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R&D+i in the Basque Automotive Industry

64% of businesses in the industry have an R&D+I unit. An average 2.1% of turnover is ploughed back into R&D activities, with major growth in R&D allocations expected in the next few years.

Research focuses mostly on engines, suspension, brakes and steering. Today more than 3,000 people in the regional automotive industry work in R&D+i

Basque automotive firms are aware of the need to increase added value in their products. This they seek to do by improving design capabilities, largely through diversifying towards parts better suited to the new types of vehicles that will be appearing over the next few years.

Firms are already researching new materials with improved shaping properties to optimize their use in the industry, and improved hardness and weight to offer better performance in the end vehicle.

All Basque firms in the industry have ISO 9000 or the equivalent. Roughly 63% are certified by an industry standard and 51% have ISO 14000.