, modern packs and packaging materials, through the innovation service.

Its aim is to boost the internationalisation of goods and companies in Guanajuato, generating better conditions for the local industry which will permit economic and social growth and development; to advise and counsel entrepreneurs and firms with export initiatives through capacitation, technological development, product improvement and innovation, and international sales promotion.

CIEX seeks the effective penetration of products in international markets through adapting to the characteristics and legal requirements of the country you want to export to.

Agreement signed between: ADER – CTCR- CIATEC, A.C.
Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER)
Footwear Technology Centre of La Rioja (CTCR)
CIATEC, A.C.

CIATEC is a state funded company with the major shareholding from the Federal Government, renowned as a public research centre, called CIATEC, A.C. with its own legal status and assets, constituted as a civil association.

It is a reference organisation in León Guanajuato (Mexico) in the field of research in the shoe and leather industry. It was set up in order to provide shoe and leather businesses with the technological support services needed to strengthen their competitive edge in order to be able to take on their competitors effectively.

CIATEC provides companies with support in technology projects and in the procedures to obtain state and federal funds. It has staff specialised in different areas of knowledge: environment, industrial engineering, electronics, polymers, bio-mechanics and leather-footwear and has over 25 years’ experience in the industrial and manufacturing field, offering tangible results which have increased productivity and competitiveness in the manufacturing sector. It belongs to the CONACYT Public Centres network, which in total combines the efforts of 5,500 researchers conducting projects in different areas of knowledge.

Agreement signed between: ADER – CTCR- CICEG
Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER)
Footwear Technology Centre of La Rioja (CTCR)
Footwear Industry Chamber of the State of Guanajuato (CICEG)

The Footwear Industry Chamber of the State of Guanajuato (CICEG) was set up as a Regional Chamber and has consolidated its position as a business organisation receiving a huge boost in the sixties when it became a State Chamber. It is an autonomous, non-profit institution of public interest has the job of boosting the Mexican Footwear and Leather Goods Industry by providing assistance to its members in order to pursue strategic results in the production chain.

The CICEG seeks to strengthen and consolidate the integral development of the footwear sector, fostering business competence so as to position the sector in the national market and achieve a better competitive position in foreign markets.

Similarly, it is committed to fostering the modernisation of the footwear industry so as to encourage the adoption of a culture of globalisation and of internationalisation of the production and commercial areas, through the incorporation of advanced technology.

Another of its aims is to encourage foreign trade, to attract direct foreign investment and facilitate the formation of strategic alliances with foreign businessmen. As the representative body for the shoe industry, it fosters the conservation of the environment and ecological protection through the pertinent measures, through the committed participation of government and business organisations.

Moreover, it fosters a new work culture in the companies in the sector and drafts short-, medium- and long-term strategic plans based on diagnoses to identify the industry’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

The Chamber of the Footwear Industry of the State of Guanajuato has a clear vision: to be the leading institution which strengthens and consolidates the Mexican footwear industry on the world stage.

Why Chile?

Among the Benchmarking surveys conducted within the framework of the Globaltech programme in order to identify excellent technologies at worldwide level (outside the EU), Chile was identified as one of the target countries in which to carry out actions.

In this regard we should mention four significant points:
Chile is a leading supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables from the Southern Hemisphere, together with South Africa and New Zealand, who have made themselves major players in the international fresh fruit market. Represents 47% of fresh fruit exports from the Southern Hemisphere, whereas in the period from 1959 to 1964 it was only 3.5%. Agricultural research has been ostensibly reinforced, so that today it has one of the highest indices of scientific, economic and social development in the whole of Latin America. In the ranking of Latin American countries with the highest scientific output in food science and technology, and taking the number of scientific publications as an indicator, Chile occupies fifth place. According to data from the National Scientific and Technological Research Committee (CONACYT) Chile invests 0.68% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in scientific research and development activities. At the present time, there are 833 research scientists in the country, one of the highest proportions in Latin America.

Technology Prospecting and Agreements

As a result of the actions performed as part of the Globaltech Project, in which as well as a technology prospecting mission to Chile undertaken in December 2008, led by ADER’s Technical Coordinator of the Globaltech Project, together with the rest of the actions performed (international technology map, technology benchmarking surveys, etc.) and the visit of the representatives of the O’Higgins Agency to La Rioja in January 2009, it was concluded that there is great potential for collaboration between La Rioja and Chile.

