BIC ASTURIAS specific objectives:
- To launch business initiatives in places with an innovative potential: universities, technological centres, professional laboratories, R&D departments in companies.
- To disseminate entrepreneurship and to support company creation and consolidation.
- To assist in the creation of innovative, technology-based companies.
- To lead the standardising process in the offer of supporting instruments for entrepreneurs in Asturias.
- To become a reference instrument for entrepreneurs with innovative projects at the analysis, start up, and consolidation stages.
BIC ASTURIAS adds to the creation of technological companies on the basis of research developed by universities, technological centres, research institutions and R&D departments, etc, so that our region develops a new business fabric with higher added value and qualified labour.
The BIC offers entrepreneurs comprehensive support in the creation of companies with innovation and creativity elements:
- Promotion of business initiatives.
- Business management training.
- Financial services: venture capital, mezzanine financial, business angels, microfinance, and subsidies.
- Guidance for the production of the Business Plan.
- SLNE point (Start Point for the process of SLNE society through Internet)
- Business accommodation services.
- Participation in programmes at regional, national and European level.
BIC ASTURIAS is located in the Asturias Technology Park, in the very centre of the Principality of Asturias.
The organization was created in 1994 as a non-profit association with the support of the European Commission (DG XVI) and several public and private organizations, being the main founder the Regional Development Agency. It is also an active member of the Spanish Association of BIC's (ANCES) and of the European Business Network (EBN).
BIC ASTURIAS provides professional support to innovative projects and business diversification and analyses their technical and economical feasibility. It also assists entrepreneurs and SMEs with expert and confidential counselling as well as training courses on managerial skills development in order to improve the probability of success.
It accompanies the entrepreneurs all throughout the process to the start up of the business and the consolidation stage, and facilitates the access to finance. The organization team consists of 17 professional with a very qualified profile; 60% of them have university degrees in a wide rage of science such us Industrial Engineering, Business, Economics, Law, Psychology, and Computing.
The premises in the Technology Park offer more than 900 sq. m. to incubate and pre-incubate news innovative and technology-based companies. From 1994, 134 news companies have been located in the incubator, and in this moment it has 26 tenant companies.
Our survival rate for companies after 5 years of existence is over 65%, 15% more than the average at national level.
On the other hand, the Asturias Technology Park, created in 1991, has a surface about 440,014.7 sq. m., and is now hosting more than 130 innovative
businesses.
BIC ASTURIAS has design a specific programme aimed at technology-based
companies: T2M (Technologies To Market), that includes training programs, expert advise, incubation and financial instruments.
SERVICES PROVIDED BY BIC ASTURIAS IN THE FRAME OF GGN PROJECT
Global Growth Network Essential
- 3 meeting rooms, with capacity for 12 people.
- Offices between 16 and 25 sq m., with desk and chairs.
- Internet access via LAN, screen/video projection from laptop, videoconference, etc.
For innovative companies located in Asturias or entrepreneurs who want develop a business project, we offer:
- Training in business management, communication, sales & marketing, technology watch, economic & financial skills, etc.
- Expert advising for business plan development to entrepreneurs who want to start up a company, and strategic plan to innovative new companies who want to growth or to wide their business lines. Staff boosting service.
- Financial resources through venture capital, mezzanine financial, microfinance, business angels and subsidies. Incubation and Pre-incubation services.
ABOUT THE PRINCIPALITY OF ASTURIAS
Location:
The Principality of Asturias is situated in the north west of Spain and has an area of some 10,604 km2. The Region lies between the Bay of Biscay to the north, with 334 km of Atlantic coastline, and the clearly drawn natural boundary of the Cordillera Cantábrica Mountain ranges to the south separating it from Central Spain. The rivers Eo and Deva form the boundaries with the neighbouring regions of Galicia to the West and Cantabria to the East.
Population:
Asturias has a population of 1,076,567 (52% female and 48% male). The average population density is 101,5 inhabitants per km2. It is largely concentrated in the metropolitan area in the centre of the Region, which is formed by the cities of Oviedo, Gijón, Avilés, Mieres and Langreo, where 80% of Asturias inhabitants have their homes.
