PITA - Parque tecnológico Almería

Park’s central building construction begins in February

The Scientific and Technology Park of Almería (PITA) kicks off in commercializing their plots at the 25th Almería Expo Agro. Through the activity hold at the innovation stand and coordinated with another 20 entities, and while presenting “Come Closer PITA”, Alfredo Sánchez, Managing Director of the Park has inaugurated this commercial activity. As per the mass media questions Mr. Sánchez replied that the prices of the lots vary depending on their location and suitability for building, in any case prices will go from 153 to 273 € of roof price. “At the main avenue prices are higher as buildability is wider. But the very today plot contract sale can be signed, so any interested company or entity can lodge to us their projects”

PITA’s Managing Director was satisfied with this second edition of the innovation area at the Expo Agro space coordinated and organized by the Park and counting on with entities as RETA (Andalusian Technology Spaces Network) Almería University with OTRI, TECNOVA Foundation, Andalucia Emprende, Biomip, UAL-Anecoop Foundation, Mediterránea Foundation, Almeria Seeds, and technology base companies. 

Alfredo Sánchez made a review of the most relevant Park novelties at “Come closer Pita”. He also reminded the kick off of the Scientific Site of PITA at the University last July. “We are very happy about the way the activity is developing there. We have 24 entities working in site. Thanks to this building 12 mio Euros have been already obtained from national subsidies, if this site would have not been operative Almería would have lost this aid. This is something that business people must know to understand the importance of this new building”, Alfredo Sánchez remarked. An important amount of these subsidies will be used to construct the Central Building of the park. Also the R&D projects of two companies installed in the Scientific Site will be financed by the Science and Innovation Ministry.

In relation to the place where the new big tecnopolis will be at El Alquián, Alfredo Sánchez ensured that the construction works are at their final stage. “We are almost finishing the urbanisation phase works and encourage you all to come around and visit. Big building work is over.” PITA has obtained public subsidies for the construction of the Park Central building from Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurial Regional Ministry as well as from the Science and Innovation Ministry. “We have the money and we also have the green light of our Board of Directors. We will soon start with the construction work of two big buildings: Park Central Building and Technologic Centre for Agriculture Support Industry (Tecnova). These works will start in February”  


PITA’s prospect is fantastic and as under it managing director opinion in the next few months we will hear good news about projects that will be developed in the park, he spoke about one: International Centre of Biological Control has already chosen two plots.

Almería Scientific and Technologic Park will be at the 25th Edition of the International Mediterranea Agribuisness Feria during the 25th until the 27th of November, together with another 20 innovation entities and technology based companies. This is a re-edition of the innovation area as per the success obtained during last year Expo-Agro edition.

Herewith we itemize the Innovation Area programme for this 25th Expo Agro:


25th november
13.00 hr: ‘Gourment spot, explotions of flavour’. (by Biogolden)
16.00 hr: Expo Agro TV. (by IPTV Solutions)
17.00 hr: Agrosig R&D project presentation and collaboration agreement signature between TC Tecnova and Soluciones Sig, S. L. (by Tecnova)
18.00 hr: ‘Lysipphlebus testaceipes new aphid parasite in vegetable crops’. (by Biomip)

26th november
11.30 hr: ‘Greenhouses Almería type standardization’. (by Tecnova)
12.30 hr:  ‘Tecnova presentation of their Technologic Spreading Record: Logonova. (by Tecnova)
13.30 hr: ‘Come closer PITA’. (PITA)
16.00 hr. ‘New advanced services for energetic efficiency’. (by Cadia)
17.00 hr: ‘Conference and massage, sports Oleospa’. (by Oléospa)
18.00 hr: ‘Nesidiocoris Nature major efficiency in Tuta Absoluta control’. (by Biomip)

27th november
11.00 hr: ‘Agiculture efficiency and saving: cogeneration, micorrizas’. (by Albedo Solar)
12.30 hr: ‘Almeria University research organization in Agrifood’ (by OTRI-Universidad de Almería)
17.00 horas: ‘Savia Funny Day: descubre el lado + divertido de la ciencia’. (Savia Biotech)
18.00 hr: ‘Polibiol Station; trial results for bumble bee hives protection under extreme temperatures’. (by Biomip)

