Experts from Spain and Australia discuss relations between industry and research centres in the two countries
The Spain Australia Council Foundation, together with the Embassy of Australia in Spain, the Australian Government’s Trade and Investment Commission (AUSTRADE) and the association of Spanish Researchers in Australia-Pacific, organised a meeting on Industry-Research Cooperation at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
The session was inaugurated by the Secretary General of the Spain Australia Council Foundation, Alonso Dezcallar; the Australian Chargé d’Affaires in Spain, Ambassador Timothy Kane and the Vice-Chancellor for Innovation, Transfer and Technology at Universidad Autónoma, Professor Javier Ortega. They emphasised the importance of the interaction between the industry and the research sectors, and the close ties between Australian and Spanish institutions in this field, as well as the need for “those relations to move to the next level,” increasing Australian investment in Spain and taking the cooperation initiatives between the two countries to other regions, such as Latin America, as highlighted by Ambassador Timothy Kane.
They all expressed confidence that these initiatives will identify new formulas for cooperation. As explained by the Foundation’s Secretary General, Alonso Dezcallar, “increased cooperation will benefit both countries.”
The session was attended by the President of the association of Spanish Researchers in Australia-Pacific (SRAP), Sergio León-Saval; AUSTRADE’s Trade Commissioner for Spain and France, Jennifer Mackinlay, and Alexander Cooke, Counsellor of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science of the Australian Government for Belgium, Luxembourg, the EU and NATO, as well as the Vice-Chancellor for International Relations at QUT (Queensland University of Technology), Deryn Val-Meyer. Laura Tordera, Head of R&D at Ferrovial, and Jorge Quiroga, Head of R&D at Navantia, were the representatives of two companies which undertake major joint research projects with universities; whilst Marta Fernández, Executive Director for Europe of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and Elías Aboutanios, Head of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research at the University of New South Wales, were there to offer an academic insight.
The session was also attended by other representatives of universities and companies carrying out bilateral research projects.
