AIMEN, ANFACO, CETIM, CTAG, ENERGYLAB, GRADIANT and ITG grew their teams by 17%, surpassing 2,000 employees for the first time
The seven entities carried out over 500 R&D&I projects and allocated €13.4 million to investment and equipment acquisition.
The Galician R&D&I ecosystem continues to break records. This is reflected in the main aggregated indicators of employment, revenue, and investments for the 2024 fiscal year, when the seven technology centers that make up ATIGA (AIMEN, ANFACO, CETIM, CTAG, ENERGYLAB, GRADIANT, and ITG) reached historic figures, consolidating themselves as the leading innovation references in Galicia.
These figures were presented this morning in Santiago de Compostela at a meeting where representatives of the seven centers, led by their president Jesús Lago, met with the Regional Minister of Education, Science, Universities and Vocational Training, Román Rodríguez, and the director of the Galician Innovation Agency, Carmen Cotelo.
Regarding revenue, the seven entities reached €125.7 million last year, representing a 19% increase compared to the previous year. In terms of employment, they surpassed the 2,000-employee mark for the first time, reaching a total of 2,023 professionals as of December 31, 2024. This 17% growth in staff highlights ATIGA’s commitment to generating highly qualified employment in the region. This commitment is further confirmed by another key figure: the seven centers posted 293 job offers throughout 2024.
Greater international presence and market diversification
Internationalization has been a fundamental pillar in the strategy developed by ATIGA members over recent years. In 2024, they carried out more than 524 R&D projects and served over 1,700 clients from 43 countries, including Germany, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, the United States, France, Italy, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, among others, demonstrating the centers’ ability to compete and collaborate in global markets.
Of the more than 500 R&D projects developed by the centers, 187 received funding from the European Union and other international organizations; 148 from national bodies, and 80 from regional entities. This diversification of funding sources reflects the trust public organizations place in each center to lead high-impact initiatives.
European Returns and Intellectual Property
The ATIGA technology centers obtained European returns amounting to €18.26 million in 2024, reaffirming their capacity to attract competitive funds and participate in relevant international consortia. In terms of intellectual property, the entities hold a total of 175 patents, having obtained 3 new grants during the past year.
Investments and Participation in Events and Missions Abroad
Modernization and expansion of technological capabilities were priorities in 2024, with a total investment of €13.4 million allocated to infrastructure and equipment. Additionally, ATIGA’s presence at significant events has been constant. In 2024, the alliance once again took part in MeetechSpain, the annual event of the Spanish Federation of Technology Centers (FEDIT). The ATIGA delegation, with its own stand, participated in forums and debates related to the latest trends in technological development and conducted an intense agenda of contacts to foster collaborative projects.
This trend has continued in the early months of 2025. In mid-March, a delegation led by the president of ATIGA participated in Transfiere, the largest European forum on science, technology, and innovation, where it also had a space integrated within FEDIT’s area and took part in initiatives developed by the Xunta de Galicia, coordinated through the Galician Innovation Agency (GAIN).
ATIGA also participated in job fairs organized in March by the Xunta de Galicia in Argentina and Uruguay. Within this framework, ATIGA’s goal was to promote the attraction of highly qualified Galician talent from abroad to nourish the entire productive fabric of the community. The outcome of the visit to the Southern Cone could not have been more hopeful: more than a hundred STEM graduates interested in the Galician R&D&I ecosystem, and especially in its technology centers, where 96% of professionals hold permanent contracts, the staff comes from over 30 countries, and nearly 22,000 hours of internal training were provided throughout 2024.
These actions are framed within the collaboration agreement between the Alliance and the Regional Ministry of Education, Science, Universities, and Vocational Training, which finances activities to promote knowledge transfer and the internationalization of R&D&I developed in Galicia, with the Xunta having invested nearly €1.1 million since 2015.
Future Outlook
The figures reached in 2024 reflect ATIGA’s commitment to technological excellence and knowledge transfer to the business fabric. Jesús Lago, president of ATIGA, highlights:
“The record figures achieved in 2024 reflect the strength of our innovation model and the talent of our professionals. We are convinced that 2025 will continue on this growth path, with more investment in infrastructure and greater presence outside Galicia.”
Lago also emphasizes ATIGA’s commitment to the Galician business sector:
“We will continue to drive high-impact projects, strengthening public-private collaboration and consolidating Galicia as a leading hub for R&D&I at the European level.”
The data supports that ATIGA continues on an upward trajectory, reinforcing its leadership in innovation, technology, and knowledge generation serving industry and society.
For his part, Román Rodríguez joined the celebration of the 19% increase in income of the technology centers that make up ATIGA and stated that this “is the path to follow, improving figures and making Galicia a benchmark in the field of R&D&I.” The Galician government representative also highlighted that the Xunta “shows its commitment to the work carried out by the technology centers and will continue to ensure their activity through support calls that we have been launching for years and which are included in the Galician Research and Innovation Plan 2025-2027”.
