"Science, engineering and technology are the keys to progress'

LUIS RODRIGUEZ-President of the company SHEPHERD Satec

"It is not reasonable to rely on the growth of Satec in Spain, but it is realistic to improve the business'

A. P. G.Luis Rodriguez-Ovejero (Oviedo, 1951) is the president of the company's Advanced Technology Services (Satec), a multinational company with offices in Asturias in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Angola. Rodriguez-Ovejero then replied to the questionnaire sent by this newspaper.
- Does the technology remains the key to the future?
- "Technology" is a very general term that has, in each case, a very specific spectrum of action. ICT (information and communications) is the area of ​​activity where Satec moves are a big industry, global and visible as any, which monopolizes both the term 'technology' as the media perception of 'innovation' material progress and social change. But we should not forget that before the technology is applied science and engineering, which are the essence and synthesis. If science is a vocation, a profession of engineering and technology is the tool. Science, engineering and technology are vehicles of progress whose mission serves the objective of generating knowledge in a complex and, therefore, as it always was, are the keys to progress.
- How does the economic crisis in a company of advanced services like yours?
'If 2009 was a difficult year, 2010 was a year of recovery where we grew slightly and return to positive, albeit modest, marking a trend of change is maintained in so far this year 2011. This applies mainly to Spain but also abroad. There, the recovery in some countries at least, is much faster. Satec is affected, because it happens to the expectations of our business. However, we must clarify that this is not a structural problem of our activity, such as for construction or a certain range of consumption, but circumstantial. The need for engineering and technology, and therefore the demand for technology products and services of quality, is recovering.
- What are the prospects of expanding Satec?
-It is unreasonable to rely on the significant growth in Spain in the short term, but is realistic, as we achieved last year, improving the volume of activity, gaining a market share does not seem to go to grow. This positioning and strengthening local growth allows us to address in two lines of action: international development and new applications. Satec has more than 40 percent of its business outside of Spain and that growth prospects are substantial, especially in emerging countries. Grow outside of Spain, first in the markets where we long ago: the Portuguese-speaking African countries and the Maghreb and, later, in which we are starting our business, including the Middle East and Latin America. We target areas of greatest social impact, such as health, environment, energy or infrastructure, where we combine our expertise in telecommunications to address the immense future development of intelligent networks in the energy sector, experience in development and -administration to promote good governance in emerging or our background in providing services and applications to promote new types of use in the "cloud", the new old paradigm that seems to lead now a great public interest.
-More than three years of landing Satec in Avilés, in the heart of companies Tanning, does a balance?
Avilés-Satec has two organizations. On one side is the regional branch of Asturias and also a center for software development technology in the tanner. This is a strategic investment in development that have taken great care and enthusiasm to move forward. The center works primarily on projects outside of Asturias which is reflected in the figures: the economic activity related to the local business accounts in Asturias, in percent, less than half of what makes the template we use here. This model of working from Asturias to be a commitment to significant growth in foreign activity.
- How have Satec plans following the economic crisis in recent years?
'No one is unaware that the last two years the business has been marked by economic crisis, financial insecurity and the collective consciousness that we must think of key changes and austerity for the future. Troubling reality of our country, with rising unemployment, forced mergers of savings banks, the bankruptcy proceedings and closings of thousands of companies, the need for structural reform of public administration, etc.. This, of course, has influenced the development of our business in the last two years and will influence our future growth prospects. Instead of growing substantially, as expected, we have done very sparingly. Just as our forecasts for the future are more cautious approach by not having significant business growth in Spain, even if abroad. We keep the intention to grow, and it substantially, though somewhat differently, and also somewhat later.
- And what is the prospect of future development? ¿This will mean that the company will seek a different location of the Tanning?
Asturias-Satec has its headquarters, and commitment to our region is questionable.Spanish regions have few local companies in the ICT sector in the volume and projection Satec, and this should be capitalized. Satec Since we are working to maintain and increase our competitiveness in Asturias and thereby ensure our future development. Satec will have major projects that will generate jobs and growth in the coming months, mainly from international activity. Referring to the physical location we have not even raised yet. In Astu RIAS, and Aviles, a wide availability of space and this is now a priority.
- Public administration remains the largest customer Satec or, conversely, has grown in other markets?
-Public authorities are still our primary sector in Spain, although it is not the case in all countries where we operate. Telecommunications operators and the business world snuestro up the rest of the market in a somewhat lower but close. The economic environment of recent years has slowed investment in technology in many areas, particularly in the administrations, in spite of this we have maintained our presence Satec in the most strategic areas of technology in general. In Asturias we have gained weight in our work with companies, but no luck in the great contests of the administration, but actively participate in the process and stay close. The result of this circumstance our activity in the region suffered a decline in turnover of almost 20 percent than offset by the significant growth in others, such as Galicia.
- Do you think the labor reform will contribute to economic recovery?
-The labor reform is a legislative measure so-called social agents negotiate with the government starting points, unfortunately, found and where the differences and interests, party or trade union, prevent the common goal in alignment point, what really matters: the way as this country will overcome its economic difficulties and hence solve the serious problem of lack of job opportunities. Only if you create jobs and wealth creates wealth is created by companies with the effort of individuals who work for them. This very basic, you tend to forget. Achieving this goal requires a change of mentality from end to end, from the disposition to work people to the general approach to the production model. Lack of a transformation driven by the drive, sacrifice and trust which has a long way to go. Without this understanding is not likely to lead to even fit a legislative framework to facilitate this transformation.
-The economic recovery will not be a reality, according to you up to?
-The desired economic recovery is an achievement that will depend on how organizations take measures to crises. It is a summation effect, which will be visible in the individual and then collective measurable progress and not vice versa. He who hopes to "get out of the crisis" as if it were a weather phenomenon, without putting a lot of you should worry that their fate depends on what others do. The recovery will not come "providential" but with the exercise of the will of change for each person, company, region or country will overcome, sooner or later, depending on the effort and imagination to develop.
- Is the technology sector where companies save in times like we live in?
-The information technology has, by definition, a value which is instrumental in helping to improve the way they develop the functions and tasks arising out of an initiative or concern of a client's business. There is, therefore, to remember this character as a vehicle for transformation that aims to help improve any activity that is related to knowledge. The companies will be competing for their ability to differentiate, which is a pure work of structuring knowledge and today is defined by the term innovation. It is not just savings, but quality, proximity to the utility and reliability. All these qualities are key to achieving competitiveness. It will not only tighten their belts but, above all, to develop the imagination.