The Universidad Católica de Murcia, via the UCAM Knowledge Transfer Office and in collaboration with the Instituto de Fomento de la Región de Murcia (INFO, Region of Murcia’s Development Agency), belonging to the Regional Ministry of Enterprise, Employment and Social Economy, hold on 12th of February, the open innovation meetings in the UCAM HiTech facilities.  This meeting brought together all technological centres of the Region along with 30 UCAM research groups, aiming to strengthen the collaboration in R&D&I, exploring new synergies and opportunities in regional, national and European projects. María Dolores García, UCAM President; María Isabel López Aragón, Regional Minister of Enterprise, Employment and Social Economy, and Estrella Núñez, UCAM Vice-Rector of Research, opened the activities along with Joaquín Gómez, Director of INFO and Luis Tejada, Director of UCAM Knowledge Transfer Office.

‘UCAM plays an important role in terms of its collaboration with the technological centres. Currently, UCAM has 10 collaboration projects with 7 of these centres in key fields such as biotechnology, hydrological management and food processing.  One of the aims of the Regional Government is to promote these synergies. Moreover, this year we are committed to strengthen the R&D support line', remarked María Isabel López. 

Meanwhile, UCAM President underlined that 'this meeting is an example of our firm commitment to open innovation and with the creation of synergies that allow our researchers and the technological centres to work together with businesses in collaborative projects, transforming the scientific advances into real and applicable solutions'.

During the event, the technological centres presented their capacities in R&D&I and explored possible collaborations with UCAM research groups. Professionals from strategic sectors such as food, naval industry, ICT, construction, marble, footwear, energy and metal showed their works in the main innovation areas in the Region of Murcia- Furthermore, a networking space has been prepared where UCAM researchers have individualised meetings with the technological centres that best align with their interests, fostering the creation of new joint projects.

UCAM Vice-Rector of Research, Estrella Núñez, underlined that these types of events developed at UCAM HiTech help 'take a step further and to benefit the effective transfer from UCAM research into the business world.'