A new historic day for the Scientific and Technologic Park of Almería, PITA, it was last Tuesday November the 10th at Sant Cugat del Vallés, Barcelona, during the VIII APTE 2009 International Conference PITA was recognised as full member partner of the Spanish Association of Scientific and Technologic Parks (APTE). Cristina Garmendía, Science and Innovation Minister opened this international conference the same day that the new EsadeCropolis facilities had been inaugurated. EsadeCropolis is an innovation park that counts on with entrepreneurial and academic areas where ESADE expands their Barcelona installations.
PITA and another three new Partners, received from APTE’s President, Felipe Romera, the certificate granting Almerias Park as a new member of APTE, leaving behind its condition of affiliated member. Romera showed its happiness and satisfaction and recognised “I am very happy because PITA is running” “To me”, as he remarked “is a beloved Park and one of the bests of Spain”, he was interrupted by a big ovation.
PITA accreditation as APTE full member partner is a recognition; 4 months ago the Almerían Park opened a Scientific Site by the Almería University Campus and is performing at full capacity. The Park has recently obtained a public subsidy of 12,1 mio euros for new infrastructures and R&D projects, PITA good results show the intensive activity and dinamism of this technopolis that is part of the Andalusian Technology Space Network (RETA)

The public subsidies got by PITA –which could have not been possible without the Scientific Site building- reached a 7% of the total domestic subsidies that Andalucia will get to be dedicated to Scientific and Technology Parks. The total figure for PITA will be 11,3 mio euros out of the Acteparq call (Scientific Technical Infrastructures) for the development of two important projects: PITA Research Centre and Technology Transfer and CTAER Solar Energy Concentration Receiver Trial Platform. In the other side PITA has obtained 782.022 for two projects lodged at the Applied Research call, designated to carry out the R&D projects of companies Decisiones Geoconstructivas S.L. and Biogolden Solutions, S.L.
PITA sent an application letter to APTE in order to request a title hold change, an APTE commission visited PITA last October 20th that should evaluate if the technopolis was suitable as partner member inclusion. The commission concluded that: “Scientific and Technologic Park of Almería, PITA, has matured and developed in a very positive way their project, is now a complete reality that open great development expectations to the entrepreneurial and research sectors of Almería and its province in a spectacular manner”
During the visit the commission checked that PITA counts on with all the attributes needed to be considered as APTE’s Partner, this consideration was officially stated last Tuesday at Barcelona during the VIII APTE International Conference.

Martín Soler, Regional Minister for Innovation, Science and Business and chairman of the Scientific and Technologic Park of Almería (PITA), officially inaugurated on September 18th the new PITA’s scientific site, placed at the Campus of Almería’s University. This building with a surface of 3100 square metres, has counted with an investment of 4,5 mio euros and has become the first infrastructure of the almería’s park. In this building there are 15 Companies Technology Based (EBT), also the Advanced Technology Centre for Renewable Energies (CTAER), Technology centre of the agribusiness auxiliary industry (Fundación Tecnova), the Andalusian natural Stone Technology Centre CTAP, and offices for Andalusia Technology Areas network (RETA) and Chamber of Commerce of Almería.
During an emotive speech, Martín Soler was happy with the achievement of this new infrastructure in the very heart of Almería Univerisity that will allow connecting science, research and business and improving competitiveness in the main productive areas of our province. “This project of placing a Scientific Site from PITA Technology Park in the heart of the University, is a reality that causes us pride and satisfaction as represents the right way to make possible that science and researching coming out from our students and teachers can rapidly be transferred into companies, turning ideas into business opportunities and opportunities will bring wealth and employment”  the Regional Minister said.
Almería University, the institution that has made the land available to PITA for the next 30 years, and its Chancellor Pedro Molina showed the satisfaction of the whole academic community for the startup of this building. “Today is an important day for the University, for Almería and its province as today we are representing a key objective of the University: its commitment with society but at the same time that objective has to be supported with the collaboration and cooperation of all public and private institutions”  
PITA has become the first Andalucian Park counting with a scientific site at the university campus. As per Martín Soler declarations there is no other way to make one province economy stronger “It is the key for the future. There is no other way to be a big country, to be a big region, for us to be a big province. There is no chance in today’s society when an economy dedicates only to a tertiary sector, based on services, tourism or construction. That has no future. We will make our up most for those sectors to keep making progress, they will have to innovate, develop and change but will play their proper role at a developed economy. Construction will never be again the 14% of the GDP. It will be like at other European countries an 8 or a 7% plus the capacity to create residential tourism having a complementary element”
In this sense, PITA’s chairman highlighted the effort that Almería has to make for developing economy sectors by investing in training, knowledge, talent, science and research. “It is a matter of highbeaming economy at a moment of special difficulty for companies and employees. We must not forget future initiatives of medium term work as we are doing today at the University Campus”
Soler predicted the “many opportunities” that Almería will have as a result of the public and private work. “PITA, the university and productive sectors has to make Almería becoming the agribusiness reference of South Europe”. Martín Soler, wanted also to show his gratitude to PITA’s General Manager, Alfredo Sánchez, for the effort carried out during the last years to succeed in making possible to count on today with this first infrastructure of the park fully operative. “In today’s act we must recognize the work done by a group of almerian pioneers who have been able to drive and maintain the effort to boost this project. We can see it now. It is a reality. It also means that perseverance, constancy and effort, the merit to find ourselves good citizens at the end obtains achievement. Today is an important day for our province”
The inauguration act of the brand new PITA’s Scientific Site counted with the presence of the Andalucian Parliament President, Mrs Fuensanta Coves, as well as the Subdelagate of Almerías Government, Miguel Corpas, the Mayor of Almería, Mr. Luis Rogelio Rodríguez-Comendador, Undersecretary of Ministry of Public Works, Mr. Jesús Miranda, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Economy, Mr. Manuel Recio,  Secretary of Universities for the Regional Government,  Mr. Francisco Trigueros, Member of the Analucian Parliament, Mrs. Pilar Navarro, Secretary General of the labor union UGT, Mr. José Ginel, as well as a wide representation of PITAs Board of Directors. Many entrepreneurs, university teachers, researchers and representative people of Almería and Andalucía society, as the Chairman of the Technology Part of Andalucía, Mr. Felipe Romera, came also to the event.

