The Construction Technology Institute (AIDICO) will hold, the 2nd International Natural Stone Congress next March in Alicante, in which over 300 experts from Europe, America and Asia will tackle the main technology needs facing the sector’s industry.

Spain is the third largest producer of natural Stone worldwide, with around 1,500 companies, which makes us one of the benchmarks in the sector. In the Region of Valencia, the sector accounts for around 450 companies having trading income figures of over 1,200 million Euros and providing jobs for approximately 7,880 workers. Between January and October of 2009, in the Region of Valencia alone, 68% was exported of the national total for marble, limestone, sandstone, travertine and other stones.

In the Congress to be held from the 2nd to the 5th of March, professionals from the sector will be taking part in debates and will present and diffuse their opinions and experiences from their respective countries, thereby encouraging a greater transfer of knowledge and international collaboration.

AIDICO has been aided in the organisation of the Congress by the collaboration of four of the most important centres for marble production in the world: INTROMAC, the Thematic Network for Natural Stone and technology centres specializing in natural stone: Internazionale Marmi e Macchine Carrara (IMMC) and Abirochas (Asociación Brasileña de las Rocas Ornamentales)

AIDICO’s objective is to promote, through this meeting, the use of technological innovations in order to guarantee greater development in sustainability matters. Likewise, varying topics will be dealt with about innovation in the natural stone sector with regard to issues of exploration and exploitation; elaboration and processing, characterisation and new products, as well as looking into the use of natural stone in architecture and the environment.

AIDICO belongs to the Network of Technology Institutes from the Region of Valencia (REDIT) and is driven by the Regional Department of Industry, Trade and Innovation.