The Vigo Free Trade Zone has today formalised the deed of sale of two plots of land in Porto do Molle, to Borgwarner Emissions System Spain, which will build its development centre there. These are two plots in the Technological Area of the Nigrán business park with a surface area of 8,527 square metres and a purchase price of 1.17 million euros.
The plot is destined to the construction of the eMobility Advanced Research Center of Borgwarner Emissions Systems Spain, focused on the research of advanced technologies for the mobility of the future, being subsidized by the Xunta de Galicia through the Axencia Galega de Innovación in the call for aid for the creation of new business research centres.
To carry out this research activity, the facilities will have office space and laboratory areas, as well as other facilities focused on scientific activity and dissemination.
The company Borgwarner has been established in the business centre of Porto do Molle for some years now and Zona Franca has been accompanying its significant growth throughout this time. Now Borgwarner is taking a qualitative leap forward by constructing its own building, where it will house highly qualified staff and share its experience with technology centres and the university.
The company estimates an initial investment of 12 million euros for the project, for the acquisition of the plots of land and phase 1 of construction, which will include office space and laboratory areas, as well as other facilities focused on scientific activity and dissemination.
This initial investment will be augmented by the provision of equipment worth approximately 8 million euros during the start-up and operation of the centre.
With an initial capacity of 150 research positions, the eMobility Advanced Research Center is expected to have 70 professionals in the first 5 years of operation, of which 40 will be new hires and the rest will be transfer of current research personnel reconverted from the field of combustion vehicles to electric mobility.