A study, made by Analistas Económicos de Andalucía (AEA), from Unicaja Group, has confirmed the positive economical expectations created in the province as for entrepreneurial dinamization and employment, by the implementation of the Almería Science and Technology Park (PITA).

The presentation of the report was made by Francisco Villalba, consejero delegado by Analistas Económicos de Andalucía, in the presence of the Unicaja territory manager in Almería, Francisco Moreno. The re was a wide representation of the Almería society in the audience, among them, the Principal of the Almería University, Pedro Molina, The Delegate of the Innovation, Science and Enterprise Regional Ministry in Almería, Sonia Rodríguez, the president of the Institute for Research & Training in Agriculture and. Fisheries of Andalusia (IFAPA), Javier de las Nieves, and the general manager of PITA, Alfredo Sánchez. In his speech, Francisco Villalba informed of some data about the expectations that the Park will give to the Almería province during the period 2007-2018 (it is forecasted that in 2018 the surface of the first phase of the park will be completed).

The study divided the socioeconomical effects of the Almería Science and Technology Park in two parks.

The Innovation, Science and Enterprise Regional Ministry and PITA'S President, Martín Soler, informed that PITA central building in El Alquián, in which some companies will be initially located till they can build their own building, will start to be built by the end of 2009 with a budget of 12 million €. "PITA is a reality and we are shorten terms. The project of our Science and Tecnology Park is another initiative, mayby stronger, to make Almería a territory for innovation. With the public support and our private shareholders, with the University and entrepreneurs help, we want PITA to push the most importat productive sectors linked to agriculture, water management, renewal energies, services, etc..

Another important data from the report is that 40% of the Almería companies think about to set up in PITA, an another 25% think it is possible later on. This is a poll made in the Almería entrepreneurial sector and it has been included in the report made by Analistas Económicos de Andalucía, for request of the own PITA.

"La Voz de Almería" newspaper held a workingshop in Hotel Trip about "The influence of innovation, science and technology in the XXI Century society". It was a conference of the regional Minister and PITA's President, Martín Soler. Afterwards, there was an interesting debate.

A wide representation of the private and public sectors at province and even at regional level assisted to the event, as the President of the Andalusia Parliament, Fuensanta Coves, or the Economy Regional Government General Secretary, Manuel Recio.

On behalf of PITA, the President, several members of the Board of Directors and the General Manager assisted.

In an event organised by the Forum of Social Council of Public Universities of Andalusia, held in "Grades Room IV of the University and chaired by the Innovation, Science and Enterprise Regional Ministry and PITA's President, Martín Soler, took place the presentation of the prestigious Annual Report 2008 by CYD Foundation.

The participants of the debate were: Eulalia W. Petit, OCDE project Regional Coordinator -Evaluation of the impact of the superior education in the regional development 2008-2010, Pedro Molina, Principal of the University of Almería and PITA's General Manager, Alfredo Sánchez.

