- The oldest technological center in Europe defends the role of technological centers in improving the competitiveness of the business fabric and the country’s economic growth.
- The event included the participation of the President of Parlament de Catalunya, the Minister of Enterprise and Labour of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Deputy Mayor of Terrassa, and representatives of the economic, business, and scientific sectors.
Leitat celebrated its 120th anniversary this Tuesday with an institutional event at Vapor de Prodis in Terrassa, which brought together nearly 250 attendees, representatives from the scientific, business, and political spheres, to highlight the role of technological centers as a key piece in boosting industrial competitiveness and the country’s economic transformation. From its origins linked to the textile industry to its current activity in fields such as health and biomedicine, circular economy and decarbonization, advanced materials, or digital industry, Leitat has evolved in parallel with the innovation needs of the Catalan business fabric, becoming a bridge between scientific research and industrial application, with a multisectoral character and a prominent role in leading and participating in national and international public-private funding projects.
In his speech, Leitat’s President, Ramon Pastor, stated that “this celebration marks the start of a very special year to give visibility to Leitat’s legacy over 120 years, but also to its future. A future that involves continuing to strengthen the role of technological centers as a bridge between knowledge and industry; and today this role is more necessary than ever to reinforce competitiveness and transform the productive model.”
The event featured the institutional participation of M. Hble. Mr. Josep Rull, President of the Parlament de Catalunya; Hble. Mr. Miquel Sàmper, Minister of Enterprise and Labour of the Generalitat de Catalunya; and Ms. Meritxell Lluís, Deputy Mayor of Economic Promotion and Education of the City Council of Terrassa.
The President of the Parliament, Josep Rull, highlighted Leitat’s commitment to generating competitive value, “helping companies to be more efficient, innovative, and sustainable,” especially “in an increasingly uncertain and demanding context.” Rull emphasized the key role of the institution within the country’s innovation ecosystem, due to “the positive impact it has had by supporting hundreds of companies and institutions to overcome challenges, convert ideas into practical solutions, and promote knowledge transfer.” For Rull, Leitat is “a paradigmatic example of an institution at the service of the country’s economic and social progress, positively impacting its welfare and prosperity,” and he considered its work and purpose essential for Catalonia to “guarantee prosperity, social cohesion, and opportunities in the future to come, which will be digital, green, and profoundly technological.”
The Minister of Enterprise and Labour, Miquel Sàmper, explained that celebrating 120 years of Leitat “is not just looking back with pride, it is above all looking forward with responsibility.” In this regard, the minister highlighted that when a technological center like Leitat “transfers knowledge to companies, it is doing much more than applied research since it connects science and market; turning ideas into solutions, that is, transforming technology into opportunities for people.” The Minister concluded his speech by recognizing and thanking Leitat for its capacity to “combine technological excellence with commitment to the country.”
Meritxell Lluís, Deputy Mayor of Terrassa, explained that “we have a triangle of innovation, culture, and social inclusion, as the context of Leitat’s 120 years. And we also have an essential axis of communication and transport that conditions our economic and social progress. Years pass, circumstances change, but we operate under similar parameters. Those drawn by public-private cooperation, in which the City Council of Terrassa is fully committed. Those provided by economic cooperation, through socioeconomic agents, the Chamber, CECOT, PIMEC, trade unions, the university, Leitat. And thirdly, all that we request from responsible institutions and governments, that is, quality, well-sized, sustainable, and well-maintained infrastructures.”
A key actor in the Catalan innovation system
Throughout its 120-year trajectory, which makes it the oldest technological center in Europe, Leitat has participated in thousands of R&D&i projects, supporting companies in innovation processes, technology validation, and access to competitive funding. This accumulated experience allows it today to confidently face challenges such as industrial decarbonization, the application of Artificial Intelligence, digital transformation, or the development of new solutions in personalized health and sustainability, among others.
With 120 years of history, Leitat claims the role of technological centers as key structures to connect scientific knowledge and business competitiveness, reaffirming its commitment to continue acting as a bridge between research and industry in a context of accelerated transformation.
In this context, the General Director of the technological center in Terrassa, Jordi Cabrafiga, pointed out that “at Leitat we work to make innovation applicable and generate real impact. But a determined attitude from the business fabric and administrations is needed: innovation is no longer an option, it is an obligation for all companies to remain competitive. Companies that do not incorporate technology, knowledge, and constantly innovate will inevitably fall behind in an increasingly competitive and global environment.”
The celebration aimed to be more than a historical commemoration; it is a declaration of intent: to consolidate Leitat’s role as a reference actor in connecting research, business, and territory at a time of accelerated transformation. Thus, in the last twenty years, Leitat has collaborated with over 7,500 companies and participated in more than 1,200 competitive projects (of which over 380 were European and over 880 national). During this period, the technological center has developed more than 5,200 R&D projects, over 275,000 tests, and more than 11,000 certifications.
One of the central moments of the day was the conversation “From the Stove to Knowledge Transfer,” moderated by Leitat’s General Director, Jordi Cabrafiga, with the participation of Josep Usall, General Director of IRTA, Begoña Benito, Director of the Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Sergi Figuerola, Director of the Fundació i2CAT, and Laura López, Director of Research Projects at the Institut Català d’Investigació Química (ICIQ). The debate highlighted the evolution of the Catalan science and innovation system, the challenges of multidisciplinarity, and the need to strengthen collaboration and transfer mechanisms towards the productive fabric.
With this event, Leitat kicks off a year of celebrations to commemorate its 120th anniversary. The institution has prepared various commemorative videos that it will share throughout the year via its digital platforms, featuring testimonials from companies, center employees, technological center associations, and other key actors from Leitat’s past, present, and future.
