In 2006, the Riojan ICT Companies Association, AERTIC, was created. This is a non-profit institution, member of the Federation of Entrepreneurs of La Rioja, whose mission is to promote the development of ICT in the Autonomous Community of La Rioja representing the Sector in the defense of its rights and promoting research, training and promotion of the Sector in the external and internal market, promoting all aspects of development and growth related to the Sector it serves, representing and defending the legitimate interests of its associates, and favoring the assimilation and efficient use of advanced technologies by part of the whole of the Autonomous Community of La Rioja, with the aim of collaborating in the development of the Information and Knowledge Society in said territory. This Association currently has 62 companies that employ 938 people and is chaired by Mr. Jesús Hijazo Barceló (President of Knet Comunicaciones, S.L.). In 2010 AERTIC was configured as an ICT cluster, constituting the Innovative Business Group of the ICT sector of La Rioja, to consolidate its collaboration project between companies and deepen the generation of more ambitious projects and initiatives promoting the R & D & I of companies that constitute it.