Carolina España highlights that the agreement “will allow us to continue joining efforts to become attractive for investment”
The Minister for Economy, Finance and European Funds and president of Málaga TechPark, Carolina España, along with the president of the Port Authority of Málaga, Carlos Rubio, have signed a Protocol of Intentions for the promotion of innovative activity and entrepreneurship at the Port of Málaga.
“This is a strategic agreement that will allow us to continue joining efforts to become attractive for investment”, said the Minister, who has outlined the role of Málaga TechPark and the Port of Málaga, as two references for the Andalusian and Málaga economy.
“With this agreement, we expand the Technology Park of Andalusia spaces, so that companies that establish here will be part of the ecosystem of the Park,” she said. “We want to be more competitive and attractive to continue creating that innovation space that already exists in Málaga, of which the Technology Park is a fundamental part”, said España.
On another note, the president of the Port Authority and the Málagaport Foundation, Carlos Rubio Basabe, noted that “the privileged location of the Port of Málaga in the heart of the city makes it a very attractive space for all types of companies, especially those in the technology field. Proof of this is the Digital Agency of Andalusia and also Google and the Monday coworking area between docks 1 and 2 of the port, which hosts numerous companies of this type”. Rubio has also added that he is convinced “that the development of the Muelle Heredia office space will strengthen this trend, so this agreement promotes that the technology sector is the one that continues to stand up for these work areas”.
Technology Park of Andalusia-Port strategic alliance
The signed protocol aims to establish collaboration between Málaga TechPark, the Port Authority of Málaga and the MálagaPort Foundation, to achieve the development of a common model of collaboration focused on the execution of joint R+D+i projects and entrepreneurship within the Port’s service area and from which the Port Community can benefit.
With the signing of this binding document, both institutions are committed to creating new synergies between them, as catalysts of regional economic development and drivers of the economy and technology.
Thus, both parties are engaged in working together, promoting the creation of an environment of interaction between activity, industry and business, encouraging the transfer of research and training in the park space and transferring the business and innovation activity developed by the park to the port space.
Both the Málaga technopolis and the Port itself have already become socioeconomic engines of the city of Málaga and its area of influence. In this sense, Malaga TechPark has become an element of dynamization of the Andalusian, provincial and local economy thanks to the new digital technologies, becoming a lead of cooperation between companies, universities and knowledge centers.
Moreover, the actions carried out in recent years have turned the port area into an increasingly active part of the city, with areas for the location of companies, cultural and entertainment areas, stores and restaurants, with a growing integration of the Port and the city of Málaga. Thus, the growing tourist and logistics activity and the consolidation of the docks 1 and 2 integration project, makes the Port a space full of opportunity for innovation. The recent establishment of the offices of the Digital Agency of Andalusia (ADA) is a clear example of this opportunity.
The companies and institutions located in this space will be able to join the list of companies and the park’s directory, participate in the dynamization and transfer actions carried out by Málaga TechPark, participate in internationalization programs, publish their most featured activities through the dissemination and communication programs of the news generated by the companies, share R&D&I services and carry out joint activities of promotion and investment attraction.
In this regard, España has pointed out that “the Technology Park is key in the technological ecosystem of Málaga, but we believe that there are other spaces that can be properly used by companies to continue generating synergies that attract investment and companies to Andalusia”.
These aforementioned spaces, along with their facilities, buildings and/or joint enclaves will be acknowledged as Málaga TechPark-Port of Málaga, which will allow both entities to promote the establishment and attraction of innovative companies with the ability to investigate or develop digital technologies, while strengthening the generation of knowledge and innovation, becoming a driver and fundamental element in the innovation ecosystem of Málaga.