As a result of this prospecting, the need to establish a collaboration relationship with the O’Higgins Agency was established in terms of exchange of information, consultancy services, networks of commercial, technology and research contacts as well as cooperation between business sectors in the regions of O´Higgins (Chile) and La Rioja (Spain), through a collaboration agreement. The aim of this agreement is to conduct joint actions and activities in all those matters which may be of interest to both parties, among which we could mention the following in particular:

1.- Support for technology transfer between companies.
2.- Support for joint research projects between Chilean and Riojan companies.
3.- Dissemination: Organisation seminars, conferences, courses and other similar activities about the industrial and technological potential of both regions.
4.- Exchange of publications, research studies and any other documents of possible interest.
5.- Assistance and support for Riojan companies present in Chile and vice-versa.
6.- Two-way Technology Surveillance

Participants: ADER – O’HIGGINS
- Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER)
- Regional Development Agency of the Region of O´Higgins in Chile (Agenda O´Higgins)

The Regional Development Agency of the Region of O´Higgins in Chile (Agenda O´Higgins) is a recently created agency, set up on 1st March 2008 and part of the Regional Agencies for Productive Development of Chile. Its aim is to promote sustainable regional productive development which contributes to improving regional competitiveness. Given its composition and strategic outlook, the Agenda O´Higgins seeks to help make the region a stimulating space for productive investment, technological innovation and the entrepreneurial capacity of companies and people. To this end, it devotes capacities and resources so as to have expert management available, helping to overcome obstacles and streamline the essential coordination processes for regional competitiveness, such as infrastructure, skilled human resources, research and development, regulatory framework, as well as funding, environmental aspects and others. It also advises the Regional Government in the process of coordinating investments important for productive development.

Among the lines of action of the O´Higgins Agency, we should highlight the promotion of alliances between the public and private sectors and fostering innovation, starting businesses and investments in the whole regional territory; as well as actions to promote and channel interregional and regional-international cooperation agreements, and to facilitate the coordination of the efforts to boost territorial productivity. It promotes references of regional production opportunities, thus facilitating access to mechanisms and support programmes, via interactive counselling and guidance to investors, innovators, entrepreneurs and owners of micro-enterprises.

Why Argentina?

Among the Benchmarking studies within the framework of the Globaltech Programme to identify excellent technologies worldwide (outside the EU), Argentina was identified as one of the target countries for the actions to be carried out, among other reasons because it is the third most important Latin American country, behind Brazil and Mexico, in terms of publications in the sphere of publications related to food science. In 2004, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation of the Presidency of the Nation carried out a national programme to adapt technologies for preparing fresh, cut vegetables. This initiative lasted 3 years and research now continues in this field in state universities and public centres. According to this ministry, of total R&D investment, 19.6% is devoted to developing farming technology and 26.7% to industrial technology. Currently there are 895 research scientists in Argentina for every million inhabitants.

Technology Prospecting and Agreements

A prospecting mission to Chile was undertaken in December 2008, led by ADER’s Technical Coordinator of the Globaltech Project. During this trip visits were made to Technological Centres of Excellence and Argentine Universities which work in the agrifood sector and which make it possible to set up an effective and enduring exchange relationship which permits and favours exchanges and the presence of companies and technology centres from both countries.

The most significant meetings were with the National University of the North-east, the National University of La Plata and with the Food Cryotechnology Research and Development Centre (CIDCA).

This established the need to establish accords with the main Argentine bodies involved in science and technology, with ADER as the body responsible for promoting and coordinating the necessary actions for achieving them, and whose aims are as follow:

1.- Technology transfer.
2.- Conducting joint research projects.
3.- Mobility and exchange of technologists and researchers.
4.- Dissemination: Organisation of seminars, conferences, courses and other similar activities.
5.- Exchange of publications, research studies and any other documents of possible interest.
5.- Assistance and support for Riojan companies present in Argentina and vice-versa.
6.- Two-way Technology Surveillance

Agrifood Sector

Participants: ADER – CITA - CIDCA
Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER)
Centre for Food Technology and Innovation of La Rioja (CITA)
Food Cryotechnology Research and Development Centre (CIDCA).

The Food Cryotechnology Research and Development Centre (CIDCA) is a body created on 10 February 1973 by an agreement between the National University of La Plata, the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) and the Scientific Research Committee of the Province of Buenos Aires (CIC). Currently, it depends academically and administratively on the National University of La Plata and the National Scientific and Technical Research Council. The centre is made up of a cross-discipline scientific and technological research team principally dedicated to the study of the conditions of processing and conservation of foodstuffs.

Participants: ADER – CITA - UNNE
Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER)
Centre for Food Technology and Innovation of La Rioja (CITA)
National University of the North-east (UNNE)

The National University of the North-east (UNNE) appears in the middle of the 20th century, essentially responding to the anonymous strength of each of the provincial communities involved in the project, set up by decree on 14 December 1956.