The peripheral areas of Western and Eastern Asturias, each of which has its own specific historical, cultural and economic characteristics, are basically rural and the main economic activities are farming and tourism.
G.V.A.:
One of the key features of Asturias economic structure is the importance of the industrial sector (not including construction), which represents 15,65% of the Region's gross value added, three percentage points above the national average. Services, which have grown strongly over the last decade, are the main constituent of regional GVA, providing 62.77% of the total. Construction contributes 11.50%, while the primary sector accounts for the remaining 2.58%.
Asturias' GVA in 2003 was 16,522 million euros, 2.2% of the total for Spain. Regional GVA per capita was 15,363 euros.
Employment
In September 2004, Asturias had a total workforce of 433,100, of whom 392,900 were in employment. The rate of unemployment in the Region is therefore 9.27%. The service sector is the largest employer (64.65%), while there has been a gradual decline in employment in the primary sector (6.5%). The industrial sector accounts for 18.35% of jobs and construction for the remaining 10.5%.
The availability of industrial workers and the prioritization of professional training mean the Region is able to offer a large reserve of skilled workers for future business investments.
Foreign Trade:
The region's exports totalled 2,113 million euros in 2003, representing 98,62 % of imports, which totalled 2,142 million euros.
Basic metal and engineering together with shipbuilding accounted for half of all exports. Almost 50% of total imports for 2003 were represented by mineral fuels, and zinc and iron ores.
The European Union takes 63.7% of Asturias exports and is the source of 48.6% of imports. Portugal is the Region's main EU customer and Germany its largest supplier.
Business:
Having successfully completed the restructuring of traditional industries, Asturias has embarked upon the diversification of its industrial base. Thus, over the last ten years numerous projects have been carried out in the chemicals, plastics, automotive and capital goods sectors, channelling the expansion of the economy towards new areas of activity.
Together with the historical presence of large companies, a key factor in the industrial sector is the activity of numerous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
These are companies with less than 250 employees account for 63% of salaried workers, and those with between 251 and 500 employees for a further 13%.
Higher education:
The University of Oviedo, founded in 1608, has some 33,500 students studying
degree and postgraduate courses covering most areas of knowledge.
The region's industrial tradition explains the prevalence and quality of technical
courses, especially engineering courses such as mining, chemical and industrial
engineering, information technology and telecommunications. The University also runs courses in experimental and health sciences (medicine, biology, chemistry, etc.), social sciences (lax, economics, etc.) and humanities (history, modern languages, philosophy, etc.).
The University of Oviedo also offers a wide range of postgraduate courses (masters degrees and doctorates).
Industrial land:
Asturias has undertaken significant industrial land promotion schemes, at very
competitive rates. There are currently 300 Ha. Of industrial sites available at a range of estates and business parks around the Region. Asturias also has two high quality city locations offering specialized services for the installation of innovative companies and projects with a high level of technological input: The Asturias Technology Park and The Gijon Science and Technology Park.
Telecommunications:
Conventional telecommunications in Asturias are being continually improved through the integration of the most modern telecommunications technologies.
Telecommunications services offered by domestic operators are supplemented by the cable services provided by Sociedad Promotora de las Telecomunicaciones en Asturias, SPTA (Telecable). SPTA has one of Spain's most developed cable networks and provides television, telephony and internet services.
R&D Centers:
Scientific research, technological development and innovation are top priorities for the Regional Government, invests significant amounts of money in these activities. Asturias has a wide range of research centres belonging to a variety of institutions, including centres run by some of the Region's largest companies such as ARCELOR and SAINT GOBAIN CRISTALERIA. The key role played by the University of Oviedo within the regional science and technology system is also worthy of mention.
Awards: The main award of our region is the Prince of Asturias Awards.
LINKS
www.asturias.es
Government of Principality of Asturias
www.idepa.es
Agency of Economic Development of the region
www.pta.es
Asturias Technology Park
http://investinasturias.idepa.es/#
Specific site for Investing in Asturias
http://www.fundacionprincipedeasturias.org
site of main awards of Asturias