Partners - Automation, Robotics and Information and Manufacturing Centre, CARTIF

The Automation, Robotics and Information and Manufacturing Centre (CARTIF) were created in Valladolid ( Spain ) in 1994. CARTIF is a non-profit Applied Research Centre integrated in the network of Technological Centres of Castilla y Leon. It is also part of the network of Innovation and Technology Centres (CIT) and the OTRI network (Office for the Transference of Technological Results) of the Spanish Ministry of Science & Technology.

leading to the improvement of the competitiveness of the companies with which it collaborates. From its inception, our Centre has gained valuable experience in the field of applied research and the development of industrial solutions through its numerous contractual collaborations with enterprises. CARTIF's horizontal structure, together with the effective communication among its various labs, have allowed us to successfully meet the challenges presented by companies of the automobile, food and agriculture, energy production and distribution, and environmental sectors. The actions we intend to carry out in the Industry, Agriculture and Services sectors are as follows:

- Applied Research and Technological Development activities in areas of common interest to the University, the Autonomous Region of Castilla y Leon, and the Spanish Scientific, Industrial and Business Community. We must emphasize the efforts made by our Centre in order to increase our participation in international projects, which have led to the approval by the corresponding authorities of several European projects during the past year, where CARTIF is participating either as a coordinator or as a partner. Also in 2002, a number of firm project proposals for the VI Framework Programme were presented

- Training of qualified staff in the professional and business area. This activity is very useful not only to CARTIF, since it improves the professional qualifications of its researchers, but to the industrial fabric in general.

- Support SMEs by promoting the application of innovation management tools.

- Make prototypes and develop techniques transferable to the industry.

- Compilation and dissemination of information and state-of-the-art issues in its field of work.

- Technical assistance, in the broader sense of the term, both for companies and interested public organizations.

For further information: www.cartif.es