20 February, 2025ORBIK CYBERSECURITY is a startup from the Basque technology centre IKERLAN, which, with the support of the Basque Government and the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, broke into the industrial cybersecurity market at the beginning of 2023 as a benchmark company at the national level. Its focus is on electronic product cybersecurity and providing an external accreditation seal in accordance with international standards. Now, once again, it is a pioneer by becoming the first technology start-up to transition into a mixed cooperative, establishing itself as a model for a new form of technological entrepreneurship.
This transformation is part of an agreement between MONDRAGON (through its Promotion Centre and its Knowledge Division) and IKERLAN, aiming to mobilise more than ten million euros over the next four years to bring the group's technological assets to market. It also has the backing of the Basque Government through the Basque Tek Ventures programme of the SPRI group.
Following the roadmap set since its inception and after securing a 1.8 million euro funding round, ORBIK has today completed its transition into a mixed cooperative, receiving a significant boost for its future growth.
The Basque Government's Minister for Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, Mikel Jauregi; the President of MONDRAGON, Pello Rodríguez; the Managing Director of IKERLAN, Ion Etxeberria; and the Managing Director of ORBIK CYBERSECURITY, Salvador Trujillo, formalised this transformation during a ceremony at the technology centre's headquarters in Arrasate-Mondragón.
ORBIK CYBERSECURITY is the first mixed cooperative start-up to emerge within MONDRAGON, but others will soon follow. This new cooperative, specialising in industrial cybersecurity, is at the forefront of a pioneering model of cooperative technology companies that MONDRAGON and IKERLAN aim to promote. To this end, both organisations have signed a partnership agreement to mobilise more than ten million euros over the next four years for the creation of new cooperative start-ups in the Basque Country. This innovative strategy seeks to strengthen local roots, maintain ownership and management, preserve the knowledge generated by these companies, and foster the creation of high-quality cooperative jobs in the region.
Ion Etxeberria, CEO of IKERLAN, stated: “With ORBIK CYBERSECURITY and the ecosystem we aim to build and strengthen in the Basque Country in the coming years, we will demonstrate that it is possible to combine innovation and cutting-edge technology with a sustainable economic model based on cooperative values and a long-term vision. Not only do we generate quality jobs and economic growth in our community, but we also ensure equitable distribution.”
He also stressed that the agreement with MONDRAGON establishes a working framework and guarantees financial and corporate support for this initiative, which will soon be followed by others. In fact, he expressed confidence that during the first quarter of 2025, a new IKERLAN start-up will follow the same path, although he did not provide further details. “Furthermore, the support of the Basque Government is key for IKERLAN, as it reinforces the significance of this initiative for the Basque Country,” he concluded.
