The Cadiz company’s equality policies receive recognition from the Regional Ministry of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families and Equality, coinciding with the launch of its new R&D centre.

On 15th March, the Edgar Neville Auditorium in Malaga hosted the 26th edition of the Meridiana Awards ceremony, delivered by the Regional Ministry of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families and Equality, through the Andalusian Women’s Institute. These awards recognised the careers of 18 people and organisations that have contributed to and stood out in the defence of equality between women and men.

Titania Ensayos y Proyectos Industriales has been recognised in the category “R&D+i Initiatives” for its work towards equality in a male-dominated sector dominated such as the industrial sector, work carried out both within and outside the company itself and in collaboration with key social agents. The event was attended by the two founding partners Javier Botana Pedemonte, professor at the University of Cadiz, and Miguel A. Rodríguez Chacón, director of the company.

The Cadiz-based company is a benchmark of excellence within the fabric of the Andalusian technological sector. In the field of R&D+i, for which it received the award, its activity focuses on the development of research projects in the field of materials science applied to address challenges within the ecological transition, the green economy and industry 4.0. The scope of its activities has been strengthened this year with the execution of an investment of 1.5 million euros in a new R&D centre, together with a 150-kW photovoltaic installation covering an area of 376 m2 that offers the company complete energy autonomy during daylight hours.

This is not the first recognition that Titania has received in relation to its social commitment. In 2020 it received the Social Involvement Award from the Social Council of the University of Cadiz. The company orients its CSR towards many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations. To date, its actions have focused on 11 of these Goals: Zero Hunger; Health and Well-being; Quality Education; Gender Equality; Affordable and Clean Energy; Decent Work and Economic Growth; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Reducing Inequalities; Responsible Production and Consumption; Climate Action; and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Chacón, CEO of Titania, who in 2020 was named aerospace manager of the year, expressed his satisfaction with this recognition: “For us, it is not only a recognition of our business trajectory, but also of our equality policies. As a STEM company, Titania has traditionally suffered from the usual 70-30 imbalance between the number of male and female employees”. According to the CEO, this imbalance has been corrected “in a way that bucks the trend” thanks to the recruitments made in the last year, in which 72% were women, allowing the workforce to be composed of 50% male and 50% female researchers.

In the field of gender equality, the company supports and promotes the organisation of meetings and conferences for women entrepreneurs and businesswomen, acting as a member of the Board of Directors of the Professional Network Association #MujeresImparables; Titania also participates in regional programmes such as UNIVERGEM, supporting female talent.

The president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, and the regional minister Loles López presented the awards for R&D+i initiatives to Titania and the Huelva association “Women in Mining & Industry Spain”. Both companies are oriented towards equal opportunities for women in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Another organisation from the province of Cádiz, Nuevo Hogar Betania, was also recognised in the category “Against Gender Violence”, an award that was collected by its director and founder Begoña Arana. Both companies, Titania and Hogar Betania, were accompanied at the event by Blanca Merino, head of the Andalusian Women’s Institute (IAM) in Cádiz.

About Titania

Titania Ensayos y Proyectos Industriales is a company dedicated to carrying out laboratory tests, studies and research projects for industry. Its services range from quality control to the R&D of different manufacturing processes in industry and it currently employs more than 80 people at its facilities located in El Puerto de Santa María.

Located in the Tecnobahía Technology Park, it has 5,000 m2 of laboratories, where it carries out its scientific and technological activity. Titania holds a large number of certifications from the main national and international accreditation agencies (ENAC and NADCAP), as well as approvals from major manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Bombardier and Sikorsky. Together these approvals allow it to export its services to 30 different countries.