Attracting, training and retaining talent is one of the biggest challenges facing Basque industries and companies and, in general, research centers that are developing technological solutions to make society more competitive and sustainable. Aware of this challenge, IKERLAN held a Think Future Talent conference on 31 March at its headquarters in Mondragón (Guipúzcoa): a major event on technological trends and talent. More than 300 people took part, including experts and students from five universities in the state.

IKERLAN presented the professional opportunities offered by industrial digitization, electronics and robotics at the conference. The event had a second social part. The young technologists were able to enjoy the playful atmosphere and network in foodtruck, music and games.

At this conference on training and career guidance, IKERLAN presented its main attractions to the student body; such as the expertise of researchers, special research laboratories, the development of useful technology (which contributes to the development of the socio-economic environment) or the professional development opportunities offered by cooperative models.

Through Think Future Talents, students from the UPV / EHU, the University of Deusto, the DigiPen Institute of Technology, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and the University of Cantabria got to know some of the technology projects in the technology center, as well as its digital, electronic and robotic challenges. They are emerging areas of technology, and therefore offer students many opportunities for the future.

Thus, more than 20 IKERLAN researchers and guest lecturers took part in lectures on digitization, electronics and robotics, and were able to visit IKERLAN's facilities, especially laboratories with first-class equipment. During the visit, young technologists were able to see the collaboration of robots and mobile phones, applications for autonomous driving vehicles, cybersecurity digital products and platforms, reliable electronic systems, digital twins and many other industrial solutions already applied by IKERLAN in various sectors such as transport and electric mobility. sustainable, advanced manufacturing and energy.

Most of the attendees are currently pursuing undergraduate and master's degrees in telecommunications, electronics, computer science or embedded systems engineering. After specialization, these areas allow them to work in areas that are so important to society, such as robotics and automation, cybersecurity, data analysis, or artificial intelligence.

Ion Etxeberria, General Manager of IKERLAN, described the conference as very positive, explaining that “we wanted to show today's students the interesting opportunities offered by a technology center like ours; It is important to be able to get to know the research and transfer projects we are working on first-hand, our laboratories with first-class equipment, so that they know that they have an attractive opportunity for us to develop professionally ”.

After completing the technical part of the conference, participants had the opportunity to socialize and network in the tent outside the building; there they enjoyed music, games and food trucks.

Ikerlan is a technology center with a strong commitment to the quarry, with 380 professionals. This distinctive commitment means that there will be 100 students in the workforce of 380 professionals (40 doing their PhD and 60 doing a final degree or master's project).

About IKERLAN

IKERLAN, a member of the BRTA, is a leading center for technology transfer and competitive value for the company, thanks in part to the specialization of its researchers. It offers comprehensive solutions, combining different technological areas in the two main areas: Electronics, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and Energy and Mechatronics.

IKERLAN currently holds the following certifications: ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management System, R + D + I UNE 16600: 2014 Management System and ISO 27001: 2013 Information Security Management System. This means that the school's excellence in R & D & I is recognized. It currently has more than 380 employees.

IKERLAN is a leading center for the transfer of knowledge and the addition of competitive value to the company. We seek excellence in R + D + i, constantly adapting to the needs of our clients and being close to the business reality. Loyal to our mission, we have been developing solutions every day since 1974 to help our customers become more competitive. We are members of the MONDRAGON Corporation and the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA).

Thanks to an excellent model of collaboration that combines technology transfer, its own research and the highly specialized training of its staff, IKERLAN is now a trusted technological partner of important companies in the country. To achieve our goal, they are structured in two units of technological specialization:

• Electronics, Information and Communication Technologies-.
• Energy and Mechatronics.

IKERLAN is a dynamic center open to the world. They are a certified agent of the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network, and have a large network of collaborators, made up of renowned European centers and universities, to carry out research and research training activities.