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
Adma Technical Webinars 2023
1st ADMA Technical webinar – 14 December 2022.While the ADMA Energy Pilot aims at the creation of new value chains in the growing offshore energy industry, the webinar aimed at discussing emerging challenges of the sector, addressing transnational value chains and identifying funding opportunities f…
Vanguard Initiative Regions Present European Commissions High Level Partnership Regional
On 28 March, Vanguard initiative regions were present at thePartnership for Regional Innovation (PRI)event held at the European Commission to celebrate the achievements of the PRI in fostering cross-border interregional value chains.A High-level Event with a strong Representation of VI RegionsThe ev…
Vanguard Initiatives Smart Health Pilots Local Stakeholders Across Europe Meet Plenary Event
Last Friday, the Smart Health Pilot’s plenary event was held at the House of Dutch Provinces in Brussels, in presence of representatives from the pilot’s participating regions’ ecosystems, as well as selected keynote speakers.The morning session was the opportunity to learn more about EU level coope…




