The recent opening of a Fidamc office in Brussels marks a milestone in the organisation's expansion and internationalisation strategy. Miguel Ángel Torrijos, head of this new office, tells us that this initiative is in line with the strategic plan approved in December 2023. "This plan establishes diversification, growth in advanced manufacturing and greater participation in European projects as priorities. With this office, Fidamc seeks to strengthen its presence in Europe and expand its technological and industrial network to take on projects of greater scope".
A central objective of this initiative is to increase participation in new European industrial ecosystems related to composite materials, a key area for Fidamc. Miguel Ángel also underlines that the management of the Centre for Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (CFA), located in Cádiz, will benefit from this effort. "From Brussels, the organisation aims to promote projects that develop advanced technologies transferable to the Andalusian industrial fabric in particular and also to the national and European industrial fabric. In addition, it seeks to foster collaboration with technology centres and European entities to enrich the transfer of knowledge promoted by the CFA".
Close cooperation with SOST, the CDTI's Brussels office
In terms of short-term objectives, Miguel Ángel explains that Fidamc will focus on establishing close relationships with entities already established in Brussels, such as the office that the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) has in the European capital, known as SOST. This initial collaboration, planned for the coming months, will allow the organisation to navigate more effectively in the complex European ecosystem.
In the longer term, the focus will be on gaining a deeper understanding of European funding mechanisms and strengthening Fidamc's ability to develop competitive proposals in an increasingly professionalised environment. Another key objective is to increase the organisation's visibility in Europe, which in turn will allow it to explore new opportunities for collaboration beyond traditional projects.
However, Miguel Ángel admits that the main challenge is the complexity of the European environment and the need for time to adapt to it. ‘To overcome this obstacle, Fidamc is looking for strong support from the CDTI, which will be crucial to pave the way and ensure a successful integration into this large and complex ecosystem’.
In terms of expected impact, Miguel Ángel says that Fidamc, as a technology centre specialising in composite materials, has a great capacity to add value to European industrial partners. ‘Its experience in the development of manufacturing technologies and process optimisation positions the organisation as a solid and reliable partner to collaborate in innovative projects’.
Finally, the head of the office shared his enthusiasm for being part of the European project manager specialisation programme organised by the CDTI, which reinforces Fidamc's commitment to its mission of internationalisation and transnational collaboration.
English 
Spanish