Become an associate member

CNTA allows its associate members to have direct contact with the centre’s specialists:

• Associate members can have direct contact via telephone or e-mail with the specialist in the required field
• Technicians from associate member companies may carry out training visits at CNTA; depending on the type of visit, duration, content and degree of involvement of the CNTA staff, this may entail an associated cost that will be quoted beforehand

CNTA organises a series of events, some exclusively available to associates, covering issues of interest to the sector and with the aim of promoting networking between associate members:

• Annual Meeting: exclusive event for CNTA associates, which includes both the annual meeting and a conference
• Technology Transfer Conference: event open to the entire national agrifood industry, with preferential, free access for associates. The aim of this conference is to disclose and transfer knowledge that can be used by companies to improve their competitiveness
• Meeting of Directors and R&D Managers: exclusive event for associates, revealing the latest advances in innovation, analysing and discussing technology trends, proposing future projects and promoting networking. Participating associates will also have the ability to influence CNTA’s research activities
• Other events, depending on the interests of the industry

Associate members can use this platform to access filtered, classified and labelled information about the agrifood sector. The data is obtained from updating over 300 proven sources and is categorised into 8 areas of information:

1. Legislation and regulations
2. Funding opportunities
3. Food safety and alerts
4. Research and analytical techniques
5. Innovation and market
6. Leading edge and trends
7. Technological cooperation opportunities
8. News

All partners can have all the users they need. Each user can customise their own homepage, create alerts, sign up to reports and interact with the information.
Alinnova also has information about interesting events for the sector. It also stores a database of agrifood start-ups in the international sphere.

The aim of CNTA’s communication tools is to give associate brands greater visibility:

• The company’s name and logo appear on CNTA’s website (CNTA.es), in the Centre’s annual report, and on the information screen in the entrance of our main headquarters
• Communication via our new partners’ social networks*
• Opportunity to organise conferences and/or presentations, in collaboration with CNTA (success stories, participation in open days, technical-commercial presentations, etc.)*
• The chance to look for communication campaigns to diffuse feats, developments and new changes in the partner company in which CNTA has participated*
• Receipt of an accreditation CNTA associate member certificate as a client company associated with the centre. Validity for one year.
• Receipt of a CNTA web seal to be added to CNTA associate company websites.

*Subject to the wishes of the company and CNTA, who will assess the suitability of the communication for all of the associate members.

CNTA provides associates with an assembly hall and seminar hall free of charge, booked in advance.

• Assembly hall: Capacity for 150 people. The presidential table, with built-in computer screens, can seat a maximum of 7 people. It has the very latest audiovisual technologies:
  • Simultaneous interpretation booths
  • Two projectors
  • Network outlet
  • Wireless microphones
  • Adapted with sound and video outlets for communication media
  • Wi-Fi
• Seminar hall:
  Capacity for a maximum of 20 people with the option of including a projector with its corresponding screen. It is the ideal space for any kind of training event that requires group dynamics or interaction between attendees.
  Available resources:

• Wi-Fi
• Video-conference option
• Electronic touch-screen board
• Own laptop
• Projector
• Loudspeakers

CNTA also completes this advantage by providing its associates with other kinds of complementary services for use within its facilities, at a discounted rate and upon request of a quote:

• Catering service (coffee, snacks, etc.)
• Assistance management service
• Delivery service of documents provided by the company
• IT systems service

CNTA associate members have a series of advantages that allow them to identify R&D&i opportunities, access projects, keep up to date with cutting-edge technology, and influence the research performed by CNTA:

• Diagnosis and identification of R&D&i opportunities: after an initial meeting with the associate member, a report will be issued with R&D&i suggestions and possible public funding alternatives. This report will propose the most suitable actions for the company: R&D&i projects or Ongoing Consultancy, considering the company’s challenges and CNTA’s technological capacities
• Possibility of accessing public funding projects in collaboration with CNTA: associate members that request this option shall be included in a database to get the opportunity to form company consortia, to participate in R&D project proposals: regional, national and/or European projects
• Access to cutting-edge technology and R&D forums in the sector
• Ability to influence CNTA’s research activities

CNTA has agreements with messaging companies to perform this service free of charge for associate members.

• Only applicable to companies whose geographical location is confined to Spain
• Exceptional cases of refrigerated, frozen and emergency transport require consultation
• Exceptional cases of sample collection with a technician require consultation

CNTA associate members benefit from special and advantageous rates:

• 60% discount in the Crisis Service
• Up to 50% discount in the following services: Analytical Product Control and Technical Assistance in Productive Processes
• Up to 30% discount in conferences and congresses organised by CNTA
• 25% discount in Training
• Up to 25% discount in R&D&i services
• Up to 20% discount in the drafting of reports and ad hoc bulletins from the Technological Monitoring Service
• Preferential trading conditions in association fees for business groups

CNTA’s target is to provide its associate members with the best and most complete service possible, which is why it strives to adapt to the specific needs of each associate:

• If the associate requires a service that CNTA does not offer, it will study the possibility of providing it or outsourcing to give the most thorough response possible
• Exclusive treatment compared to non-associate companies, in special and crisis situations. We will do everything possible to help companies manage situations
• Analytical Product Control services will immediately alert the associate if any deviations are detected in the product specifications