Technology platforms, forums and networks
AZTI is part of various national and international platforms in which it collaborates to promote a healthier, more sustainable and more integrated society.
Technology platforms
| PLATAFORM | PARTICIPATION | FIELD |
| EATIP. European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform | Participation in Working Groups | FOODTECH |
| EFARO. European Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Organizations | AZTI is a member of this platform, which brings together the research institutes responsible for fisheries management in European countries. | SUSTAINABILITY |
| EUROGOOS. European Global Ocean Observing System | AZTI is a member of Eurogoos, which coordinates global ocean observation in Europe. | TECHNOLOGY |
| Food for Life | AZTI is part of the WG “Consumer trust in a safe food chain”; 2011: Participating in the drafting of the Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) of theKey Trust 2 “Building consumer trust in the food chain” | CONSUMER |
| Food for Life-Spain | AZTI participates in 4 working groups: (1) Food and Health; (2) Food and Consumer; (3) Quality, Manufacturing and Sustainability; (4) Transfer of knowledge and know-how; (5) Food and Consumer Affairs; and (6) Food and Consumer Affairs. | FOODTECH HEALTH |
| PTEPA. Spanish Technological Platform for Fisheries and Aquaculture | Participating in 5 working groups: (1) Fisheries Technologies; (2) Marine Living Resources; (3) Aquaculture; (4) Processing Technologies; (5) Marketing. | SUSTAINABILITY TECHNOLOGY |
| Spanish Life Cycle Assessment network | AZTI is a member of the Spanish Life Cycle Assessment network, which brings together technology centres, universities and companies from all over Spain that are experts in carrying out LCAs on various topics. In 2014, AZTI hosted the network’s annual meeting, promoting a specific session focused on the food chain. | SUSTAINABILITY |
| SEA. Spanish Aquaculture Society | Members of the Spanish Aquaculture Society | SUSTAINABILITY |
| EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste | AZTI is one of the 45 European private sector organisations that is a permanent member of this platform for the period 2022-2027. | SUSTAINABILITY |
In addition to participating in these technological platforms, AZTI is part of EIT Food, Europe’s leading food innovation initiative that works to make the food system more sustainable, healthy and trustworthy. EIT Food is the consortium chosen by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) with the aim of placing Europe at the centre of the global revolution in the field of food innovation and production. It is made up of more than 50 leading companies, startups, universities and research centres in 13 European countries covering the entire value chain, representing a wide range of EU and partner countries.
We are also members of BRTA, an alliance formed by 4 collaborative research centers (CIC BioGUNE, CIC NanoGUNE, CIC BiomaGUNE and CIC EnergiGUNE) and 12 technology centers (Azterlan, Azti, Ceit, Cidetec, Gaiker, Ideko, Ikerlan, Lortek, Neiker, Tecnalia, Tekniker and Vicometch) with the aim of developing advanced technological solutions for the Basque companies. BRTA has a staff of 3,500 professionals, executes 22% of Euskadi’s R&D investment, generates an annual turnover of more than 300 million euros and files 100 European and international patents per year.
Forums and networks
Furthermore, at AZTI we are committed to the dissemination and transfer of knowledge as one of the keys to the advancement of scientific research, which is why we participate in various national and international networks and forums.
| FORUMS AND NETWORKS | FIELD |
| ADISUR. European Association of Surimi Producers | FOODTECH |
| AEPAS. Spanish Association of Sensory Analysis Professionals | FOODTECH |
| Cluster of the Food Industries of the Basque Country | FOODTECH |
| Clúster Vasco de la Basque Energy Clusterenergía | SUSTAINABILITY |
| EARTO-EUROTECH. European Association of Research and Technology Organisations | TECHNOLOGY |
| ISSS. Innovation Platform Sustainable Sea and Ocean Solutions | SUSTAINABILITY |
| EFSA. European Food Safety Authority | HEALTH |
| Basque Maritime Forum | TECHNOLOGY |
| IBERNAM. Spanish Micro and Nano Systems Network | TECHNOLOGY |
| INDAGA. Thematic network on innovation, research and development applied to gastronomy | FOODTECH |
| Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition | HEALTH |
| SAFE Consortium. European Association for Food Safety | HEALTH |
| WEFTA. West European Fish Technologists Association | TECHNOLOGY |
| BTWC. Bermeo Tuna World Capital | SUSTAINABILITY |
Three AZTI scientists will be members of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) for the next three years. This committee is responsible for direct advice to the EU and is made up of highly qualified scientific personnel, especially in the fields of marine biology, marine ecology, fisheries science, fishing technologies and fisheries economics. AZTI scientists make up 10% of this group, making us the research centre in Europe with the largest representation on this important Committee. An AZTI researcher is vice-president of the advisory committee (ACOM) of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), an organisation based in Denmark that advises the European Commission on the biological state of stocks to set the proposal for total allowable catches (TACs). An AZTI researcher is vice-chairman of the standing committee on research and statistics of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), an intergovernmental fisheries organisation responsible for the conservation of tuna and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas. Another AZTI scientist is Marine Science Manager of the European Topic Center on Inland, Coastal and Marine Waters of the European Environment Agency (EEA).
In addition, AZTI scientific staff participate in or lead different scientific committees, including the Presidency of the IOTP, participation in the Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency, on the board of directors of the scientific association of economists in the field of Economics of natural and environmental resources (AERNA), in the European Society of Sensory Sciences and in the European Association for Food Safety, as well as holding relevant positions in the Scientific Committees of the Regional Environmental and Fisheries Management Bodies, especially those dealing with the most important fisheries for the Basque fleets (IATTC (1), ICCAT (5), ICES (64), IOTC (3), WCPFC (1)). An AZTI researcher is the president of the European Commission’s Economic Committee for Fisheries (EAR). In addition, AZTI researchers act as European scientific coordinators representing the EU at ICCAT, IOTC, IATTC and WCPFC. 4 researchers coordinate the European assessments of species of commercial interest for the Basque Country in ICES. In addition, research staff from AZTI act as European scientific coordinators representing the EU at ICCAT, IOTC, IATTC and WCPFC.
In addition to the above, AZTI has promoted the organisation of the Food4Future international event held annually in Bilbao, an innovation event for professionals from the entire food sector value chain.
AZTI is a regular organising member of SINAVAL/EUROFISHING, and the biannual event was held in October 2021.
