The German company Würth Elektronik, specialist in electronic and electromechanical components, has arrived attracted by the talent and knowledge transfer generated by the ETSE of the University of Valencia
With 16 production centers around the world, Würth Elektronik is one of the most successful companies in the German group. It has inaugurated in Spain its first center of innovation and development of electronic and electromechanical components, located in the University of Valencia Science Park. "The transfer of knowledge is key for innovative companies. In fact, I think the world would move faster if the industry bets on approaching universities. Knowledge is power", underlined Rob Sperring, vice president of Würth Elektronik.
The head of the company attended this morning at the Science Park, where the official opening of this R & D center took place. The Vice-Principal for Innovation and Transfer, María Dolores Real, on behalf of the academic institution, highlighted: "This opening reinforces the ties that were initiated 4 years ago when we created the Würth Elektronik Chair at the Higher Technical School of Engineering (ETSE)". The aim of this Chair is to further research the field of Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC). Besides this it provides a pool of young talented students for the company. Opening this center consolidates the creation and promotion of technology-based companies in our Science Park. Students from the Chair are already working for Würth Elektronik's head quarters in Waldenburg and the R&D center in Valencia".
The Vice-Principal for Innovation and Transfer has welcomed the representatives of Würth Elektronik
Josep Balcells, Country Manager of Würth Elektronik in Spain and Portugal, also attended the opening. In his opinion, "today we open a window of opportunities very important for the future of the company. In the end, R & D depends on young people, students who leave the university, and being able to have an office so close to the University of Valencia is an excellent opportunity to advance research and development in the coming years. The objective is to multiply the team that works in the center with the progressive incorporation of the students of the Chair, which do summer internships in our offices in Germany".
Josep Barcells, Country Manager of Würth Elektronik in Spain and Portugal
The Vice-Principal of Innovation and Transfer, Mª Dolores Real, and the vice president of WE, Rob Sperring, visit the facilities of the PCUV
In this line, the head of this new center, Jorge Victoria, Senior Product Manager of WE, explained that the goal of this center is "to develop products with the Chair that José Torres runs, while taking advantage of networking with startups, spinoffs and multinationals installed in this Science Park". In this sense, the collaboration that Würth Elektronik has established with Analog Devices Spain, also installed in the PCUV, should be underlined. Both multinationals launched last year the first European challenge among engineering students, and the winner was precisely an University of Valencia's team led by Sebastián Mirasol, today employed by the WE center in the Science Park.
10 years, 200 innovative companies
Since 2009, more than 200 firms have opted to work in the offices and laboratories of high performance of the PCUV, suitable to develop activities based on knowledge of high added value. For Fernando Mª Zárraga, manager of the University of Valencia Science Park Foundation (FPCUV), the arrival of Würth Elektronik "reaffirms the commitment with which the University of Valencia promoted this ecosystem of innovation 10 years ago. The promotion of the transfer of knowledge from university research to society, through the creation and promotion of innovative companies, was and is the main objective of this Science Park. For our part, we will try to give support to their initiatives always in order to encourage innovative developments that suppose an economic and social benefit for the closest environment".