The eleventh meeting of the innovation cluster took place on Tuesday with the participation of 50 members. The meeting which was held in the auditorium of the Comú d’Escaldes-Engordany referred to recently created companies, entrepreneurs and the role of the administration and the country in supporting this type of activity.

The entrepreneur Alex Puig started the round of presentations sharing his views on the positive and negative aspects Andorra provide for the creation of innovative businesses. He also talked about his concept of government of the future, providing services such as “billing centres” that would allow companies to focus on their real objectives, avoiding efforts in dispersed administrative and support tasks which are far from their core businesses. Finally, Alex Puig stressed the need to enhance the proceedings online, place the costs of establishing a company in € 0, and allow innovative companies to benefit from a simplified accounting and really enhance the recruitment of talent.

Jordi Pla, partner of the company Inpulsa, continued presenting the “KEI” methodology (Knowledge Expertise Innovation) applied in the processes of innovation and integrating the four elements he considers necessary for business development: administration, business workers and mentors.
In the context of newly established Andorran companies, founders Albert Fontbona and Toni Saldes presented their start-up 468km2. They described their project, consisting in outdoor sportswear brand and the company’s expected growth in coming months. 468km2 has the challenge of becoming a reference brand in sport aerobics. 468km2 clothing can be bought online and in sports stores in Andorra since last September. They are currently looking for new investors to grow and to introduce the brand in new markets.
 
Guillem Viladomat addressed cluster attendees introducing the application developed by the company Alpify. It is a tool that facilitates mountain rescues, by localizing people through a mobile device application. In areas where the application is deployed, it connects directly with the emergency call centre 112, thus facilitating the action of rescuers. The application is currently available in Andorra and in Spanish regions like the Basque Country, Aragon and La Rioja. The company is currently in the process of international expansion.
 
The company ISSE ended the round of presentations, introducing its alcoholmeter project. It is a product designed to improve road safety, and its main difference within its competitors is the biometric measurements the company integrate.
 
Actua head of Economic Diversification Imma Jimenez was satisfied since the innovation cluster was held outside the government facilities for the first time, and in a different format. Jimenez stressed the need to bring clusters closer to entrepreneurs in order to transfer its leadership progressively to the private sector.
 
Meanwhile the Secretary of State for Economic Diversification, Josep Maria Missé, appreciated the fulfilments of the session. Missé emphasized that clusters must enable new companies to present their projects and find synergies or partners as a result of the works being done in each cluster. Also, potential investors have access to relevant information that could accelerate investment opportunities for certain projects.

Actua Actua
Author: Actua Actua