The CFA is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality

The event to present the guidelines for the Center for Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing Technology (CFA) marked a decisive step toward the launch of this ambitious project, which is set to open shortly. During the event, Amelia Martínez Sánchez, Deputy Minister of Economy, Finance, and European Funds for the Regional Government of Andalusia, highlighted the strategic role the CFA will play in boosting Andalusian industry and in establishing Cádiz as a leader in Spain’s industrial landscape.

“The CFA is a landmark achievement for our industry,” said Martínez Sánchez, emphasizing that it will enable entrepreneurs to develop their projects in Andalusia, generating value and fostering talent. He also highlighted the center’s cross-sectoral nature, noting that it will not be limited to advanced transportation but will be open to sectors as diverse as Ubrique’s leather industry and the plastics industry.

Martínez Sánchez also expressed his gratitude to those involved in this project: companies such as Navantia, the University of Cádiz, and, most notably, Fidamc, which is responsible for the center’s overall management.

During the event, the technologies available at the CFA were presented, along with the requirements and deadlines for participating in its activities. In this context, the councilor shared her thoughts on the need to reduce strategic dependencies in key industrial sectors—a lesson reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the service sector’s significant share of Andalusia’s GDP, industry is gaining prominence year after year. Martínez Sánchez provided revealing data: in 2024, the industrial sector’s revenue grew by 6.9%, exports exceeded 40,000 million euros, and the manufacturing industry grew by 2.7%.

The Regional Government of Andalusia has responded with a robust package of aid measures, including both direct and financial support. More than 244 million euros have been allocated in grants, particularly for startups and industrial clusters, and the R&D&I Fund has been endowed with more than 100 million euros, all with the aim of boosting Andalusia’s industrial competitiveness.

With an investment of more than 18 million euros, the CFA is now a tangible reality. “It’s been hard work, but we’re proud to be able to offer this center to serve our economy,” Martínez Sánchez concluded.