The Deputy Mayor of San Sebastian, Ernesto Gasco, and the director of Tecnun, Raúl Antón, have signed today a partnership agreement to promote the Connecting Talent strategy to support and development local talent, as well as to promote the transfer of technology and knowledge to local companies.  

The Mayor's Office of San Sebastian, through the Public Company Fomento San Sebastian, and the Engineering School of the University of Navarra (Tecnun) have signed an agreement agreement that will seek to support the development of qualified local talent. In this way, Fomento San Sebastián will support Tecnun in its itineraries for the retention and attraction of qualified young people through the programs that Fomento San Sebastián has in place.

This agreement is part of the San Sebastian Connecting Talent strategy launched by the Mayor's Office which, through different tools, aims to promote development, attracting and retaining talent to transform and consolidate San Sebastian as a hub of innovation and knowledge. A large part of the resources dedicated to this goal are especially focused on connecting highly qualified profiles with innovative business projects or those linked to the research and development. This strategy also includes the attraction of international talent through contact with different entities.

Specifically, opportunities aimed at facilitating stays abroad, support for the hiring of young people whose first job opportunity is linked to a research project or the incorporation into the staff of the entity of qualified profiles from San Sebastian who are working abroad are identified as being of interest.

In addition, Fomento de San Sebastián and Tecnun, will collaborate in promoting the development of capabilities linked to innovation in the field educational developing different activities such as the Donostia Innovation League, through challenges and competitions linked to innovation (Christmas lights, surfing, design, etc).

Tecnun will also collaborate in the development of the future School of design promoted by Fomento de San Sebastián. And in order to facilitate the transfer of knowledge generated by the School of Engineers and promote innovative projects, both parties are committed to promote the aid program for technological advice (Bono Tecnológico) to SMEs in San Sebastian, with shared funding, and where Tecnun will develop the service demanded by the companies, according to their capabilities. Both entities are committed to promote activities and programs that promote entrepreneurship and technology transfer. The present Agreement has a duration of four years, starting from the date of its entry into force entrance . These programs of Fomento de San Sebastián may be subject to 50% financing by the European Social Fund in the framework of the ESF Operational Program Basque Country 2014-2020.

In addition, a delegation of Fomento de San Sebastian, headed by the Deputy Mayor Ernesto Gasco, has known first hand the development of the IoTSpace program of Ceit-IK4 which is supported by Fomento. IoTSpace is an initiative that combines training and research allowing students to specialize in aspects related to Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things, covering areas such as additive manufacturing, cybersecurity, robotics, machine vision, etc. This subject of skills are developed through projects that respond to the challenges caused by this digital revolution, allowing the acquisition of multidisciplinary skills that are currently demanded by companies. IoTSpace also offers students an international path that allows them to fill in their training in technology centers and universities of first level in Europe and the USA.