​“Collaboration is expanding to develop transversal initiatives”

AR.- How has the Catalan automotive industry evolved in the last ten years?

S.A.- For me, collaboration and foresight in the strategic management of the sector is one of the keys to cohesion. Right now the value chains are being redefined and are acquiring new priorities. We are leaving behind the model that we have been based on since the beginning in which the OEM was in the centre, and now we are moving towards a new sustainable and connected model, which is no longer so much to do with an OEM in the centre, but with the customer and other agents that are part of the new concept of mobility. So we have to be attentive to the redefinition of roles, relationships and priorities between the different stakeholders in advance in this new industrial network.

We are moving towards a new sustainable and connected model, which is no longer so much to do with an OEM in the centre, but with the customer and other agents that are part of the new concept of mobility

AR.- What expectations does a project like Future: Fast Forward generate?

S.A.- SEAT is an important manufacturer within the fabric and that is indisputable. That is why initiatives like Future: Fast Forward raise expectations and open the door for new players to enter. In addition, it has a catalytic effect, with driving capacity, bringing together companies from different sectors aligned with the value chain in sustainable mobility. It will generate investment in the sector, helping to strengthen its position at a European and global level.

AR. How can you also benefit from projects such as those of QEV Technologies and Silence, among others?

S.A.- These are great examples of reindustrialisation and how we can attract investment to make a country brand in the industrial sector of sustainable mobility. They give the possibility to develop innovative companies that respond to the current and future needs of our country in terms of sustainable mobility, logistics, commercial and urban mobility.

AR.- What innovation projects is the cluster working on?

S.A.- In addition to the revitalisation of more than 40-50 projects per year, the cluster's priority objective is the development of talent, bringing the educational world closer to the company and covering necessary areas of competence in the future of the sector. For this, it has developed a Talent Platform that allows collaboration with the projects carried out by companies and that extends, not only in Catalonia, but also in collaboration with other clusters in Spain, with which we will continue collaborating in the mobility value chain sustainability to cover transversal initiatives that allow us to accelerate the development of our companies.

In addition to the revitalisation of more than 40-50 projects per year, the cluster's priority objective is the development of talent, bringing the educational world closer to the company

AR.- How is the strategy focusing on the sustainability chapter?

S.A.- Sustainability is a strategic priority in the cluster. It is vital and is part of the core of any company that wants to look to the future. The cluster promotes innovative projects so that the industry can offer a range of products that respond to sustainable mobility in our cities and mobility in our country, focusing on people and providing solutions to their individual mobility decisions.

We have more and more companies linked to our Strategic Sustainability Area and we are taking actions to detect people within them to share knowledge, experiences and solutions. In addition, we have strategic alliances with the Energy Efficiency Cluster, the Advanced Materials Cluster, and the Photonics Cluster that are bearing fruit, with which we will continue to collaborate to find solutions to the challenges that arise.

We have more and more companies linked to our Strategic Sustainability Area and we are taking actions to detect people within them

AR.- What good practices are being extracted from the cooperation with other clusters?

S.A.- The purpose of the CIAC is to be the integrating element that consolidates the competitive advantage in collaboration between companies. Its objective is to maximise competitiveness and business success by taking advantage of opportunities for collaboration in networks and value chains of sustainable and connected mobility.

Beyond actions and collaborations in projects, which is always very positive, collaboration is expanding to develop transversal initiatives cooperating with different clusters and in a short time we will have very interesting news. For me, the most important thing is that we share a vision towards the common future and an attitude of cooperation, at national and European level, which is very beneficial for the whole world.

Another aspect to highlight is the ability of all the clusters to work together and transmit important aspects, being very proactive and defending the needs as a group, as a block. Our objective is not only to defend that the proposals of the administrations are as aligned as possible with the needs of the companies, but also that the companies are able to access the initiatives that we are able to implement together with the Catalan, Spanish administrations and European ones with concrete measures and realistic deadlines.

AR.- How is the Automotive Talent Show working?

S.A.- Talent is one of CIAC's strategic pillars and we are very happy with the Talent Platform that we have developed. Also due to the excellent reception of the Automotive Talent Show, in two editions we are very clear that it is a success and its link with our Talent Platform is essential to advance our strategy for the development and recruitment of talent. It is inevitable that these projects evolve and grow at a national and European level, to encompass as much talent as possible.

AR.- Are there expectations of relaunching the CFPA?

S.A.- Expectations are always high because for us the CFPA must become the benchmark centre for talent in our sector in Catalonia. We have accumulated many years of delay with the award of the centre, but now we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and, with great desire to see it at full capacity.

Today, the UPC, as manager of the centre, has to put in place innovative, agile procedures and methodologies that allow us to cover the training needs of our companies and the cluster is continuously informing it of the existing "gaps" in the competences identified for the future development of talent. I think that it will give all companies extra energy to enjoy the CFPA 100%.

AR.- How is cooperation with universities happening?

S.A.- The CIAC has always kept in mind the need for university training for the sector, being one of its strategic axes. Proof of this was the collaboration in the creation of the Automotive Engineering Degree, which today is a reality and a success in our Universities.

One of the ongoing links we have is the Automotive Talent Show and I will be very clear with my answer. The record level of engagement that we have achieved with Catalan universities, we hope to also achieve with universities outside of Catalonia, at a national level and at a European level with the Talent Platform and the Automotive Talent Show as the axis.

In addition to these projects that we are developing, another basic and essential element is that we maintain permanent contact with the universities to find out their needs, update training plans and, above all, talk to students so that they learn more about the sector, bringing them closer to companies. that, in the more or less near future, will form part of their day to day.

AR.- What would be the requests to the Generalitat de Catalunya to promote the best possible scenario?

S.A.- We and the Generalitat are obliged to understand each other and, in fact, it has been like this for a long time, for which I thank my predecessors in the presidency of the CIAC, Vicenç Aguilera and Josep Maria Vall for the extraordinary work of building bridges with the public administration. And this understanding goes through knowing what the role of each one is. Hence the need for collaboration.

The industry must make agile decisions to grow and evolve and political decisions cannot add additional complexity to this progress. The Generalitat has set up the Public Office for the Transformation of the Mobility and Automotive Industries to take advantage of the opportunities in the sector, anticipate sectoral crises and generate knowledge.

Therefore, listening to the needs and difficulties of the sector is a priority in order to focus efforts and make the initiatives to be deployed effective and reach the companies. That is why the CIAC is in close collaboration and must serve as an integrating tool.

The industry must make agile decisions to grow and evolve and political decisions cannot add additional complexity to this progress

AR.- What other aspects can be highlighted in relation to the possibilities of cooperation in the environment in Catalonia?

S.A.- The establishment of strategic alliances, cooperation between public and private administration, thinking about inclusive projects since our industrial network is very varied. Dialogue, sharing knowledge and being very clear that no one can solve problems alone, we need each other and we are going in the same direction. Collaboration is no longer a necessity, but a way of being able to compete in a global and complex environment like the one we live in.

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Entrevista publicada en  AutoRevista 2.378