In the report presentation, Martí Perellada, his General Coordinator, Joaquín Moya-Angeler, President of the Social Council of the Almería University, Julio Revilla, President of the Forum of Andalusia Social Council and Francesc Solé, Vicepresident of the Knowledge and Development Foundation (CYD).

This is the fourth year that the Almería Science and Tecnology Park (PITA) has wanted to celebrate, together with the College of Telecommunication Engineers, the Internet International Day, with an entrepreneurial day. This time in relationship with the security in internet, with the collaboration of the Innovation, Science and Enterprise Regional Ministry and the Andalusia Technology Space Network (RETA). In this session, outstanding speakers related to the information and communication technologies (TIC) participated.

The Delegate of the Innovation, Science and Enterprise Regional Ministry in Almería, Sonia Rodríguez, has inaugurated the event on behalf of the Regional Ministry Martín Soler. In her speech, she stated the effort made by the Regional government to "universalize" the information and communication technologies (TIC) to all the citizens. In this sense, she referred to the "Guadalinfo Centres Network" - the biggest of Europe-, with 734 centres spread by all Andalusia. The Delegate also spoke about the program "1 free Mega", which will give the possibility to all the citizens to have free access to internet. "The aim is to consider the access to internet as a right", Rodríguez appointed.

Apart from outstanding the strengths of internet, the Delegate of the Innovation, Science and Enterprise referred to the weaknesses of the system too. "There is a wrong use of internet. Aware of it, in the Junta de Andalucía web, any andalusian family can download freely a computer program to filter or to stop the access to unwanted pages, with no proper contents for children" Rodríguez stated.

The first general assembly of the year of the Association has taken place in Jerez. It has been organised by the ‘Parque Tecnológico Agroindustrial de Jerez'.

The Assembly has been inaugurated by the Regional Ministry of Innovation of ‘Junta de Andalucía', Martín Soler, the Jerez Mayoress and President of the society ‘Parque Tecnológico Agroindustrial de Jerez', Pilar Sánchez, and the General Vicedirector for promoting the cooperative research belonging to the Science and Innovation Ministry, José Luís Pérez Salinas and the Presidente of APTE, Felipe Romera.

Two Parks, which were in a developping phase (affiliated members) have achived the full operation status (full memebers): ‘Parque Científico y Tecnológico Agroalimentario de Lleida' and ‘Parque Tecnológico Agroindustrial de Jerez'. Morevoer, the ‘Parque Tecnológico TecnoBahía' has joined the Association directly as full member, due to its full operation.
With these new incorporations, the total number of APTE members is up to 80, from which 35 are running.

On the other side, the Association has published the statistics of the members at the end of 2008, which show the big growing of the parks. The number of companies has increased 21% from last year, being 4,592 companies placed in the parks. The employment in the parks has increased the figure up to 127,000 workers, 27% of increase, of which 18,842 employees work in R&D activities. This figure represents 33% of increase. The turnover has reached 18,323 million of euro, which means 38% more than the previous year.

Moreover, the Association has reviewed the foreseen activities to be implemented during the current year. Among them, it outstands the VIII International Conference of APTE, with the slogan "the innovation as the answer". It will take place in Barcelona, organised by ‘Esade Creápolis Parque de la Innovación Empresarial' the next 9th,10th and 11th november.

The Innovation, Science and Enterprise Regional Minister, Martín Soler, chaired the Executive Board meeting of the Almería Science and Technology Park (PITA). In the meeting, the urbanisation works have been appointed to be carried out by the Temporary Association of the Companies Fircosa, Copsa and Tejera.

Soler, who attended to the Executive Board meeting as President of PITA, has stated that the Park urbanisation works are foreseen to be ended by the first weeks of 2010.

The budget of the works were above 12.100.000 euro, although the "UTE" Fircosa-Copsa-Tejera has reduced considerably this amount, apart from adding very good technical conditions.

Moreover, in the Executive Board meeting the status of the current works at the Science centre on Campus at Almería University and at the future technology park have been analysed.

The second edition of the "Exhibition of the Ideas" organised by the Almería Science and Technology Park (PITA) the Chamber of Commerce, Almería University and the Innovation, Science and Enterprise Regional Ministry, has been inaugurated this morning with a complete success of participants and public. The Principal of the Almería University, Pedro Molina, the vicepresident of the Chamber of Commerce, Rafael Úbeda and the General Manager of PITA, Alfredo Sánchez, were in the inauguration.

