Gradiant: 15 years of history, attracting 85 million euros in R&D activities

Since 2008, Gradiant has become the most important technology centre in Galicia for its contribution to the competitiveness of companies inside and outside Spain. Gradiant celebrates 15 years working and attracting to Galicia more than 85 million euros, 10.7 million belong to European innovation programmes such as H2020 or Horizon Europe, among others. It is also worth mentioning the 12.7 million euros from other Galician entities that Gradiant has managed to raise, while more than 27 million were obtained directly from companies.

Since the beginning, Gradiant has earned more than 75 million euros, 1

Luis Pérez Freire, executive director of Gradiant, points out that “I am very proud that the Centre reaches 15 years of life as a reference corporation in R&D and placed among the three most important ICT centres in Spain, something reflected in 2022 results, a record year in which we obtained a revenue of 8.6 million euros, 4

Talent consolidation

Since 2008, Gradiant has trained more than 300 ICT professionals who, in many cases, are still working in the corporation or have joined other companies in the technology industry. The attraction of talent is one of its signs of identity, something that is reflected in the Quantum Department, integrated by 6 workers from outside Galicia.

Gradiant team is currently made up of a total of 177 workers (128 men and 49 women) with a seniority of more than 4 years and a rotation of 1

According to Fernando Jiménez, Gradiant’s general manager, “Gradiant’s revenue is 9

727 industry-oriented projects

In the last 15 years, the centre has been an innovation provider for more than 400 different clients, developing a total of 727 projects with a clear industrial orientation, of which 4

15 years of milestones

Gradiant works hand in hand with the industry of its environment providing its expertise and focusing on the development of six technologies as a spearhead: Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Communications, Quantum Technologies, Drones and Smart Industry.

In these 15 years, the centre has been involved in the development of important projects such as:

Creation of the first quantum laboratory in Galicia: Gradiant launches in early 2023 the first quantum laboratory in Galicia to develop high-precision measurement sensors. The technology centre has its own technology: lasers of its own creation and electronics for the management of atomic technologies. The laboratory’s first project involves further development of an ultra-sensitive antenna capable of working at all bandwidths.

Opening of the Business Council: The Centre opted for the opening of its Business Council, currently made up of 22 entities.

Integration in Cervus System: The innovations of Gradiant and TRC Group in anti-drone systems were integrated with the Cervus System for detection and neutralisation of UAS type threats of the Spanish Army. Aimed at military missions, it enables secure information sharing in static operations and mobile operational deployments.

Launch of the 5G laboratory: in 2021, the technology centre launched a large centre for testing and trials of the new 5G technology (XoIA-5G). In addition to its objective of attracting 5G industry, this area is tasked with assisting companies in the transition to fifth-generation technology.

Strategic partner in the digital transformation of Galician industry: Through Facendo4.0, the Centre works with the automotive sector in a public-private collaboration to improve connectivity, intelligence and security of systems in the environment of production plants and IT systems of the industry of the future. In addition, thanks to Sea2Table, it is working with Nueva Pescanova and ASM Soft to create a next-generation smart factory that uses data analytics and AI to promote sustainability and efficiency. For Congalsa, Gradiant developed a 4.0 business model with the aim of digitising the company’s value chain and automating different work routines.

CUAS Navantia: Anti-drone system developed for Navantia to reduce the risk of intrusion by air in their shipyards. Gradiant’s system allows data security, self-diagnosis of equipment and systems and sending data on demand.

Cervera Networks of Excellence: Gradiant has led the only national network of excellence in security and privacy technologies of the Cervera programme and participated in the first Cervera network for 5G technologies. The Cervera programme is the national initiative to advance market-driven research promoted by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spanish Government and the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI).

First Gradiant spin-off: Alice Biometrics: A group of researchers from Gradiant technology centre had been working for ten years on facial recognition and proof-of-life systems for identity verification when they decided to take the leap and create Alice Biometrics, a spin-off selected for the Google for Startups Growth Academy cybersecurity programme and which recently won the CaixaBank Banca XXI Challenge for the best start-up in digital transformation in the financial sector.

TEGRA, Galicia’s cybersecurity centre: In 2018, Telefónica and Gradiant launched TEGRA Cybersecurity Center, a cybersecurity centre focused on developing products and services to improve the security of Galician companies’ information systems.

Gradiant Signer: Gradiant presented at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2018), the integration of Dynamic Signature Verification (DSV) technology in Samsung Galaxy Note devices. This solution called Gradiant Signer enables secure access and signing of any document anywhere.

Telefónica acquires Shadow: Telefónica acquires the Shadow document security and traceability solution developed by Gradiant. A tool that uses digital watermarks to provide evidence in case of leaks of confidential information.

Ministry of Economy Seal of Excellence: In the third year of its creation, the technology centre Gradiant obtained the Ministry of Economy Seal of Excellence as part of the state register of Technology Innovation Centres.

SCAPE Project: For the Barrié Foundation, Gradiant developed advanced encryption and security solutions in the cloud based on advanced cryptographic technologies. It is an application to work with encrypted documents in Google Drive.

Surveillance software for the AVE to Mecca: Gradiant developed the surveillance software for the high-speed railway line between the towns of Mecca and Medina with video analysis technology. The software analyses images from thermal infrared cameras deployed along the 453 kilometres of track.

Parcel delivery with 5G drones: In collaboration with Telefónica and Correos, an intelligent cooperative communications system was developed for drones based on 5G technology that enables communication between drones in flight, as well as with different connected urban elements to make a correct delivery of a parcel.