Throughout its 24 year history, ROBOTIKER-Tecnalia's Innovation Focus has evolved and broadened in scope so as to give its Customers more and more Added Value. As such, it has taken a route which has seen it go from focussing on Automating Manufacturing to concentrating on Improving People's Quality of Life.

1985: The Birth of ROBOTIKER

ROBOTIKER, the Robotics and Automation Technology Group was founded on 1 July 1985. They were difficult times, for what was up until then the booming Vizcaya industry, which is why the Vizcaya Regional Council's Department of Economic Advancement and Development, together with a select group of companies, created the Technological Groups with the aim of helping to improve the capacity of the industrial community.

1986-1988: The Initial Steps

With a team of 18 people, it took advantage of Spain’s incorporation into the European Economic Community (EEC) to be admitted into the ESPRIT CNMA Project as the only Spanish partner. In 1988, it presented the Factory of the Future at the ETORLAN Machine Tool Biennial. During this period, the Innovation Focus was Automating Manufacturing.

1989-1990: The Birth of TELETEK

The Telecommunications Technological Group was founded with a similar structure to ROBOTIKER. At this time, people were starting to sense the fundamental role that Telecommunications would represent in every sphere of Society. In parallel to TELETEK's first steps, ROBOTIKER consolidated its position in the Technology Transfer market.

1991-1995: The Merger and Growth

These years represented an important step in its consolidation. ROBOTIKER and TELETEK merged and became a Technology Transfer Centre. The new ROBOTIKER had almost 100 members of staff and would later join EITE, the Association for Technology Centres in the Basque Country. During this time, the Innovation Focus was Improving Manufacturing processes.

1996-2000: The Conversion into a Foundation

The Association of Companies and Institutions making up ROBOTIKER turned into a private, non-profit making Foundation. In 1997, it obtained ISO 9001 Quality Certification and a year later it performed the first self-assessment in line with the EFQM Model. During this period, the Innovation Focus was the introduction of ICTs to improve Business Processes in Organisations.

2001-2005: The Creation of TECNALIA

In 2002, the TECNALIA Technology Corporation was created out of AZTI, ESI, INASMET, LABEIN and ROBOTIKER, bringing together almost 1200 professionals and a turnover of more than 80 million euros. Important activity on European projects and the opening of an office in Chile highlight the internationalisation process. In 2002, the Silver Q quality award was also obtained, awarded by Euskalit, being the first Technology Centre to receive it. During this period, the Innovation Focus was the introduction of new, innovative Products and Services for our Customers.