Before the inauguration act there were a discussion among the entrepreneurs, Ignacio Escobar, from e-cultura.net; Antonio Ramírez, from Biogolden Solutions; and Isabel Pérez, from Real Track Systems. The Chairman was Juan Pablo Seijo. In this debate it was stated the necessity of establishing a "symbiosis" between the scientific and the entrepreneurial worlds. "This kind of debates is the best way to create ideas. It is a pity that there are almost inexistent", said Ignacio Escobar in the auditorium.

More than 40 companies or entrepreneurial projects have participated together with 5 technology based companies in the second edition of the "Exhibition of the Ideas" held in the hall of the Campus. Like in the first edition, to the permanent exhibition of posters and projects, other stands of collaboration entities joint showing information and promotional material.

The General Director of PITA, Alfredo Sánchez, thanked all institutions the support given in this second edition of the exhibition, full of participants and public. "I think that the results are here. The auditorium is full. The answer, once more, from the Almería people and the Almería entrepreneurs in the middle of the present crisis, is more than satisfactory", stated the General Manager of the Almería Science and Tecnhology Park.

The General Manager of PITA recognized that although 2009 will be "a bad year" for the economy, will be a good year for PITA projects. "As you know, next month the Scence Centre on Campus at Almería University will be finished. A business centre for technology based companies developping their entrepreneurial projects in the own University, will be soon a reality". In this sense, Sánchez encouraged the entrepreneurs to "transport" their ideas into entrepreneurial projects. "PITA will become a reality and will reflect the support that the University, the Chamber of Commerce and the Innovation, Science and Enterprise Regional Ministry are given to the Almería businesses" announced Alfredo Sánchez.

The act was organised by the Technology Park of Andalusia (PTA) and the Association of Science and Technology Parks of Spain (IASP) in collaboration with the Science and Innovation Ministry within a series of seminaries of the IASP European Division.

During the sessions different actions were remarked to be done by the science and technology parks to create business opportunities for their companies and encourage the collaboration between them.

The General Manager of the IASP, Luis Sanz, has appointed that the best way to escape of the current crisis is through the innovation.

Sanz has stated that thanks to the conclusions of this meeting, the International organization will start working to know the most accessible methods for the science parks and their companies so that they can carry out the different processes of cooperation and collaboration.

The participants came from a 10 different countries, as Sweden, Germany, Estonia, Turkey, France, Belgium, Tunes, Morocco and Holland, most of them are professional from several science and technology parks in the Mediterranean basin.

360 parks belonging to 72 countries are IASP members, IASP (to which PITA belongs) is an association created 25 years ago as a link between the science and technology parks within the world and offer services that encourage them to grow up and be competitive in the international market.

PITA was represented by is Technical Director, Juan Antonio Díaz.

Last April 3, the Agriculture & Fishing regional minister of Junta de Andalucía and PITA's president, Martín Soler, presented in Almería the ‘Guide of Procedures for Sustainability' (GPS) together with the president of Cajamar Foundation, Juan del Águila. The document, as the result of the agreement for collaboration signed between PITA and Cajamar in 2006, will become a tool to develop strategies in the building procedures of sustainability. The general manager of the Park, Alfredo Sánchez, and the sustainability development manager of Cajamar Foundation, Alfonso Sevilla, were also in the GPS presentation.

The GPS aim, as Soler explained, will be to evaluate the environmental quality, the building's project and the development of the works of all buildings in the plots offered by PITA. The Park will issue a certification, that can be shown to distinct the building and can also be presented by PITA as example of the optimum environmental quality status of the buildings belonging to the Park. "This Guide will help the person responsible for the project, with solutions available to improve the energetic efficiency and the sustainability of the buildings from the beginning of the design, and will promote the energy save. It is, in principal, to do the things right from the very beginning", as declared the regional minister.

The GPS edition is a pioneer initiative in the technology parks sector, that addresses to the direction that the architectural designed is being handled nowadays. Like in the rest of the financial activities the aim is to look for sustainability. ‘It is also a guide that expects to influence and advise all the companies", as remarked the PITA's president.

In this sense, Soler highlighted the GPS as another "distinguishing element" of the Almería Science & Technology Park and said that this publication will help to spread a new way of doing and seeing things showing PITA as an example of the sustainable development in Almería".

The Almería Science and Technology Park (PITA) will have again an appointment in the Almería University Campus with entrepreneurs, students and business people in the second edition of the ‘Exhibition of the Ideas' next April 21. The Agriculture & Fishing regional minister of Junta de Andalucía and PITA's president, Martín Soler presented the II Edition of the ‘Exhibition of the Ideas' together with the Chamber of Commerce president, Diego Martínez Cano, and the Almería University rector, Pedro Molina.

