Tecnio Certification
About this good practice
The low level of knowledge and technology transfer between Catalonia’s R&D&I system and its business sector has been identified as a barrier to the competitiveness and internationalisation of local companies. To address this issue, the Tecnio practice was introduced to foster collaboration between research groups and businesses.
Tecnio certifies research groups with unique technological capabilities, facilitating the transfer of advanced knowledge to drive business innovation and growth. The goal is to identify and highlight technology transfer agents within Catalonia’s R&D&I system, strengthening the business ecosystem and enhancing the region’s international appeal as an innovation hub.
These agents are research groups or collaboration of groups from Catalonia’s public and private universities, CERCA centres, CSIC centres, or other public law entities with proven technological expertise and experience in R&D projects with businesses. Certification requires a minimum of 6 members, at least 4 of whom are full-time PhDs, and 25% of total income from business collaborations over the past three years. Certificated agents benefit from visibility on the ACCIÓ website, access to specific support services, and opportunities to engage in business networking.
Stakeholders include research groups, universities, and public institutions, while companies are the primary beneficiaries, gaining access to cutting-edge technologies and collaborative innovation opportunities.
Resources needed
The Government of Catalonia allocates €100,000 annually to promote Tecnio certification. Also, the "Nuclis" program provides €4.5 M/year to support R&D joint projects carried out by Tecnio agents with companies.
ACCIÓ departments like funding, innovation, marketing, and events all contribute.
Evidence of success
During the last call, between 2021 and 2024, 62 Tecnio agents were certified, generating a total annual revenue of €203M, serving 2,260 clients, and securing 48 patents. These agents also facilitated private R&D contracts worth €30M and public-funded R&D projects with business participation valued at €55M.
The research focus includes areas such as water, circular economy, energy, climate research, agritech, medical technologies, mobility, advanced manufacturing, and digitalisation.
Potential for learning or transfer
The Tecnio practice is highly relevant for other regions aiming to bridge the gap between research and industry. Its success lies in a clear certification framework that ensures quality, strong R&D capabilities, and proven business collaboration. By giving visibility, access to funding, and networking opportunities, Tecnio creates real incentives for research groups to engage with the private sector.
A key success factor is the requirement for measurable business involvement (25% income from private R&D), ensuring a market-oriented focus. Potential challenges for transfer include the need for an existing innovation support infrastructure and active public policy backing.
Tecnio’s model could be valuable for regions with strong academic institutions but low-tech transfer levels as the methodology and certification process offer a replicable model to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems.
Further information
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Catalan Agency for Business Competitiveness (ACCIÓ)