The Aragón Engineering Research Institute (I3A) has drawn up its Strategic Plan for the period 2026–2030 and has already presented it to the University’s Rector’s Office at a meeting chaired by the Rector, Rosa Bolea, alongside the Vice-Rector for Scientific Policy, Pilar Pina, and the Vice-Rectors for Innovation, Technology Transfer and Lifelong Learning, and for Planning and Strategic Development, Manuel G. Bedia and José Ramón Beltrán.
The I3A management team hopes that this new Strategic Plan will serve as a roadmap for continuing to drive the Institute forward, reflecting “our shared vision and renewed commitment to scientific excellence and the transfer of knowledge to society”.
The new framework is organised around four strategic priorities:
1. Knowledge and technology development
2. Collaboration and Knowledge Transfer
3. Contribution to society and visibility
4. I3A’s organisation and resources
From its very inception, the Aragón Engineering Research Institute was conceived as an ecosystem designed to break down barriers, foster interdisciplinary collaboration and “provide solid support enabling our researchers to focus on what they do best: generating cutting-edge knowledge. This founding spirit, far from fading, is stronger today than ever, reminding us that we are, above all, an organisation at the service of your talent”.
This Plan has been drawn up against a challenging and dynamic backdrop that will require greater agility in managing funding and collaborations. This context will be characterised, amongst other factors, by the transition following the Next Generation EU funds, a volatile international geopolitical environment, the accelerating impact of digital technologies across all areas of society, and the need for scientific and technical engagement in social debate.
Through the Strategic Plan, mechanisms will be strengthened to promote and consolidate research careers, ensuring the conditions, support and career paths necessary to sustain excellence and maximise the social value of our research.
This work has been made possible thanks to the participation and involvement of a wide range of stakeholders within the Aragonese ecosystem – institutions, companies and organisations – who, through analyses of megatrends and technological trends, personal interviews, questionnaires, workshops to identify challenges and round-table discussions, coordinated by a team of professionals from IDOM, have enabled us to gain an analytical insight into the I3A and establish a new starting point for decision-making regarding strategies and actions.
The duration of this plan will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the I3A. Today, it is a well-established project within the University of Zaragoza. Throughout its history, it has been guided by the principles set out in various strategic plans. The current plan, the third of its kind, will guide engineering research until 2030.
