National Reference Center for Electronics 2023-2026: what changes for electrical sector companies

Key data

Companies in the electrical and electronic sector operating in Cantabria—and those seeking talent trained in this field—have a new reference framework for the coming years. The agreement between the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports and the Cantabrian Employment Service, published on 28 September 2026, activates the 2023-2026 Multiannual Action Plan of the National Reference Center for Electronics and Electrical Installations in Torrelavega.

This center, created by Royal Decree 873/2015, is one of the specialized vocational training centers that the State designates as national benchmarks in strategic sectors. Its activity is not merely academic: it directly involves companies in the sector in defining content, innovation projects and collaboration channels.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement formalizes the 2023-2026 Multiannual Action Plan and establishes the working framework between the State and the Autonomous Community of Cantabria for the center's operation during this period. The main axes of the plan are three:

The agreement does not set a fixed global economic allocation. Instead, each year an Annual Work Plan will be approved with the specific actions planned and the corresponding state economic contribution for that fiscal year. This means that the State's financial commitment is specified annually, not in a lump sum for the entire 2023-2026 period.

From a legal standpoint, the agreement is based on Royal Decree 229/2008, which regulates National Reference Centers in the vocational training system. Since it lacks direct economic content in the framework agreement, it is not subject to budget stability legislation.

Economic and operational impact

For companies in the sector, the impact is not one of direct cost but of opportunity and positioning. National Reference Centers are the privileged interlocutors between the VET system and industry: participating in their projects allows companies to influence training profiles, access co-financed innovation projects and recruit talent better aligned with their real needs.

From an operational standpoint, the most relevant aspects for companies are:

• Innovation collaboration: possibility of participating in applied R&D projects in electronics and electrical installations with institutional support.
• Influence on training: collaborating companies can communicate their technical profile needs to the center, guiding training content.
• Sector visibility: participation in the center's dissemination activities projects the employer brand to VET students in the sector.
• No direct cost: the agreement imposes no economic or administrative obligation on private companies.

The state economic contribution will be specified in each Annual Work Plan, which means that the volume of the center's activity—and therefore collaboration opportunities—may vary from year to year within the 2023-2026 period.

Who does it affect?

• Companies in the electrical and electronic sector with activity in Cantabria or that hire technical profiles trained in VET in these professional families.
• Vocational Training Centers that teach cycles in the Electricity-Electronics families, especially in Cantabria.
• VET students in Electronics and Electrical Installations and Automation cycles, who will see strengthened training offerings and available innovation projects.
• HR and training departments of industrial companies seeking specialists in electrical installations or industrial electronics.
• Associations and sector clusters in the electrical and electronic field that may act as interlocutors for the center.

Practical example

An electrical systems installation company based in Torrelavega needs technicians with up-to-date knowledge in industrial automation. Currently it costs time and money to internally train new hires because the profiles coming from the market don't always fit its processes.

With the 2023-2026 Action Plan active, this company can contact the National Reference Center for Electronics and Electrical Installations in Torrelavega to:

• Participate in an applied innovation project in automation, contributing real cases from its activity.
• Communicate its technical profile needs to the center so they can be incorporated into training content.
• Participate in dissemination events where it can present itself as an employer to students in sector cycles.

The result: reduced adaptation time for new technicians and early access to the best profiles before they complete their training. All without direct cost derived from the agreement.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if your company's sector fits: if you operate in industrial electronics, electrical installations, automation or related sectors, this center is your natural interlocutor in the VET system.
2. Contact the National Reference Center in Torrelavega: request information about the projects in the current Annual Work Plan and available collaboration channels for companies.
3. Evaluate participation in innovation projects: co-financed projects with state contribution can be a way to develop applied R&D with lower own cost.
4. Communicate technical profile needs: inform the center what technical competencies are priorities for your company, so they can be incorporated into the training content of the next Annual Work Plan.
5. Follow Annual Work Plans: since economic contribution and specific actions are approved year by year, it's advisable to review each new plan to detect updated collaboration opportunities.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20130