The Advanced Manufacturing Center (CFA) in Cádiz has gotten off to a strong and ambitious start. To better understand the challenges and vision behind this new project, we spoke with Isaac Pérez, its director, who shared with us the key factors shaping the direction of this innovative center.
Pérez explained that what motivated him to take on the leadership of the CFA was, above all, the opportunity to create and develop a project “that will transform the future of key industrial sectors, such as aeronautics, shipbuilding, renewable energy, and biomedicine.” He also noted that the center was launched with an “exciting challenge” and the conviction that it will be a success due to its ability to add value to the industry.
Regarding the CFA’s mission, he emphasized that its purpose is to serve as a platform for the industry, where innovation projects are developed to improve products and services while increasing companies’ productivity. “The key to its uniqueness lies in the fact that it was created by the industry itself, identifying future technological challenges from the outset and equipping itself with the necessary equipment and personnel to address them,” he explains.
Initial investment of 18 million euros
The project has received an initial investment of more than 18 million euros from the Regional Government of Andalusia and ERDF funds. “Thanks to this support, the CFA can offer companies technological resources that would otherwise be inaccessible, while also opening up new avenues of public funding to ensure its long-term sustainability,” he says.
The center is organized around four priority areas: additive manufacturing, robotics, metrology and digitization, and drones. Pérez emphasized that the impact of each will depend on the sector. “In aeronautics, for example, robotics and 3D printing are essential for handling increased production and reducing weight in designs; in the shipbuilding and construction industries, productivity and digitization are key; while in the biomedical field, 3D printing promises to open up new possibilities,” he notes.
Although it has just opened its doors, the CFA already has projects underway. Companies in the aerospace, shipbuilding, renewable energy, construction, and medical sectors have shown great interest and have begun collaborating. “The first projects include new designs using 3D printing, robotization processes, and high-value biomedical applications, ” he says.
Regarding the impact on the province, Pérez expressed his conviction that, over the next three to five years, the CFA will directly contribute to the creation of skilled jobs, the development of higher-value-added products, and the improvement of local businesses’ competitiveness. “Furthermore, its role in training and inspiring new generations—who will be able to visit the center from schools, universities, and vocational training centers—will be essential.”
Regarding the challenges facing the CFA at this early stage, he acknowledged that the main challenge will be tackling technological problems that have never been solved before, “but it is also an opportunity for companies to gain a competitive edge. In this regard, partnerships with companies and institutions are already in place, which allows us to focus on innovation.”
Looking ahead, Pérez envisioned a CFA that, within a decade, would be a model for having driven business growth, improved medical care, and inspired young people to pursue their vocations. “I would like many people to be able to say that they were inspired by what they saw at the CFA,” he said, convinced that technology can be a driving force for transformation in Cádiz and throughout society.
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