Coordination and Networking
Most of the public institutions and organisations related to RDI in Madrid are located in a surface not larger than 3,000 sq. km what facilitates the inter-connection and collaboration. Coordination structures also help networkig and development of common endeavours. The main ones are :
Universities coordination
Created 2003, the Conferencia de Rectores de las Universidades Madrileñas (CRUMA) is the coordinating body of the Madrid public universities (Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universidad Carlos III, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid y Universidad Rey Juan Carlos). It is the a regional body mirroring the national Conferencia de Rectores de las Universidades Españolas (CRUE)
CRUMA's objectives are the defence of common interests in higher quality education, in the frame of the universities autonomy in the region of Madrid, promoting cooperation among universities and with public Administration. Its rotating president is an elected Rector of one of the member universities.
Technology/Science Parks and Clusters Network
IMADE is managing the Technology/Science Parks and Clusters Network, coordinating on one side the 4 Technology Parks promoted by the Comunidad de Madrid in Getafe, Leganés, Móstoles y Alcalá de Henares. Two new projects will be also developed in the next future: the City of Finance in Boadilla and City of Knowledge in Conocimiento en Colmenar Viejo. In total these Parks will cover a surface of 1.174 Ha, offering room for more than thousand firms through a public investment of 1.147 million euros. IMADE has also created the Clusters Network , which coordinates the 9 regional clusters : Finance, Biotech, Aerospace, Logistics, ICT Security, Audiovisual, Automotive, Health and Printing & Publishing.
This network allows a narrow interconnection amongst the companies located in the largest business infrastructures of the region, as well as easier access to the regional new R&D institutions (IMDEA) and close connection with the activities of the madrimasd Network.
Network of Laboratories and Research Infrastructures
It is involving a growing number of public services centers and laboratories, normally belonging to Research Institutions and Universities. They cooperate in order to upgrade their facilities according to international standards, to train their technical staff and to improve the services for researchers and companies.
The members are different 0rganizations, with different organizational cultures, and internal methods working in different scientific areas (Physics, Chemistry, Biology,..). Currently, 196 laboratories belonging to 17 Organizations (8 Universities, 7 Research institutions, 1 Technology Park and 1 private laboratory) are part of the Network.
Network mission is to disseminate the scientific and technical potential of the members, support the laboratories and the services they provide, and improve the management adopting international quality standards. Among the benefits the members receive being part of the network are information, training, Quality Management advise, promotion of intercomparisons and laboratories collaboration; meanwhile for companies better access to lab services is provided, together with metrology and quality consults and other services.
Madrimasd network
It is the most important regional structuring network existing at the moment.
Context
In 1997 as a result of the regional innovation strategy design in the frame of the RITTS/RIS Program, an integrated approach ("Sistema madrI+D") (I+D is the Spanish acronym for R&D) to deal with the mentioned challenges has been adopted by the Comunidad de Madrid.
The madri+d system has been created with specific goals: promote scientific quality of Madrid research, stimulate technology innovation and joint actions between the scientific and business communities, co-ordinate actions among universities and research institutions, develop a framework to encourage the creation of companies from research projects, co-ordinate scientific research and technology development activities with regional, national and international organizations, maintain information and communication facilities to link scientific, industrial and technological communities and participate in European R&D programs.
Members
All 7 public universities, plus the private ones and research institutions based in Madrid (CSIC - National Research Council, INTA -National Aerospace Institute, etc.), as well as business associations (mainly the Regional Confederation of Industries - CEIM) became formal members of the madri+d network, being their commitment to madri+d system guaranteed by agreements that include work plans funded by the Regional Plan of Research and Innovation.
Missions
Among the outstanding long-term activities of the system madri+d we will mention:
Development of technology transfer involving the madri+d members. The system has adopted at regional level approached and procedures developed by the Innovation Relay Centers Network to support their international technology transfer activities. Among the madri+d electronic tools developed to manage the activities, it is to be outlined a technology marketplace allowing the direct management by the users of their technology offers and demands.
A Network of Laboratories and Research Infrastructures has been created involving 165 public services centers (material essays labs, technical centers, etc.) that are supported to upgrade their facilities according to international standards and improving their organization and services for researchers and companies.
The Innovation Circles, program which has been conceived as an space of dialogue for researchers and companies and a support to the clustering processes at work in the Madrid region, develop technology watch (TW) and economical and technological intelligence (ETI) services both for business associations and SMEs while incorporate researchers and experts from different fields. Four Circles exist at the moment (biotechnology; materials, nanotech and aerospace technology, environment & energy, information technologies and communications) hosted by regional research centers.
A support program for the creation of technology-based firms is working at three levels: support to academic institutions in their activities for awareness and identification of entrepreneurs; support for firms in preparation of business plans and constitution through mentoring and coaching actions; help for start-ups during 3 years for developing management abilities (marketing and communication, financial, negotiation, etc.), and finally search of location and funding through established agreements with financial organizations and the madri+d own Business Angels Network (BAN).
A Science in Society programme together with information and communication services are strongly promoting citizens' participation in order to attain their support and co-responsibility in regional policies of science and technology: the "Madrid and the Science" program receives more than 140.000 visitors (high-school students, researchers and innovating companies) along three days every year; also, the Science Week developed in 2006 more than 550 open-day activities. This programme has created also a network of university science museums and a contest on architectonic spaces for science.
