Undoubtedly, business and executive schools will mention 2008 as a significant year in their economy and management textbooks. This year has already become a reference, a turning point, the space between before and after. Indeed, our environment has changed and it has become obvious that “the only certain thing is uncertainty” (Ikujiro Nonaka, 1991). All the forecasts predicted by political and economical authorities had to be revised, as reality has shown that it has no established rules.
Science and technology have their presence in this scenario. Even though they remained hidden behind the headlines of communication media, they play a leading role. It is only from, with and through knowledge that a competitive future of economical and social forces can be assured.
Not without the difficulties that are subject to this background, AIICA defines its action plan and experiences a sustained growth that is made available to enterprises and to the society by means of investigation and innovation as pillars for adapting and making them capable of new challenges. One more year, the reciprocal commitment to and from our members and associates, the motivation of a team, the intellectual capital and the organizational development allow us to present our activities, projects and services.
We are confident that the tanning sector will keep developing. Tannery processes and revaluates meat industry waste and is therefore defined as an ecological industry in the strict sense of its meaning. Nevertheless, it is time to build up a new framework, and AIICA not only has to solve technical and environmental problems, but also has to place itself in the vanguard of progress, offering new technologies and processes that minimize the use of resources, that optimize the processes and that allow a high flexibility suiting the needs of an extremely demanding market regarding physical performance and strict regulations, such as the new REACH system. The contribution of nanotechnology, microsensory elements and new technologies make new horizons reachable for fashion and design-related sectors like the automobile industry, aeronautics, furniture, hotel business, etc., and of course for the traditional sectors of footwear, leathergoods and clothing.
AIICA’s commitment to the tanning industry is its reason for being. Its objective is to become even more efficient with the present customers and open up to new potential markets.
In the past years, we have gathered a lot of experience in water treatment and waste management. The drought suffered in our region during the first winter months of 2008 has benefited a cultural change that takes into account water regeneration and a more rational use at industrial and private level.
More and more, biotechnology plays a decisive role in the development of industrial processes and as a source of new revaluated materials. At AIICA these technologies are taken into account as a fundamental element supporting our investigation in the tannery sector as well as in the treatment of effluents and waste. We have been investigating on the action of enzymes to revaluate waste and apply them in the industrial sectors as a replacement for auxiliary chemical products which are pollutant.
Our research in the extraction of vegetal tannins, which are being used as high-value active substances, has been applied to projects of forestry waste treatment. These have allowed us to take part in international projects with support of the Catalan administration.
Our global and competitive world requires rethinking all activities related to intensive knowledge and makes cooperation and integration of different technologies indispensable in every investigation project. Innovation can not be reached in a secluded way; we are speaking of open innovation or “innovation ecosystems”. AIICA has reinforced its collaboration with knowledge entities like universities and public and private technology centres at national and international level. Our association’s success is closely bound to the social and economical impact that its activity may create and to the consequences and challenges implied. Our challenge in 2009 is doubtlessly to maintain our high excellence degree plus to grow in order to assume greater and even more demanding projects.
