Cantabria
Presentation of the Region
Innovation is a key aspect of our regional competition. It is the main factor in order to close the gap between scientific progress and regional development. Innovation allows companies, and the industrial sector to be more competitive, increasing their benefits and creating a more advanced socioeconomic ecosystem.
One clear message that all competitive economies are developing is the key aspect of reaching the market. Research and Innovation have to work together in order to create open innovation systems focused in all actors within the regional innovation: academia, companies, research centres, and public administration.
In this re-launch of innovative systems all around Europe, regions are very important in order to put into value the traditional elements of developing new competitive models together with the traditional and already implemented productive methods. Developing new innovative strategies based on regional collaboration, together with the global industrial framework or with the Smart Specialisation Strategies already designed and implemented, will be the target of our region.
RIS3 Priorities
Advanced Manufacturing, a change in the industrial model, technology transfer, industrial entrepreneurship, and the international collaboration with other regions developing more international projects, will be some of the priorities in this new challenge we are already facing.
Cantabria is a regional leader in some manufacturing and scientific aspects. Our companies and Research groups are developing regional, national, and international innovative projects in key sectors such as biotechnology, renewable energies, Information, and Telecommunication technologies, Automotive, or Aerospace. Smart health is also a very important field in which we have a valuable expertise.
To be part of the Vanguard Initiative will reinforce the importance of our industrial and technological system, will increase the impact of our open innovation strategy, and will give us the opportunity to increase our participation in international pilot projects.
Political Representatives
María José Saenz de Buruaga
President of the Government of Cantabria
Eduardo Arasti Barca
Regional Minister of Industry, Tourism, Innovation, Transport and Trade
Regional Contact Persons
Javier Puente Redondo
Director General of Innovation, Technological Development and Industrial Enterpreneurship
Angel Pedraja Terán
CEO SODERCAN (Regional Development Agency of Cantabria)
Regional Address
Albert Einstein nº 2 – 5ª planta 39011 Santander Cantabria Spain
Brussels Office Address
Avenue D’Auderghem 22-28 1040 BRUSSELS Belgium
Our Pilots
Latest Updates
Smart Health New Vanguard Initiative Pilot Project Launched
On 14th of April the kick-off event of theSmart Health Vanguard Initiative pilot project took place. More than 100 participants gathered online to attend the event, hosted by the three leading regions:East-Netherlands, Flanders, and South-Netherlands/Limburg. The new pilot aims to realise the potent…
New Paper Bioeconomy Pilot Has Published Open Access Journal Sustainability
In recent decades, industrial research has devoted enormous investments to demonstrate sustainable circular bio-based business models capable of overcoming the “Valley of Death”. The study highlights industrial research’s evolution on bio-based circular business model validation, trends, and topics …
New Vanguard Ai Pilot Kick Meeting
Vanguard Initiative’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Pilot is one of the two new Pilots launched by Vanguard in 2021.The AI Pilot is jointly lead by Region Baden-Württemberg and Region Emilia-Romagna, and to date, it is participated by a network of 12 Vanguard Regions.Expanding on and complementing th…




