Gaia and the University of Deusto have created a new Centre of Excellence, which will promote the implementation of modern electronic systems in the sports sector

16 July 2008

The aim of this new Centre is to revitalise and promote Research and Development projects that may enable the European sports industry to incorporate embedded systems, whose implementation is already being carried out by about 40 Basque companies. In these systems, the control electronics or electronic control system is embedded in the product or device it controls. Their application to sport is strongly linked to time measurement and control, such as chips embedded in fishing boats, in bicycles at important competitions to know their position and time at all times, or in trekking activities, among others.

At GAIA, they point out that, ?sport is a sector of activity that, apart from comprising many other sectors, is relatively new and, therefore, appropriate for the early assimilation of innovations and new ideas. Hence, the interest in providing the Basque Country with a Centre of Excellence for embedded systems, which are being currently developed for the sports sector by about 40 Basque companies. The figures for this sector in USA are higher than those for the film or car industries?.

Thus, the main aim of the new Centre of Excellence, which is currently at its initial development and deployment stage, and is located on the San Sebastian campus of the University of Deusto, is to revitalise R+D projects related to embedded technology applied to sport.To achieve this aim, it will try to find and identify business and technological partners taking part in these projects, and will support their search for financing.At present, it is already involved in three projects focused on health, sport and technology, led by Julen Rementería, BA in Economics and Business Administration from ESTE faculty-University of Deusto, and specialised in Strategy.

The Centre has already been presented at different forums such as the 4^th International Congress on Technological and Social Innovation in Sport, which was held at the Camp Nou last 25 April; or the International Congress on Sports Engineering (ESA), held in Biarritz from 3 to 6 June.In addition, the SIRIUS Centre is already part of the European Platform for Embedded Systems (ARTEMISIA), and the Thematic Network for Science and Technology in support of sports training (RINDE).

Embedded systems and their application to sport

Embedded systems are those in which the control electronics or electronic control system is embedded in the product or device it controls.The main feature that makes them differ from other electronic systems is that, since they are embedded in the device they control, they must meet the specific requirements regarding size, reliability, consumption and cost.Their application to sport has a great potential, and at present, it is strongly linked to time measurement and control, such as chips embedded in fishing boats, in bicycles at great competitions to know their position and time at all times, or in trekking activities, among others.