ATEC – Associação de Formação para a Indústria is a nonprofit private association, established on 30th of December 2003, with the promoters and founding members, Volkswagen Autoeuropa , Siemens , Bosch and CCILA (or AHK – Portuguese – German Chamber of Commerce and Industry), which celebrated with the Portuguese State, a cooperation agreements (including the Technical and Financial Cooperation Agreement for Training). ATEC is focused on increasing professional skills available in Portugal and, consequently, to increase the quality and productivity of the business while providing high levels of employability. ATEC has a national scope, with headquarters in Palmela, located at Volkswagen Autoeuropa Industrial Park, a delegation in Porto (in Siemens facilities in Freixieiro) and three external locations on the premises of partners in São João da Madeira, Cascais and Carregado. ATEC is also a training organization with its Quality Management System certified according to ISO 9001 and to the national standards defined by the national authorities. Moreover, in 2006, was recognized as an institution of Public Utility.