Presentation

The activity of CEDEX, both in specialised technical assistance and in R&D&I matters, was consolidated in the year 2001, keeping a high and growing level, not only by the effect of the external demand but also by the own exigencies of the Organisation.

This fact is all the more praiseworthy if the important difficulties arising in the procedures, formalisation and cashing of the Agreements that give support to a large part of the commercial activities of CEDEX and constitute their principal financing source are taken under consideration.

The attention to the needs derived from the planning and execution of the large transport and water infrastructure plans promoted by the Ministries of Fomento and Environment and, in general, by the policies of both Departments, is permanently manifested as an unquestionable priority in the daily work of the Organisation, besides being its formal obligation.

The end of the financial year coincides with the equator in the execution of the Strategic Plan 2000/2003 and, therefore, an examination of its development and the level of achievement of its objectives is advisable.

The different strategies contained in the Plan are taking form in an acceptable way, although it should not be forgotten that, both in its orientation and concretion, they are conditioned by the organic and functional dependance of CEDEX.

Special attention deserve three basic actions among those integrated in the Plan: the new Statute of the Organisation, the potentiality of its human resources and its Investment Programme.

The project of the new Statute, once prepared, was sent on the 15 June 2001 to the General Technical Secretariat of the Ministry of Fomento for its negociation, with the normative ranking of Royal Decree, fulfilling in this way one substantial action to successfully develop an important part of the Plan strategies.

In the ambit of human resources, there was collaboration in the modifcation of the Law of Fomento and General Coordination of the Scientific and Technical Research (through the Law of urgent measures for the reform of the working market) that allows CEDEX, as other public Organisations, to contract research, scientific or technical personnel for the realisation of specific research projects, charged to the administrative or commercial budgets.

Besides, this year witnessed the initiation, in April, of the Programme Ramón y Cajal, that also makes possible to contract researchers.

These last two measures represent with no doubt a new and promising channel for the necessary amplification of CEDEX human resources, with a view to attend a growing and each day more urgent demand.

The Programme of Investment of the Organisation, included in the Strategic Plan, continues its way, having materialised the contract for the enlargement and remodelling of the buildings of the Centro de Estudios de Puertos y Costas and the Laboratorio Central de Estructuras y Materiales, being estimated that the execution of these actions, plus the improvement and renovation of the installations and equipment of the said Centres, make the next year the one with most investment of the quadrennial period of the Plan.

Going on to something else, a Regulation of the Directorate General that regulates the new public prices that will govern the services given by CEDEX was approved and published; this comprises the whole of the said services, avoiding in this way disparities among the Centres and Laboratories, independently of the necessary accommodation of the corresponding amounts due to the increase in the costs arisen along their execution.

In like manner, the Advising Council for Science and Technology was reorganised and brought to light in April (the Ministerial Department from which this Organisation depends was represented by the Secretary of State of Infrastructures and the General Secretary of Environment). In June, the Royal Decree that materialises the necessary updating of the composition and functioning of the Committee of Functional Coordination of Autonomous Organisations of Research and Experimentation contemplating, as it could not be otherwise, the participation of CEDEX, was published.

Finally, I would like to point out the active and relevant participation of the Organisation in the acts of the Sesquicentennial of the Ministry of Fomento, organising the commemorative Exhibition and editing its catalogue.

The Director General of CEDEX

Manuel L. Martín Antón