HISTORY

The Technological Institute for Toys (AIJU) was founded in June 1985 on an initiative by the Institute for Small and Medium Industry of the Generalitat Valenciana (IMPIVA), The Spanish Toy Manufacturers Association (AEFJ) and the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade, with the purpose of promoting the development of toy’s industrial sector. Their first premises opened in June 1986. In March 1993, the Institute moved to a new three-storey building that has 3600 m2, housing the equipment required to carry out technical and research projects. The quality and experience of its professional staff, together with its new facilities, guarantees that AIJU is the most advanced toy research centre in Europe.

AIJU is a non-profit association located in the town of Ibi (Alicante) and it is devoted to research, development, and technological innovation, increasing competitiveness and improving product quality within the toy industrial sector. AIJU is the first body to be authorised by the Spanish Government to run tests and carry out laboratory reports according to the European Toy Safety Directive.

Due to its focus on providing services to the toy industry, AIJU has become the driving force for a sector that has favourably evolved towards the manufacture of high quality products and which are totally competitive not only in the international market but also in the international one.

The Institute’s governing body is the board of directors and it is composed of 23 members. They mostly belong to the industrial sector, although there are also people from research associations and central and regional governments.

AIJU has currently more than 580 partners, 40 per cent of whom are toy manufacturers —they are shareholders of the 80 per cent of the existing toy companies, representing over the 98 per cent of the sector’s total turnover—, 40 per cent belongs to ancillary industries (tool and die making shops, material, dye, textile, machinery suppliers and other companies), and other sectors represent the remaining percentage.

AIJU is considered to be the technological centre of reference for other industrial sectors, like the ones related to childcare, promotions, playgrounds and goods specially made for children.