Tekniker turned forty in 2021. Four decades of activities based on a joint project, shared by all the technology centre’s workforce, that has allowed the organisation to become a strategic partner for Basque companies by contributing research and knowledge for numerous projects and companies at a local, national, European and international level and by delivering solutions with a social focus in a number of areas such as industry, health, food or the environment.

Although initially established as a metallurgy laboratory, Tekniker is nowadays a technology centre that has always focused on four pillars present throughout the organisation’s history that have undergone variations in terms of contents and substance.

The first pillar is based on establishing close ties with the business context in order to deliver solutions continuously and properly address the challenges faced by the industrial fabric.

Secondly, it must be underscored that collaboration with institutions, universities and other centres has been continuous and aimed at designing better research and innovation actions not only at a regional, national and European level but also globally.

Technological excellence, moreover, addresses the third and fourth pillars. An essential component that has become a sign of identity and hallmark together with the commitment and proximity of its workforce.

Origins, onset and growth

In the late 1970s and early 80s the region’s industrial fabric needed to ensure the quality of metal-mechanical production. This requirement was met by the Eibar School of Armoury that set up an independent metallographic laboratory that was called “Tekniker”.

In 1981, and after 10 years of increased activity, what started off as a laboratory eventually became, thanks to indispensable institutional support, a spin-off of the School of Armoury whose ultimate goal was to become a professional organisation and offer tools for technological changes and transformations to occur.

The centre’s specialisation, then focused on research, turned increasingly more towards manufacturing technologies in line with the needs of the industrial fabric and was followed by a continuous internalisation process to become a global reference.

In 1992, Tekniker had 52 workers and a turnover of approximately 3.8 million euros. Twelve years later, with Alex Bengoa as the manager, the centre climbed to 13 million euros in annual income and a workforce of 153 people. By 2021, revenues exceeded 23 million and 290 people were employed.

Outstanding leaders

Over the years, Tekniker has always been a collective project that has involved many highly enthusiastic people who have contributed their knowledge in multiple disciplines. 

All major projects, however, need outstanding leaders and both the pioneer Iñaki Goenaga and Ramón Bueno or Alex Bengoa were, without a shade of doubt, major leaders. 

Iñaki was the “entrepreneur”, the person who ran a metallography laboratory until it reached its peak within the framework of the School of Armoury and was never afraid of forging ahead to transform the facilities into an independent laboratory. 

Over the following 20 years, Iñaki was Tekniker’s leader and reference right up to his untimely passing. He was replaced by Ramón Bueno whose work, although much less visible, was equally valuable as he led the transition after such a sad loss and facilitated an orderly handover with Alex Bengoa. 

As regards Alex Bengoa, he has been our leader, colleague and friend during the last 20 years of Tekniker’s history. His professional and personal legacy is crucial for all of us and will always be taken as a reference for the future of this organisation. His goal was focused on maintaining Tekniker’s close ties with the city and the region. He also played a crucial role in setting up the Eibar Technology Park.

In 2002, Alex was also involved in the configuration of the IK4 Research Alliance and designed supporting actions in 2018 to set up BRTA (the Basque Research and Technology Alliance).

Partnerships and collaborations

Tekniker is nowadays a loyal and fully committed partner assisting companies and public institutions operating in the industrial fabric and intends to carry out its mission with utmost enthusiasm in order to further growth and wellbeing via R&D&I actions aimed at society by sustainably fostering the competitiveness of the industrial fabric.

This is the main value Tekniker has contributed towards the Basque Network of Science, Technology and Innovation (RVCTI) and its current 28 collaborative bodies. Tekniker is an international reference that is totally open and proactive in collaborative actions involving companies, public administrations, technology centres, universities and society at large. 

One of the best examples of this collaborative approach can be found in BRTA, a meeting point with other technology centres, cooperative research centres and public administrations where discussions are aimed at reaching agreements focused on enhancing the performance of RVCTI and fostering economic growth and social wellbeing through science & technology. 

It is definitely not easy to reach an agreement or a consensus when so many organisations are involved. Consequently, the work done by BRTA team members is crucial so that a bigger and more solid impact can be achieved once the objectives have been met.

Present and future challenges

In addition to the challenges covered by our Specialisation Plan such as the development of Tekniker’s natural capabilities, the centre is also clearly focused on changing and transforming a number of areas related to hydrogen, electromobility, sustainability and artificial intelligence embedded in products and processes. 

One of our goals consists in fully developing the Eibar technology park by incorporating the so-called “Zone II” to attract high tech companies operating in sectors such as aerospace, energy or healthcare. 

There is no doubt, however, that the biggest challenge for Tekniker is that, in another 40 years, the organisation should be able to ensure that those present at the 80^th anniversary celebrations will feel equally proud of all the work done until that point in time, of how the centre has always performed as a driving force behind growth and social wellbeing as we nowadays feel proud of our predecessors. 

Our current work force is made up of 300 highly enthusiastic and ambitious professionals who are more than willing to carry on with this work and develop cutting-edge technologies for the industrial fabric. We are also humbly aware of the fact that, in order to address these challenges properly, we must cooperate with all the parties involved.