Indra and E-COTECT/21 create a R&D centre oriented to e-learning and specialised in multiplatform digital content

Indra, the premier IT company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe, and e-Cotec/21 Foundation started up a high-technology centre in Bembibre (León, Spain). The centre specialises in the design, development, integration and management of multi-platform digital content as well as in the research of new technologies and teaching models which guarantee accessibility. The investment exceeds 4 million Euros and is co-financed by the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce through the support programmes for employment generation in the mining regions.

The centre will be temporarily located at the Arts Centre of Bembibre and will render digital contents and open-code based software to facilitate access to online training to companies, associations and public administrations at national and international levels.

The Centre of Excellence for the integration and development of multimedia content (CEIDECOM) will be fully operative by mid year, once the training and student recruitment processes conclude. Half a hundred posts for unemployed residents of El Bierzo, with either bachelor or university degrees are expected to be created throughout the next three years.

CEIDECOM will be the first centre in Spain solely specialised in the development and research of methodologies of content application on new platforms (TDT, DVD, DVD Home, etc.). It seeks to homogenise access to training for citizens and social groups through technology. Training people with disabilities will also be addressed within the development of accessible applications.

Besides these ambitious technological targets, CEIDECOM will promote a revival of the area due to its role as a training centre, generation of qualified employment and the internationalisation of contents to less developed countries.

High competitiveness and added value services

This Centre of Excellence will start-up a new process of content generation which will save 50% of integration costs, thus making it more competitive. It will provide the market with new possibilities of access to contents at low prices.

Besides the development and the integration of the traditional multi platform contents, it will also engage in the development and start-up of simulators (land transport, public works machinery, etc.) as well as virtual simulation software-widely used in the creation of business processes-for training of machinery operation or a company's own production process. It is a highly effective model since the simulator provides a trial-and-error approach besides reproducing real emergency or risky situations in the working environment thus avoiding accidents and the equipment deterioration. This will help lower the price at which the solution will be incorporated into any global training process.

During the second phase of development, CEIDECOM will also offer added-value services such as infrastructure management of information technology equipment and software, a customer service centre and support in the event of doubts, incidents, contents or connection with experts

Broad experience

Indra will employ its wide experience in the development and integration of advanced e-learning programmes, mainly in the Defence sector. The IT company delivered training programmes for the driving and maintenance of the Spanish Army's combat vehicles and helicopters and for the training, operation and maintenance of the Spanish Navy's ships. In the civil sector, Indra also possesses numerous references and has designed programmes to train users in electoral processes in Spain and abroad.

Indra is the premier Information Technology company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe and Latin America. It is ranked as the second European company in its sector according to stock market capitalisation, and also the second Spanish company with the most investment in R&D. In 2009, revenues reached € 2,513 M, of which a third came from the international market. The company employs more than 29,000 professionals and has clients in more than 100 countries.
E-Cotec/21 is a non-profit organisation acknowledged by the Ministry of Culture. It is private and permanent and was an initiative of professionals from different fields who decided to join efforts to promote innovative activities seeking social and economic development, including respect for the environment, sustainable development through new technologies. The foundation is engaged in sociocultural projects, mainly dealing with implementation and development of electronic administration in different districts of Castilla y León.