The new PAI is the result of a collective effort by companies, social agents, universities and public research bodies, and ensures the continuity of the R&D policy developed by the Andalusian Regional Government in the nineties, which has placed Andalusia in a prominent place in terms of research carried out in Spain. In this sense, Andalusia currently generates 14% of Spanish scientific production, surpassed only by Madrid and Catalonia.

The main aim of the PAI is to promote and coordinate scientific research and technological development, as well as to articulate the scientific-technical and productive systems. The essence of the Andalusian Research Plan (PAI) is to promote the creation of a genuine culture of innovation in Andalusia, which encourages interaction between Science, Technology and Industry and, at the same time, pays special attention to the demands of the production sectors.

AIMS AND PROGRAMMES

1. To increase the quality of scientific-tecnological activities.

2. To attract and promote private fund contributions in the process of research and innovation.

3. To increase and improve human resources in the Andalusian R&D system

4. To encourage and increase the link between the scientific offer and the technological demand of businesses.

1. To increase Andalusia’s participation in the IV National Plan of R&D and in the V European Union Framework Programme.

2. To improve the coordination of R&D promotion activities carried out in Andalusia by the Public Administration, the Regional Government of Andalusia, Universities and other public research bodies.

3. To increase collaboration between Public Research Centres and companies.

4. To supply basic funding to Andalusian researchers which might allow them to improve their competitiveness in National and International Programmes.

The PAI establishes three general programmes, which outline the lines of research for the economic, social and cultural development of Andalusia and are managed by the Public Research Centres of the Andalusian Government:

1. Andalusia: an equitable Information Society

2. Responsible use of Biotechnology.

3. Sustainable Industrial and Territorial Development.

TRANSFER AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE PAI

The private sector’s participation in R&D, traditionally weaker than the public sector’s, is geared mainly towards the transfer of technology, that is, towards the specific application at companies of the research results obtained at Universities and Public Research Centres.

The aim is to improve the link between offer and demand, a task dealt with by the Offices for the Transfer of Research Results (OTRI) in coordination with the Southern Europe Innovation Relay Centre (SEIRC), the Andalusian Confederation of Entrepreneurs (CEA) and the Regional Government of Andalusia. All their initiatives make use of the personal and material resources of the Science and Technology system in Andalusia.

The PAI contemplates the creation of a programme for the transfer of technology between public research centres and social economic sectors in our region: the aim is to achieve a closer approach between research groups and the most representative production sectors in the Andalusian economy.

Lines of action to encourage the transfer of technology

1. Connect the network of OTRIs (Offices for the Transfer of Research Results) with different bodies dedicated to the promotion of industry.

2. To keep a data bank of the technology offer of Andalusian universities and Public Research Centres, as well as the technological demand.

3. To identify the transferability potential of technological research and development to potential beneficiaries.

4. To promote the collaboration of Public Research Centres with the main industrial groups in R&D initiatives, as well as with SMEs, in their technological innovations.

5. To facilitate the presentation of patents and licences generated by Public Research Centres.