The UNNE is an important collaborating partner as can be seen by its more than 170 international cooperation agreements signed in recent years with major public institutions from all over the world, in which Spanish research groups and universities have played a part.

In the area of semi-prepared and pre-prepared foods, the Faculty of Natural and Exact Sciences and Agrimensura have been a national reference over the last 7 years in the development and innovation of this type of products, providing technology solutions to this segment of the industry.

The research group of the Faculty of Natural and Exact Sciences and Agrimensura of the National University of the North-east (UNNE) has conducted and is conducting various scientific projects, among which we can mention the following:

1.Nutritional and Sensory Changes in Minimally Processed Vegetable Products in the Region of the NEA.
2.Adaptation of Technologies for Preparing Fresh, Cut Vegetables.
3.Development of Post-Harvest Technology in Vegetables Produced in the NEA
4.Extension of the Post-Harvest Life of Vegetables Through the use of Technologies
5.Kinetics of Transformation of Food Components.

Why Peru?

Among the Benchmarking studies within the framework of the Globaltech Programme to identify excellent technologies worldwide (outside the EU), Peru was identified as one of the target countries for the actions to be carried out, since, among other things, the sector with the biggest growth in this country is footwear. Moreover, the sub-sector which makes the biggest contribution to exports is leather and hides, which makes up 59.73% of total exports in 2004, showing 12.66% growth compared to 2003.

Technology Prospecting and Agreements

A prospecting mission to Chile was undertaken in November 2008 by ADER’s Technical Coordinator of the Globaltech Project. During this trip visits were made to Technological Centres of Excellence for the purpose of setting up effective and enduring exchange relationships which permit and favour exchanges and the presence of companies and technology centres from both countries.

The most important meeting took place in the Technological Innovation Centre for Leather, Footwear and Related Industries (CITEccal), in which the action was contextualised through a presentation of ADER and the Globaltech programme and a presentation by Doctor Adriana Adriana Rios de Horna of CITEccal, in which she looked more deeply at the different areas of scientific research which the centre has undertaken in the last 10 years with the international collaboration of INESCOOP and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI).

This established the need to establish accords with the main Peruvian bodies involved in science and technology, with ADER as the body responsible for promoting and coordinating the necessary actions for achieving them, and whose aims are as follow:

1.- Technology transfer.
2.- Conducting joint research projects.
3.- Mobility and exchange of technologists and researchers.
4.- Dissemination: Organisation of seminars, conferences, courses and other similar activities.
5.- Exchange of publications, research studies and any other documents of possible interest.
5.- Assistance and support for Riojan companies present in Peru and vice-versa.
6.- Two-way Technology Surveillance

Footwear Sector
Participants: ADER – CTCR - CITEccal
Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER)
Footwear Technology Centre of La Rioja (CTCR)
Technological Innovation Centre for Leather, Footwear and Related Industries (CITEccal)

CITEccal has specialised information related to various aspects of the leather and footwear sector. It has an updated collection of international fashion magazines, such as ARS SUTORIA, IMPULS, MODAPIEL, JULIA, JOLLY, JUNIOR, Technical Bibliography, Fashion CDs, Technical Information about processes, leather and footwear technical standards, materials and inputs for the footwear industry, among others. Personalised Technical Assistance exerts a greater impact on the companies, so that CITEccal is concerned to offer not only conventional pieces of advice, but also to transfer technological innovation to businesses, which incorporate the use of precise modelling, the uniformity of computerised seriados and the information about laboratory tests into their daily work.

They work directly in the companies, and via a diagnosis an improvement plan is implemented which involves all the staff in the firm, so as to guarantee continuity in the application of changes.

Permanent monitoring provides the support the businessman needs to maximise the results which are obtained through the application of this technology.

CITEccal, through the promotion of investment projects, continually guide the businessmen in the identification of investment opportunities, fostering association and the establishment of strategic alliances between firms, official bodies and investors for drawing up successful investment projects which generate well-being for the sector as a whole. CITEccal collaborate with INDECOPI in setting standards for the purpose of unifying criteria with regard to methods, procedures and requirements that materials and products must comply with.

Technology Prospecting and Agreements

In November 2008, representatives of ADER and CITA made a technology prospecting trip to this country, more specifically to California, to visit the University of California at Davis, where meetings were held with 5 research departments from this prestigious university in the agrifood sector, such as the Post-harvest Technology Research and Information Center and the Center for Excellence in Fruit & Vegetable Quality.

As a result of these meetings, an agreement will soon be signed between CITA and the University for conducting joint research projects.