News
New President of the HEGAN Cluster Association
Ignacio Mataix, CEO of ITP, will be President of the Basque aeronautics and space association for the coming years
Zamudio, July 3, 2012. At the General Assembly of the Association held recently in Vitoria, Ignacio Mataix, CEO of the ITP Group, was appointed president of HEGAN, Aeronautics and Space Cluster Association of the Basque Country. Ignacio Mataix replaces Jorge Unda, CEO of SENER, who has held this position over the last two years.
In accordance with HEGAN’s articles of association, which establish that key posts are to be filled on a rotation basis every two years, the rest of the Management Board was also modified. Thus, Jorge Unda (SENER) and Pedro Fuente (Aernnova) will become Vice President and Secretary of the organisation, respectively. Armando Jiménez (Alfa Precision Casting) and Ángel Alonso (Novalti), have been appointed new Members of the board of the Association, together with Inmaculada Freije (Basque Government) and Lara Cuevas (SPRI), who will continue in the posts they have occupied for the last two years.
At the meeting of its General Assembly, the Association appointed José Luis Osoro (Managing Director of Aernnova until his retirement in February) as Honorary Member, following more than a decade of dedication to the sector. With this appointment, HEGAN wishes to acknowledge Osoro's work in the Board of Directors and his long career in the development of the sector, as well as his personal and professional qualities, all of which have had a lasting effect on the Association.
HEGAN
The HEGAN were set up in 1997 with the aim of promoting, developing and stimulating the aeronautics and space sector of the Basque Country. It aims to contribute to the creation of highly-specialised jobs, promote the scientific and technical development of society and the consolidation of industry through activities that ensure a better future and greater added value. Its goal is to become an international reference model as a cluster association in response to the technological challenges of the sector through cooperation.
Today, it is formed by 38 entities: Aernnova, ITP and Sener as founder Members and the companies Aciturri, Aeromec, Aerospace Engineering Group, Aerovision, Aibe, Alestis, Alfa Precision Casting, Altran, Aratz, Astorkia, Ayzar, Burdinberri, Burulan, DMP, Electrohilo, Grupo TTT, Industrias Galindo, Ingemat, LTK Grupo, Matrici, Mesima, Metraltec, Nivac, Novalti, Nuter, Orbital Aerospace Systems, Siegel, Sisteplant, Tecnasa, TEY, Tamoin Power Services and WEC, as well as the R&D organizations CTA, Tecnalia and IK4.
These organisations employ a total of 11,586 workers in all their plants throughout the world. In 2011, they attained a turnover of 1,419 million euros, with exports valued at 827 million euros and allocated 193 million euros to R&D investments. The Cluster's associate Members have 18 plants abroad (Germany, Brazil, India, USA, GB, Malta, Mexico, Rumania) of the total of 132 facilities.