The Basque industry has set out to take a leap forward with a project that combines investment, skilled employment and advanced robotics At a critical time for European manufacturing, Danobat, a leading machine tool manufacturer, will spearhead an ambitious initiative to develop a new generation of high-precision industrial robots, aiming to position the Basque Country at the forefront of automation.
Under the name of RoboostThe plan aims to establish a local value chain around these robotic systems, with a strong focus on R&D and collaboration between companies, clusters, and technology centers. The proposal is part of the... Basque Government Industry Plan, which seeks to strengthen competitiveness and strategic autonomy in a context marked by economic uncertainty in Europe.
A flagship project with 50 million in investment and 500 jobs
The initiative led by Danobat contemplates a initial investment of close to 50 million euros to be deployed over the next three years. Of that amount, more than 35 million will be specifically allocated to activities of research, development and technological maturation, which confirms the markedly innovative nature of the project.
The financing will have a scheme private publicThe details are still being finalized, as it will need to be aligned with the various support programs of the Basque Government, which are currently being defined. The general philosophy is based on the so-called "Draghi report," which proposes that each euro of public capital should mobilize up to three additional euros of private investment, thus maximizing the ripple effect on the economy.
In the workplace, Roboost anticipates the creation of approximately 500 jobsThese jobs are distributed among approximately 200 direct positions and around 300 indirect positions linked to suppliers, auxiliary services, and technology providers. They are skilled jobs, closely tied to engineering, industrial digitalization, and... operation and maintenance of robotic solutions.
The Minister of Industry, Mikel Jauregi, has highlighted the role of this project as an engine of the productive fabric, emphasizing its capacity to to involve small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as knowledge centersIn a joint commitment to cutting-edge technologies, the goal is not only to develop a new product, but also to strengthen the entire industrial network that supports it.
High-precision industrial robots: a combination of machine tools and advanced robotics
The core of the project involves developing high-performance industrial robots capable of handling particularly demanding tasks in advanced manufacturing environments. These are not generic robots, but systems with precision very close to that of traditional machine tools, yet with the flexibility of modern robotics.
These devices are designed to intervene in processes such as machining, assembly, or handling of components with very tight tolerances, where even the smallest deviation can have a direct impact on quality and productivity. Danobat and its partners' ambition is for these robots to be capable of performing complex operations with complete repeatability and stability in real-world industrial environments.
The new generation of robots will rely on key technologies from the so-called advanced manufacturing: intensive integration of Artificial Intelligence, high-precision sensors, artificial vision systems and real-time control algorithms. The goal is for the system itself to be able to automatically adjust production parameters, correct deviations before they cause failures, and optimize resource use without the need for constant operator intervention.
This approach fits with Danobat's recent trajectory, which has spent years strengthening its productive and technological capacity through investments aimed at expanding facilities, incorporating new industrial capabilities, and improving operational efficiency. Roboost presents itself, in this sense, as a further step in the evolution from traditional machine tools towards comprehensive automation and digitalization solutions.
Furthermore, the project aims to articulate its own local value chain associated with this family of robots, so that key componentsSoftware, systems integration and associated services are developed and manufactured in Euskadi, reducing dependence on external suppliers and consolidating "made in Euskadi" as a seal of technological quality.
Industrial and technological ecosystem: SMEs, clusters and research centers
One of the most noteworthy aspects of the Roboost project is its integrative effect on the Basque industrial ecosystem. The initiative It will involve 18 SMEsMany of them specialize in very specific niches of the supply chain, from high-precision mechanical components to electronics, industrial software, or engineering services.
Along with businesses, the following will also play a significant role: sectoral clustersThe project will be led by the Advanced Manufacturing (AFM) cluster, with the collaboration of HEGAN, the aerospace cluster, leveraging accumulated knowledge in sectors where precision and reliability are essential. This coordination aims to facilitate the exchange of experiences, the identification of market opportunities, and the transfer of technologies between different fields.