Soler underlined the compromise of the Andalusia Government with initiatives like this one, which aims are to push the promotion of the entrepreneur spirit and extrapolate to other sectors of social and economic life in Andalusia. Under Soler's opinion, with this support to the ‘Exhibition of the Ideas' the Almería Science and Technology Park (PITA)'s commitment with the Almería University and the Chamber of Commerce is reinforced. "PITA is an essential element for Almería development and a first level allied for the Almería entrepreneurs" Soler remarked.

The second edition of the ‘Exhibition of the Ideas' keeps the three essential objectives as in the first edition: to encourage the innovation in the productive sectors of the province; to promote the entrepreneur spirit between the University students and Secondary School students and to promote the relations between company-university-secondary school.

The participants, like in the previous edition, will display company's plans schemes or resumes in posters, and will answer to the entrepreneurs' questions. They can set up contacts each others, being able to establish further contacts.

In the afternoon, an Investment Forum will be organised, in which entrepreneurs looking for partners and financing will show their projects to business people and investors. The ideas and projects presented in the Exhibition will be analyzed and the experts will choose those entrepreneurial initiatives considering the best, as per their novelty or having more possibility of success in the market. Their responsible will present them to the business people interested in investment and support to these projects.

On March 18, we received Mr. Felipe Romera visit. Mr. Romera is the President of the Association of Science and Technology Parks of Spain (APTE), President of the Andalousian Technological Spaces Network (RETA) and General Manager of the Andalusia Technology Park (Málaga).

At the Andalusia Regional Government site in Almería, Mr. Romera attended a press conference, accompanied by the Delegate of Innovation, Science and Enterprise Regional Ministry in Almería, Sonia Rodríguez and by Alfredo Sánchez, the General Manager of PITA.

Later on, they visited the science centre on Campus at Almería University, which will be ready by May. They also visited the status of the works of the technology park up in the Mediterranean Motorway.

In the site of the Almería Science & Technology Park (PITA) "Head" of RETA in the province, it has been held the first working session of the Dynamization Plan that the Andalusian Technological Spaces Network (RETA) have designed for every Andalusian province.

The mission of this Plan is to coordinate the activities with the Host Entities of the Technology Groups belonging to RETA, under the leading of the technology park being head of RETA in the province: making the Technological Spaces Network a key-agent to the entrepreneurial development, reinforcing the role of the technology parks as main dynamizators of the andalusian innovation system and increasing the coordination and synergies on the job made by RETA technicians with the companies in the province and to adapt it in the Host Entity.

This session, held in PITA site, was inaugurated by the Delegate of the Innovation, Science and Enterprise Regional Ministry in Almería, Sonia Rodríguez. The Chairman of the working session was Alfredo Sánchez, General Manager of PITA and RETA Secretary, and the participants were Representatives from the El Ejido, Vícar and Almería Town Halls, from the Andalusian Stone Technology Centre (CTAP), as well as the Director of Andalusia Emprende Network, and the RETA technicians responsible at both level, andalusian and provincial.

Next meeting will be held in May.

The Andalusian Technological Spaces Network (RETA) has got a total of 46 associates and 13 participant entities.

The Agriculture & Fishing regional minister, Martín Soler, has highlighted the big number of companies and entities that have applied to set in the science centre of Almería Science & Technology Park (PITA). In the Executive Board meeting of the Park, being Mr. Soler the President, it was informed that until now 21 applications were delivered to PITA, most of them from companies based on technology from the agriculture and renewable energy sectors. Among the applications there are three technology centres: agriculture and auxiliary services industry, natural stone and renewable energy.

Under Soler 's opinion the aim of PITA science centre project has been achieved. The centre is placed on Campus at Almería University.

Moreover, during this meeting, the regional minister confirmed the support of the Regional Government to the PITA project. In that sense, Martín Soler informed that a fund of 2,2 million euros to PITA science centre had been approved by the Innovation, Science and Enterprise Regional Ministry.

On January 22, 2009 we were visited by Fernando Ruano and Víctor Cruz, director and responsible for the Innovation area from the Chamber of Commerce of Almería, respectively.

In an intensive meeting new initiatives for the interest of both parties were dealt and will be added to the projects that the Chamber of Commerce and PITA are already working on together.

The creation of the Innovation commission in the Chamber of Commerce has opened a concrete work-line with the science-technology park that reinforces the links established from the start the of PITA project.