In certain specific fields Girona can offer a very competitive level of scientific and technical excellence:

Water

Girona is the home of the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), which is located in the Science Park and acts as a forum for all stakeholders, both public and private, operating in the field of water management, and thus as a meeting point for researchers and society at large. The aims of the ICRA are to develop research, knowledge-transfer and innovation projects in all aspects of the global water cycle and its management; to train highly-specialized water researchers and technicians; and, as an institute, to attract the best talent available so as to develop high-quality research of international scope and place itself on a level comparable to that of the best centres in its field. Reinforcing this aim, Girona is working to consolidate a water cluster in collaboration with public and private stakeholders working to develop this concept from various angles.

The meat processing industry

Agrifood is a powerful and innovative sector of activity in the Girona region, mainly in the field of meat production, and particularly with regard to pork (both fresh and treated), and the equally prominent metal manufacturing sector that has grown up around it. The majority of the region’s metal manufacturers are companies specializing in machinery for the meat industry. Outstanding among the associations working to develop cooperation between these sectors are INNOVAC (promoting innovative collaboration and competitiveness in the pork meat sector), IRTA (the Institute for Food Research and Technology) and CENTA (the Centre for New Food Technology and Processes). CENTA is the only establishment of its kind in the world and thus an international reference for the application of new technologies in the agrifood industry. This regional specialization in the food sector has recently been accompanied by public and private initiatives in the fields of biotechnology and organic food. This new technological activity strengthens the regional food industry by complementing it and making it more competitive.

Culture

Girona is strengthening its position in the field of culture, as demonstrated by the number of initiatives of a cultural nature, notably well-established music and theatre programmes, such as the Temporada Alta and Escenaris theatre seasons, or the Festival of World and Sacred Music, in the city of Girona and elsewhere in the region. Under this heading we can also include all the activities involving technology (especially ICT) applied to the world of culture.

These are the three areas of priority. However, candidate projects are not limited to these areas; the technical committee responsible for selecting the projects will accept proposals in other fields and sectors if it considers them to be of interest from a technical and regional perspective.