In parallel, ten technology centers and agents of the Basque Network of Science, Technology and Innovation (RVCTI) will actively participate in the development, with IDEKO assuming a leading role. Their contribution will be key in fields such as advanced modeling, the control systems, process optimization, new materials and the integration of artificial intelligence in industrial environments.
This public-private collaboration network seeks “to mesh and seek synergies” among the various technological capabilities already existing in the region, avoiding duplication and making the most of every euro invested. Through Roboost, the Basque Government aims to consolidate a working method based on flagship projects that involve multiple stakeholders and that, beyond the immediate results, leave a legacy of knowledge, capabilities, and lasting partnerships.
The Minister of Industry has insisted that, in order for the Basque Country to maintain its leading position in the field of machine tools and advanced manufacturing, “You have to run faster than anyone else”That is, to anticipate technological changes and the pace of investment being set by other European and Asian industrial regions, in a market where automation and robotics have become differentiating factors.
Strategic autonomy and response to the European industrial “storm”
The launch of Roboost comes at a time when much of the European industry is facing “dark clouds”In the words of the Lehendakari (President of the Basque Government), sectors such as steel are suffering the effects of the economic slowdown, global competition, and the energy transition. In this context, the Basque Government has made it clear that simply waiting for the storm to pass is not enough.
The strategy involves boosting transformative projects for the country that allow for advancement, strengthen competitiveness, and reduce vulnerabilities. In the case of industrial robotics, this translates into gaining technological sovereignty, depending less on high value-added imports, and ensuring that critical knowledge and the manufacturing of key components remain within Europe and, as far as possible, within the country itself.
Roboost fits into that logic of European strategic autonomyThis aligns with community discussions on the need to ensure more resilient supply chains in fields such as electronics, energy, critical materials, and, increasingly, industrial automation. The idea is for Basque industry not only to consume technology but also to be a provider of advanced solutions to other countries and regions.
At the same time, investment in high-precision robots is seen as a tool to address the transformations of advanced manufacturing, Where the artificial intelligence integrationRobotics and new materials are fundamentally changing the way we produce. Sectors such as automotive, energy, and aerospace are accelerating their transition to more automated and digitized models, and the Basque Country is looking to position itself at the forefront.
In this sense, the project led by Danobat is not limited to a single sector, but has a cross-cutting impact, with potential applications in multiple industries where precision, reliability and adaptability of production processes have become essential to compete.
Fit into the Basque Industry Plan and long-term vision
Roboost is the Second Transformative Project The Basque Government has announced these projects as part of its Industry Plan, which has become a hallmark of the current legislature. The first project, led by ITP Aero and focused on developing new engine architectures for the aviation of the future, was presented last week, representing a business investment of €110 million and expected to create around 800 jobs.
In total, the regional government plans to implement 20 Transformative Projects until 2030. The roadmap aims to mobilize around 15.900 billion euros, combining 3.900 billion euros of public funds with some 12.000 billion euros of private capital, through initiatives that in some cases will be led by the public sector and in others by leading companies.
These projects will focus on a number of areas considered strategic For the future of Basque industry: automotive, energy, digitalization, artificial intelligence, aeronautics, space, and, as in the case of Danobat, advanced manufacturing and robotics. The common denominator is that they all seek to generate a multiplier effect on the business fabric and on quality employment.
Within this strategy, the high-precision industrial robot project occupies a prominent place, as it connects the Historical experience of the Basque Country in machine tools with the new demands of intelligent automation. Cooperation with Mondragón and the other agents of the RVCTI also reinforces the cooperative dimension and shared innovation that characterizes a large part of the Basque industrial model.
With this initiative, the regional government and participating companies are trying to lay the foundations so that, in the medium and long term, Euskadi continues to compete in the league of leading industrial regions from Europe, not so much because of costs, but because of knowledge, technology and the ability to offer advanced solutions to global markets.
Overall, the Roboost initiative is emerging as a key element in the industrial renewal strategy of the Basque Country: a commitment to high-precision robotics that combines investment in R&D, job creation, strengthening of the local value chain and reinforcement of technological autonomy, with the intention that the Basque industry not only withstands the European storm, but emerges from it better positioned to compete.
