• The technology center has been named Knowledge Transfer Office by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for its role as a link between scientific research and the agri-food and forestry sector
• This recognition will allow NEIKER to access resources to protect its research, promote business collaborations and apply innovative solutions in the sector

The NEIKER technology center has been recognized as a Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU), an accreditation that endorses its work in knowledge transfer, in which it acts as a link between scientific research and the agri-food and forestry sector, facilitating scientific advances to be translated into practical applications for professionals, farmers, ranchers and related companies.

Thanks to this distinction, the center will have institutional support that will strengthen its capacity to transfer the knowledge generated in its research to the productive sector. Specifically, it will enable it to access resources and aid from the Ministry of Science and Innovation to protect research results, promote their commercialization through patents and foster collaborations with companies in innovative projects.

In this line, Iker Bilbao, head of Transfer and Market at NEIKER, points out that “this appointment will provide us with access to resources that will strengthen the center’s capacity to transfer knowledge, facilitating collaboration with companies and favoring the practical application of our research advances in the sector”.

With this recognition, NEIKER joins the 111 accredited Knowledge Transfer Offices in Spain, of which eight are located in the Basque Country.  However, NEIKER stands out as the only office specialized in the agricultural sector, a milestone that highlights its leadership in the sustainable development of the agri-food and forestry sector.

Innovation and transfer

NEIKER’s knowledge transfer model is based on studying the business models of the agri-food and forestry value chains, identifying market needs and transforming the results of its research into practical solutions that meet the identified needs with positive economic, social and environmental impact.

To this end, the center actively collaborates with public and private entities, offering specialized services to address the specific challenges of the sector. Among its main achievements is the creation of the WELFAIR™ animal welfare certification scheme. NEIKER contributes to the scheme the animal welfare certification protocols for turkey and small ruminants obtained, after almost 10 years of research, from the results of the European AWIN® project,

In addition, in collaboration with UDAPA S. Coop., NEIKER has registered the Beltza and Edurne potato varieties, known for their nutritional properties and versatility in cooking.

Also, in collaboration with the Regional Service for Agri-Food Research and Development (SERIDA), the center has identified a biomarker that allows the diagnosis of paratuberculosis in animals in early stages of infection. This improvement facilitates better health management on livestock farms and helps prevent the spread of the disease.