‘Our role is to transfer and validate new technologies to improve industry and explore other sectors’

In Seville, a technology centre has become a benchmark for industrial and technological innovation. 

We spoke with Paloma Vega, head of CATEC's Business Development and New Partnerships Unit, who explained how this non-profit centre contributes to the development of technology in Spain, supporting companies and transforming key sectors such as aeronautics, agriculture, health and logistics. 

How is CATEC contributing to technological development in Spain as a private non-profit foundation? 

CATEC is a private non-profit foundation. We manage a technology centre focused on improving processes in the aerospace sector and the value chain of autonomous aerial systems. 

Our role within the ecosystem is to transfer and validate new technologies related to autonomous aerial vehicles and the improvement of the industry, supporting SMEs and large companies in the aeronautics and aerospace sector. Thanks to CATEC's knowledge and DNA of innovation, we transfer optimisations, new designs and new ways of working, also exploring other sectors such as health, agriculture, energy, logistics and defence with dual applications. 

With these sectors, I understand that all this new technology, everything they do at this technology centre, is practically relevant to our daily lives and depends on society as a whole, on everyone. Not only in Spain, of course, but throughout the world. 

Sometimes certain technologies do not seem to have a direct impact in the short term, but they do. With autonomous systems, drones can carry out environmental surveillance missions, assist in fires, detect survivors of disasters or transport rescue teams quickly and autonomously. 

For example, in Spain we have used systems such as ADANA to identify survivors after natural disasters and send rescue teams without personnel having to expose themselves to dangerous conditions. 

In terms of artificial intelligence, we have been applying these techniques for more than a decade to optimise manufacturing, detect faults before they occur and digitise data, helping factories to reach their optimum performance. We also develop systems that monitor workers' body posture or whether they are wearing the necessary safety equipment, reducing occupational risks. 

To understand the relevance of CATEC in a city like Seville, how does it contribute to the city's growth and development? 

We are leaders in Seville, Andalusia and Spain. Companies come to us when they need to face technological challenges that they cannot solve with their own infrastructure. 

We prototype quickly thanks to a multidisciplinary team capable of designing, manufacturing, integrating and testing solutions by simulating real conditions. This allows industry to apply the knowledge generated and improve its processes and products, always keeping up to date with international developments in innovation. 

We have seen the importance of drones in CATEC's journey. Society often associates them with everyday life or war, but what do drones mean for society today? 

Drones can carry out autonomous missions without the need for a human team. They enable dangerous tasks such as surveying or surveillance in adverse weather conditions, and their remote control allows them to be operated from any location. This means that the best specialists do not need to be physically present. 

Drones perform vision and manipulation tasks, infrastructure inspections, monitoring after natural or war-related disasters, and support civil society in first-degree emergencies, identifying needs and locations without the physical displacement of teams. 

For example, after the volcano in the Canary Islands, drones helped to assess the condition of roads, towns and possible survivors without human teams having to expose themselves to risk. This ability to ‘relocate’ allows specialists to coordinate operations from anywhere in the country, speeding up decision-making in critical situations. 

What impact do these technologies have on everyday life in society? 

These technologies enable faster and more efficient responses to emergencies, optimise industrial processes, improve worker safety and facilitate complex tasks without risk to people. In addition, the transfer of knowledge to companies strengthens the competitiveness of the Spanish industrial sector and allows innovation to reach other sectors such as health, agriculture and energy. 

What role do artificial intelligence systems play at CATEC? 

Artificial intelligence is used to predict failures in industrial processes, optimise production and digitise data efficiently. It also allows for the monitoring of compliance with safety and ergonomics standards in factories, reducing occupational risks. These applications improve the competitiveness of companies and allow for the exploration of new solutions for different sectors. 

How does CATEC contribute to training and supporting other companies? 

We offer technological advice, rapid prototyping and knowledge transfer. Companies can apply the solutions we develop to their processes, with a multidisciplinary team that designs, manufactures, integrates and tests the technologies. This accelerates innovation and keeps companies up to date with national and international trends.