General information
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Hosting OrganisationTECNALIA Research & Innovation
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AddressParque Científico y Tecnológico de Gipuzkoa. Mikeletegi Pasealekua, 2 E-20009 Donostia-San Sebastián (Gipuzkoa)
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Contact Info:
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Phone
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Emailinfo@tecnalia.com
Description
TECNALIA Research & Innovation is Spain’s largest private, independent applied research center and a European benchmark in technological development. With over 1,500 professionals (44% women, 56% men), it collaborates with companies and institutions to enhance competitiveness, improve quality of life, and promote sustainable growth.
Its main areas of focus include smart manufacturing, digital transformation, energy transition, sustainable mobility, health and food, urban ecosystems, and the circular economy. Driven by the mission to transform technological research into prosperity, TECNALIA’s work delivers tangible societal benefits and addresses global challenges.
In 2024, it achieved a €147 million turnover, marking a 7% increase, and developed over 4,600 technological solutions, its most active year to date. At the European level, TECNALIA leads as Spain’s top private organization in the Horizon Europe program, ranking 13th out of 19,000 research entities. It has secured 182 projects, including 28 as lead partner, and collaborates with 215 Spanish organizations.
In 2025, TECNALIA launched a €20 million investment plan for strategic equipment and infrastructure, including smart manufacturing, mobility, and digitalization. This builds on 2024 initiatives like the hydrogen lab and the Katea platform, featuring a supercomputer and data lab for secure digital transformation.
Summary of Research Services
TECNALIA is a private applied research center and a key European player in technological development. With their professionals and and extensive laboratory infrastructure, TECNALIA provides multi-sector, multi-technology solutions through the hybridization of advanced technologies. Its infrastructure includes specialized labs for materials characterization, robotics, AI, quantum technologies, and energy systems. TECNALIA has actively participated in R&D projects for major scientific infrastructures, both through direct contracts and as a subcontractor for leading companies, demonstrating its capacity to address complex challenges across diverse industrial and scientific domains.
TECNALIA also contributes to Big Science initiatives, supporting large-scale research infrastructures and advanced technologies that enable breakthroughs in fields such as particle physics, fusion energy, and space exploration, reinforcing its role as a strategic partner in Europe’s innovation ecosystem.
Technology Capabilities
* Advanced Joining Solutions:
- Electron Beam Welding (EBW).
- Brazing.
- Friction Welding.
- Joining of Dissimilar Materials.
* Surface Engineering. Coatings:
- Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD).
- Sol-gel.
- Thin and Thick Films.
- Electrodeposition.
- Ion Nitriding.
- Plasma-Assisted Treatments.
- Thermal Spraying.
* Material Characterization and Component Validation:
- Mechanical Testing.
- Chemical and Metallographic Analysis.
- Thermal Contact Conductivity (TCC) Testing.
- Helium Leak Testing.
- Prototype Manufacturing and Validation.
* Remote Handling Associated with Inspection and Maintenance Systems:
- Development of RH and teleoperation systems integrating translation systems with robotic arms/actuators.
- Development of AGVs/UAVs/drones integrated with collaborative robotic arms.
- Automated and controlled operation using low-code tools.
* AI and Advanced Sensing:
- Development and optimization of technologies for manufacturing, testing, operation, and maintenance of complex systems.
- Advanced sensing: piezoelectric materials, ultrasound, functional printing, advanced signal processing, IoT.
- Computer Vision: advanced image processing (Deep Learning, Large Visual Models) and photonic technologies (hyperspectral, Raman, LIBs, etc.).
- AI and Big Data: prediction, clustering, reinforcement and deep learning, simulation, modeling, soft-sensing, MLOps.
- Augmented HMIs, automatic information processing, generative AI and LLMs.
* Separation Membrane Technology:
- Palladium membranes for tritium recovery.
- Carbon fiber molecular sieve membranes for gas separation (H₂, He, etc.).
- Polymeric membranes for refrigerant gas recovery.
* Quantum Technologies:
- Quantum sensing and metrology.
- Quantum chips in diamond technology.
- Material growth.
- Doping for creation of nitrogen-vacancy centers.
- Characterization and functionalization.
- Communications. Cybersecurity.
- Quantum computing and simulation.
Main equipment or Facilities
- Material laboratory
- Electrical laboratory
- Mechanical testing laboratory
- Pharmaceutical laboratory
- Food laboratory
- Fire safety testing laboratory